A letter to the author of the pamphlet called An answer [sic] to the…A letter to the author of the pamphlet called An answeer [sic] to the…

And what Shadow of Reason is there in that Excuse you offer for this Privacy, viz That the only Reason why you did not go into a public Hearing was, because the Dissatisfied declared they would not submit their Matters to you as a Council, as long as you would, and did, not with standing take the Matter into your Hands as a Council, to try the Cause, finally to determine and issue it, and act and execute according to your own Judgment, whether they would or no? And therefore how does this alter the Case as to the Reason why it should be public? If a Criminal should be arraigned before a Court of civil Judicature, and should plead against the Jurisdiction of the Court, and refuses, as far as in him lies, to submit his Cause to them, but his Plea is altogether disallowed, and they, not with standing, resolutely go on, and hear Witnesses, and judge him, and pass Sentence upon him, and execute him, would that be a sufficient Reason why the Trial must be in strict Privacy, and he and others must be shut out from hearing of it? Would not the World cry out of such an Appearance of Injustice, that he must be executed on a Judgment found against him, he, and the World must not know how?

And what Shadow of Reason is there in that Excuse you offer for this Privacy, viz That the only Reason why you did not go into a publick Hearing was, because the Dissatisfied declared they would not submit their Matters to you as a Council, as long as you would, and did, not with standing take the Matter into your Hands as a Council, to try the Cause, finally to determine and issue it, and act and execute according to your own Judgment, whether they would or no? And therefore how does this alter the Case as to the Reason why it should be publick? If a Criminal should be arraigned before a Court of civil Judicature, and should plead against the Jurisdiction of the Court, and refuses, as far as in him lies, to submit his Cause to them, but his Plea is altogether disallowed, and they, not with standing, resolutely go on, and hear Witnesses, and judge him, and pass Sentence upon him, and execute him, would that be a sufficient Reason why the Trial must be in strict Privacy, and he and others must be shut out from hearing of it? Would not the World cry out of such an Appearance of Injustice, that he must be executed on a Judgment found against him, he, and the World must not know how?