A true gentleman never unintentionally gives offense...

[forsyth]

... and delivers any insults with exquisite courtesy.

Like, for example, this letter, from Jourdan Anderson, an American citizen, freed from slavery by the defeat of the Confederacy, to his old master Colonel P.H. Anderson, in Tennessee, upon the latter's writing to invite Jourdan back to his plantation to work as a laborer. Jourdan's wonderful "Go @$!# yourself" letter was even picked up and reprinted in newspapers across the country. It's also available in The Freedmen's Book, which was written to help recently freed slaves learn to read.

Comments

[amazingadrian.livejournal.com]

This is priceless. It makes you wonder how many of the former slaves picked up enough of the southern mannerisms to really do well as immediately free men. You only really hear about the famous cases, but I gather from this letter that Mr. Anderson was a commoner.

[forsythferret.livejournal.com]

Sounds like he was a laborer, yeah. And an eloquent "fuck you" letter is always a joy to read.