wherever I perceive any glimmering of truth before me, I readily pursue, and endeavour to trace it to its source; without any reserve or caution of pushing the discovery too far, or opening too great a glare of it to the public. I look upon the discovery of any thing which is true, as a valuable acquisition to society, which cannot possibly hurt or obstruct the good effect of any other truth whatsoever for they all partake of one common essence and necessarily coincide with each other: and like the drops of rain, which fall separately into the river, mix themselves at once with the stream and strengthen the general current."

B. M.

August 1, 1837.

TABLE OF CONTENTS.

KNOWLEDGE, page 3

Its nature, 3

Different sorts, 3

Cause and effect, 5

There is a regular sequence of events in the action

of inanimate bodies on each other, 5

Of animate bodies, 6

Vital principle dormant, 6

active, 7.

There is the same sequence of events in the action

of mind on mind, 7

Its consequences,

All order and happiness depends on cause and

effect, 10

Power depends upon it, 13

Errors respecting,

When cause unknown, 15

Accident, 15

Supernatural interposition, 15

When real cause latent, 17

Different consequences to ignorance and intelligence,

Ignorance sceptical, 19

Intelligence looks for proximate cause, 20

To final cause, 22

Knowledge how acquired, 24

PREJUDICE, 45

From love of money, 51

Fear of trouble, 54

Love of power, 54

Interruption of pleasures of imagination, 55

General cause of prejudice, 57

Consequences of prejudice,

Intolerance, 61

Resists reform, 61

Persecutes, 62

Professional prejudice, 63

Divines, 63

Politicians, 63

Medical, 65

Lawyers, 66

Prejudice depends upon ignorance, 63 to 72

REFORM, 75

Duties of reformer, 79

1. Certainty that his opinion is right, 79

2. He considers cautiously, 81

3. Knowledge of obstacles, 81

4. He uses vantage ground to diffuse good, 83

5. He advances cautiously, 85

6. If necessary he encounters dangers, 85

7. He is content with the approbation of the

intelligent, 88

8. His attack varies with the opposition, 90

9. He waits patiently for the growth of the seed, 92

10. He is not irritated by opposition, 93

11. He is not deterred by defeat, 93

12. When successful he stands patiently, 94

13. He is aware of the depraving tendency of

power, 94

14. He is a radical reformer, 94

Reform of lawyers, 95

15. He remembers that it is better to improve many

things than one, 97

16. He repairs every pecuniary loss, 97

17. He retires to the charities of private life, 98

IGNORANCE, 99

WISDOM AND FOLLY, 109

HOBBES'S THEORY OF LAUGHTER, 110

The theory, 114

Relative comfort, 116

Confusion of ideas, 121

Ignorance of common things, 122

Laughter from depression of superiority, 125

From expected intelligence, 127

In public assemblies, 128

House of Commons, 129

Courts of justice, 129

Churches, 130

Mock conceited importance, 133

Laughter from ignorance and intelligence, 134

From ignorance, 134

Facts, 134

Opinions, 136

Reason, 138

Laughter from intelligence, 145

The distress which causes laughter, 146

SELFISH AND SOCIAL MAN, 154

RELIGIOUS MEDITATION, 163

THE VILLAGE CHURCH, 169

CHARACTER OF DAVID, 173

THE PATRIOT AND DEMAGOGUE, 183

The foundation of patriotism is virtue in private life, 183

The patriot prefers the public good, 183

He is seldom a member of any party, 185

He does not deny his governors their due praise, 185

He as a father views the people, and resists dema-

gogues,

186

The demagogue appeals to ignorance, and is surrounded

by a multitude, 188

The patriot appeals to intellect, 189

He promotes a masculine spirit in the people, 191

He is not deterred by public censure, 191

His plans are not subservient to reward or title, 194

He refuses preferment if it interfere with public good,

195

The patriot cannot be bought, but every demagogue

has his price, 196

The patriot when fit retires to the charities of private

life, 197

LIBERTY AND EQUALITY, 201

RIGHTS OF ENGLISHMEN, 207

THE JUDGE, 213

THE CHANCELLOR, 290

EDUCATION, 227

RELIGIOUS ESTABLISHMENTS,

THE BARRISTER, 249

His duty to himself, 249

240

1. Before he engages as a student he considers h

health, 249

2. He considers the fitness of his intellect for th

profession of the law, 249

3. He duly considers his motives for engaging i

the profession, 249

4. He is careful of his health, 250

5. He is industrious, 251

6. He stores his mind with the general principles

of the law, 251