Watson Webb to Rear-Admiral Charles H. Davis, October 14, 1868

Mr. Webb to Rear-Admiral Davis.

Sir: I am in the receipt of your letter, in which you say:

“Sir: I received your letter dated the 9th instant on the evening of Saturday, the 10th instant.

“Its style and language, and the character of its imputations, forbid the continuance, on my part, of this correspondence.”

I immediately read with great care the notes which have passed between us, with an avowed, determination that if I discovered in aught I have written any imputation whatever upon your character or conduct, promptly to withdraw and apologize for it. The result of such careful examination of our correspondence is a conviction that the only imputations contained in it are to be found in your unwarranted and uncalled-for note of the 6th instant. A statement of facts, however disagreeable, cannot be considered “imputations.”

I am sorry my “style” does not please you. Looking only to the discharge of a public duty, I did not consider it incumbent upon me to aim at any peculiarity of “style” in order to render grave official truths acceptable to a fastidious taste, and I employed the simple language of earnest conviction as eminently suited to the occasion.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,