Indeed, Sir, I am not; a mere gadfly on the rump of society, such is yr. humble correspondent. Yet even one unskilled in letters, such as I, may become sensible of a certain terseness, an unaccustomed lack of elegance, a rude brevity, in a communication, when it is flourished in front of his nose.

It is an unfortunate habit of mine, the subject of well-intentioned chiding from my friends, that I return like for like: thus, my response. I cravenly pray your indulgence for my peccadillo.