ssest abuse--although his very error arose from the
philosophical and self-dependent spirit which has always distinguished
him, and which will even yet lead him, if I am not greatly mistaken in
the man, to do something for the literature of the country which the
country "will not willingly," and cannot possibly, "let die."

Without entering now into the _why_, let me observe that the printer
may always ascertain when the dash of the MS. is properly and when
improperly employed, by bearing in mind that this point represents _a
second thought--an emendation_. In using it just above I have
exemplified its use. The words "an emendation" are, speaking with
reference to grammatical construction, put in _ap_position with the
words "a second thought." Having written these latter words, I
reflected whether it would not be possible to render their meaning
more distinct by certain other words. Now, instead of erasing the
phrase "a second thought," which is of _some_ use--which _partially_
conveys the idea intended--which advances me _a step toward_ my full
purpose--I suffer it to remain, and merely put a dash between it and
the phrase "an emendation." The dash gives the reader a choice between
two, or among three or more expressions, one of which may be more
forcible than another, but all of which help out the idea. It stands,
in general, for these words--"_or, to make my meaning more distinct_."
This force _it has_--and this force no other point can have; since all
other points have well-understood uses quite different from this.
Therefore, the dash _cannot_ be dispensed with.

It has its phases--its variation of the force described; but the one
principle--that of second thought or emendation--will be found at the
bottom of all.

* * * * *

In a reply to a letter signed "Outis," and defending Mr. Longfellow
from certain charges supposed to have been made against him by myself,
I took occasion to assert that "of the class of willful plagiarists
nine out of ten are authors of established reputation who plunder
recondite, neglected, or forgotten books." I came to this conclusion
_a priori_; but experience has confirmed me in it. Here is a
plagiarism from Channing; and as it is perpetrated by an anonymous
writer in a Monthly Magazine, the theft seems at war with my
assertion--until it is seen that the Magazine in question is
Campbell's New Monthly for _August_, 1828. Channing, at that time, was
comparatively unkn