The general characteristics of the school, briefly summarized, were said to be ignorance and vulgarity, an entire absence of religion, a vague and sour Jacobinism for patriotism, admiration of Chaucer and Spenser when they resemble Hunt, and extreme moral depravity and obscenity. November, 1817, of _Blackwood's_ contained the notorious accusation against the _Story of Rimini_ of immorality of purpose.[489] The poem was called "the genteel comedy of incest." Francesca's sin was declared voluntary and her sufferings sentimental. The changes from the historical version, an espousal by proxy instead of betrothal, the omission of deformity, the substitution of the duel for murder, and the happy opening, were pronounced wilful perversions for the furtherance of corruption. Ford's treatment of the same theme much more elevated. Hunt's defense was that the catastrophe was Francesca's sufficient punishment.[490] In May, 1818, the same charge was repeated: "No woman who has not either lost her chastity, or is desirous of losing it, ever read the 'Story of Rimini' without the flushings of shame and of self-reproach." _The Examiner_ of November 2 and 16, 1817, quoted extracts from the first of these articles and called upon the author to avow himself; otherwise to an "utter disregard of _Truth_ and Decency, he adds the height of Meanness and COWARDICE."[491] As might have been expected, this demand brought forth nothing more than a disavowal from the London publishers who handled _Blackwood's_ of all responsibility in the matter. June 14, 1818, _The Examiner_ assailed the editor of the _Quarterly_ as a government critic who disguised a political quarrel in literary garb, as a sycophant to power and wealth: "Grown old in the service of corruption, he drivels on to the last with prostituted impotence, and shameless effrontery; salves a meagre reputation for wit, by venting the driblets of his spleen and impertinence on others; answers their arguments by confuting himself; mistakes habitual obtuseness of intellect for a particular acuteness, not to be imposed upon by shallow pretensions; unprincipled rancor for zealous loyalty; and the irritable, discontented, vindictive, and peevish effusions of bodily pain and mental infirmity, for proofs of refinement of taste and strength of understanding." This condescension to a use of his enemies' weapons only weakened Hunt's position. Yet in the light of the secrecy maintained at the time and the mystery surrounding the matter ever since, it is interesting to read _Blackwood's_ contorted reply to Hunt's demand for an open fight, written as late as January, 1826: