Letter from E. Block to Isaac Leeser;December 19, 1850

Title: Letter from E. Block to Isaac Leeser;December 19, 1850
Author: E. Block
Contributor: Isaac Leeser
Date Created: 19 December 1850
Location(s): New York City; Philadelphia
Format: Letter. 3 page(s).
Type: Letter
Language(s): English
Has Format: https://colenda.library.upenn.edu/items/ark:/81431/p3j679g91/manifest.json
Link to Colenda: https://colenda.library.upenn.edu/catalog/81431-p3j679g91
Physical Characteristics: Unlined Paper; Wax Seal; Manuscript
Is Part Of: The Dropsie College Isaac Leeser Collection at the Penn Libraries
content: New York Dec 19_50
Dear Isaac
Your esteemed favor of 15th ins. was handed to father with my manuscript by Mr. T. I. Seixas and should have had an earlier reply had I not been desirous to give you the explanation so asked? for from Mr Lyons relative to the publication of Mr. Peynados letter to the Presbyterian Synod, but altho' I am yet unable to furnish the explanation you desire, I will no longer delay answering yours lest you might attribute my silence to indifference to the unmerited outrage inflicted by the Article of the Asmonean. I had previously to receipt of your letter seen & read, with strong indignation at the foul & scurrilous tone of the writer and the petty malignancy of the temper which pervaded it. The article signed with the initials of the senior Editor, and tho' I felt the strongest desire to step forward in your defence, I felt that the attack was so personal in its nature that you alone, in this case, were the fitter champion of your own reputation. I feel however all the delicacy of your position & acknowledge that a man whose public life has been passed in active efforts of usefulness and to his coreligionists at large, and the value of whose services has been so repeatedly acknowledged on all sides should not want friends to step forward to protect him from scurrilous & unmerited abuse. Mr. Schoval & myself have both been earnestly considering the matter and are only at a loss to know thro' what channel we might be enabled to present our advocacy to the

public eye. The Asmonean will not admit, an antidote to its own poison, malignant misconstruction might ascribe any article in the Occident to the pen or dictation of its Editor, & thought of offering an article to the “Sunday Times” the Editor of which has always professed the most friendly interest for your welfare, & respect for your character, But will he give currency to what may tend to the disparagement & infamy of a paper of which his Son is associate Editor, but I see no remedy but to test him. I shall prepare an article for the Times— and Mr Schoal has promised to furnish one for the Occident, with regard to Mr Peynados letter I called yestermorning at the Sanctum of the Asmn. But found only the junior Editor to whom in absence of his Senior I showed it, he thought it had been copied from the Presbyterian, but on referring to the file found that the Editor in a note referred to a private source from which he had derived it. I left it with him to be handed Mr. S. with a promise that he should by letter give the required explanation to Mr Peynado & that he would likewise furnish me with one, but I am now near the close of the second day and have not yet heard from him and think it probable that he may feel too indifferent, to give himself the trouble.
Mr Isaac's apology was sufficiently lame & not at all in the terms in which he expressed himself to me on the subject but it was at least an apology; doing you justice if not himself
I have nothing of moment to add. All are well and desire regards.
Yours truly
E. Block

Revd. Isaac Leeser
Walnut St.
Philadelphia
Identifier: LSDCBx1FF7_33
Date: 1850-12-19

Part of Letter from E. Block to Isaac Leeser;December 19, 1850

E. Block, “Letter from E. Block to Isaac Leeser;December 19, 1850”, 1850-12-19, Isaac Leeser Digital Repository, accessed September 7, 2024, https://judaicadhpenn.org/legacyprojects/s/leeser/item/67798