This is the way, too, that Mr. Moffat himself had understood Mr. Wilks to have stated the matter; hence the reason of his saying, "What would you think of Mr. Barrett, if informed that he had done such a thing?” adding, that he would obtain from Mr. Wilks the evidence that he had done so. And this is the form in which the story circulated, being in all cases traced to Mr. Wilks as the author. If the story had been true, it is plain that Mr. Barrett had done an act which was no better than stealing — stealing in not a very genteel way either—from one of his needy brethren in the Ministry. Indeed, the transaction, as stated by Mr. Wilks, was rather worse than ordinary theft.
Now let any one of my brethren in the Ministry reflect how he would probably feel, on learning that such a story as this had been set on foot about himself by a brother minister, and was being secretly circulated from mouth to mouth while he was many hundred miles away. Let him reflect, too, upon the very aggravating circumstances in this case, as disclosed in the following letter, and I think he will not wonder at, nor find it difficult to forgive, the degree of feeling exhibited in my letter written in answer to Mr. Miller’s of June 23d, and which I here publish:—
(No. II.)
Mr. T. S. Miller,
Dear Sir:—I have this moment received and read your letter of the 23d ult., with feelings of unmingled pain and sorrow. I could not have believed that a man professing what Mr. Wilks professes, and occupying the position that he occupies, could have circulated a report so false and calumnious as he knows the statement to be that he has made to yourself and others, in regard to the transaction referred to between him and me. I will here make a simple statement of all the facts in the case, and I believe that my word will be received by all who are acquainted with me; and should there he any who doubt my veracity, my wife, who knows the facts, will testify to the truth of all I say.
