EDINBURGH:

WILLIAM BLACKWOOD AND SONS, 45, GEORGE STREET;
AND 37, PATERNOSTER ROW, LONDON.

To whom all Communications (post paid) must be addressed.
SOLD BY ALL THE BOOKSELLERS IN THE UNITED KINGDOM.

PRINTED BY BALLANTYNE AND HUGHES, EDINBURGH.

Sabloniere Hotel, Leicester Square,
London, July 27th, 1846.

Messrs Blackwood and Sons,

Gentlemen,—Scarcely arrived in London, on my annual visit to this capital, a fiend put into my hands a copy of Blackwood’s Edinburgh Magazine for June 1846, in which I observe an article entitled “Rogues in Outline.” The writer of this article, in a section headed “Birbone—Baseggio,” has taken most unwarrantable liberties with my character, mixing them up with some false details respecting my private life. The latter impertinences I treat with contempt: not so the titles applied to me of “Old Rogue B——” and “Birbone Baseggio,” with the insinuation that I make a practice of selling modern objects for antiques.

If your correspondent had taken the trouble to inquire of any of his well-informed countrymen at Rome or in England, he certainly never would have committed you, or himself, by the publication of the calumny he so wantonly seeks to inflict on my character. Luckily for me, there are now here many respectable persons of rank and reputation who will take a pleasure in attesting, if necessary, the habitual fairness and straight-forwardness of my dealings. I expect equal fairness from you, and that you will lose no time in affording me the reparation of a wrong you have (I trust unconsciously) done me, by at least publishing this letter in your next Number, giving me in the mean time an assurance to that effect. I await your answer, and remain your obedient servant,

JOSEPH BASEGGIO.