Hitchcock defended himself vigorously against the attack in The Knickerbocker and ridiculed the critic for remaining anonymous.
I was taught by my parents to receive with reverence and thankfulness, and in silence, the rebukes and corrections of my superiors. . . I have come to the conclusion, however,—perhaps the result of early disadvantages—. . . to say a few things in arrest of public judgment. For in the first place, my conscience pleads not guilty to most of this writer's charges; and in the second place, until he dares to give his name to the public, I cannot tell how much deference I ought to pay to his judgment or intentions. . . .