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[Letter of Francis William Newman to Dr. Chapman] 1 Dover
Place, Dear Sir, I am sorry that you have taken the trouble to write to me a MS instead of a note. I am sorry that you wish to inflict on me the reading of it. I am not disposed to read beyond the first sentence, which I have read. This fact ought to show that I have no desire to "institute an inquisition into your most private life," as you assert. On the contrary, I totally decline to hear secrets, if secrets there are. I mentioned what had been told me as a public notorious fact. If it be false, you can contradict it in one line. If it be true, I repeat, I am not disposed to subject to your revision any thing that I may write (or might write) on the topic of sexual relations. As you do not write a short note, but a MS, I infer that you cannot deny the fact reported to me, but wish to justify it. My first impetus was, simply to return the MS to you. But I retain it for a day or two just for the chance of your being able to offer some sufficient reason why I should read it. I am truly yours,
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