Sir:

I would be most remiss in my honour and my duty were I to claim, as would you, were you to do so, that I OWNED no thesaurus. Nor is such a claim consistent with your proclaimed respect for the fine elements of civilized and honorable men of intellect. I can only assume that you will readily see, sir, that my invective, which I have agreed to recant, is predicated against the assertion that I USE such a plebian device in my contributions to this most esteemed colloquium. Be assured, sir, that I do not; in particular I did not use one in creating the post--both talented and mellifluous-- which seems to have stimulated Mister Hawke's bloviation and callow, scurrilous and licentious defamation, claiming that I must have used one in its particular creation.

Therein are the limits of any avowal I am willing to make, sir; as a gentleman, I can claim no more, for honor would not allow it.

I remain sir, yr Obed't Srvnt,

Amos