By Isle of Wight Observer
In a long letter to the Isle of Wight Observer, published on 30th September 1854, engineer Mr Morey takes a previous correspondent to talk about an anonymous letter published the week earlier.
He appears to know the letter’s author and drops some heavy hints about his identity.
WATER SUPPLY.
To the Editor of the Isle of Wight Observer.
Sir, – Seeing in your last a letter from some one, professing to criticise my paper on the water supply of our town, I could not but feel amused at the incoherent manner in which he treats the subject. He seems to fancy that by one blast of his breath he can scatter common sense and reason to the four winds; he throws contempt, then sarcasm; he assumes a great deal, then seems to turn envious and proceeds in theatrical style; he talks of witches and seems to conjure up myths out of his disordered imagination, calling them by funny names, and concludes his trade by signing himself “A Liberated Ratepayer.” He does not tell us where he was liberated from, so many of your readers have concluded it must be from some asylum. Certain it is that the writer or nameless critic is an enthusiastic admirer of Alverstone water. He tells me that I must know that, when filtered, Sir James Caldwell could not distinguish it from Bloodstone water by taste or appearance; he does not inform me how I came in possession of that knowledge. Since the production of the nameless critic came out I have been creditably informed that the above gentleman tasted the Alverstone water, with a view on ascertaining its quality, and pronounced it very bad; he then called his servants one at a time, they all pronounced the same verdict. It appears that the critic has taken the above gentleman’s name in vain; I hope the gentleman will forgive him, his sane condition being doubtful.
I cannot discover who this nameless critic is, but it has been hinted to me, by one who professes to know, that he lives in Union-street and has caused one of his children to be named “Alverstone,” in honour of its waters.
[…]
I present my thanks to the nameless critic for the amusement he has afforded me, and should he come again within the range of the sparks of my anvil he may put his name to his paper like a man; I will not hurt him; no, not a hair of his moustache shall be singed if I can prevent it.
[…]
I am, sir, your’s,&c.,
G. MOREY, Engineer.