[693] _Ibid._ With a “summary account” of the documents upon which Robison had relied in the composition of his book and of which Morse had no first-hand knowledge, and with an examination of the alleged differences between the accounts of the “conspiracy” by Robison and Barruel (_cf. ibid._, Aug. 31, 1798), Morse’s prolix discussion of the subject came to a close. During the time that his articles were in process of publication, “Censor” contributed a fresh article to the _Mercury_, admitting that his faith in the existence of the European Illuminati was growing, but still protesting that Robison was to be regarded as extremely blameworthy on account of the false and calumnious attacks that he had made on worthy private characters in his _Proofs_. _Cf._ the _Massachusetts Mercury_ of August 28 for this article by “Censor.” What degree of unmixed comfort this may have afforded Morse, we may guess. [694] As yet Barruel’s _Memoirs of Jacobinism_ was known to Americans only in the literature of English reviews. 2. INCONCLUSIVE DEVELOPMENTS OF MORSE’S SECOND FORMAL DELIVERANCE With the approach of the anniversary thanksgiving in Massachusetts, late in November, 1798, public discussion of the Illuminati broke out afresh. Once more the columns of the _Massachusetts Mercury_ became the chief medium of communication. Stirred, it appears, by the announcement from abroad that the first three volumes of the Abbé Barruel’s _Memoirs of Jacobinism_ had been translated into English, a contributor to the _Mercury_ took occasion to comment at length on the marvelous corroboratory evidence which that work was about to supply to the English reading public with respect to the great and terrible conspiracy which Professor Robison had laid bare.[695] This advance commendation of Barruel’s composition was not destined to be received with unanimous approval. “A Friend to Truth” was unable to restrain the impulse to exclaim: The paper signed “A Customer” could find but one man contemptible enough to write it. It has his ignominy and his guilt.... No excuse can be made for the late publication. If Barruel’s work be not yet in America, why not wait till it comes?... The public are cautioned against all anonymous defamers, from whom our Country has suffered its greatest evils.[696] Time and space were claimed by this writer to call attention also to alleged discrepancies of a serious nature between Robison’s account of the rise of the Illuminati and its early relations with Freemasonry and the account of the same matters by Barruel, as reflected in English reviews of the latter’s work. Quite incidentally “A Friend to Truth” threw out the suggestion that Robison was not always in command of his reason.[697]