then his Duty to declare it, and to thank, in a publick Manner, thoſe who have undeceived him.
This is exactly my Caſe. Mr. Richey has prov'd to me the Innocence of his Fellow-citizens, and the Bibliotheque Raiſonée has alſo very ſolidly refuted the Accuſation levelled againſt the City of Hamburgh. The Author of the Letter againſt me, is only to blame for ſaying that I poſitively aſſerted that the City of Hamburgh was guilty; but he ought to have made a Diſtinction between the Opinion of one part of the North, which I gave as a vague, random Report, and the Affirmation with which he charges me. Had I indeed declared, That the City of Hamburgh purchas'd the Ruin of the City of Altena, I then wou'd have aſk'd Pardon in the moſt humble manner for making ſuch an Aſſertion, being perſuaded that there is no Shame on theſe Occaſions, but to perſiſt in a Fault when 'tis prov'd to be ſuch. But I declare the Truth, in relating that ſuch a Report was ſpread; and I alſo declare the Truth, in
