that he is himself sufficient for the purpose; neither can such a one be supposed forward to shed blood: for, who is there would choose to destroy a fellow citizen, rather than make a friend of him by mildness and persuasion.— Xenophon.

CCCXXXVI.

Distinction between Mathematical and Historical Evidence. No person commences the study of mathematics, without soon discovering that it is of a very different nature from those to which he has been accustomed. The pursuits to which the mind is usually directed, before entering on the sciences of algebra or geometry, are such as languages, history, &c.; of these, neither appears to have any affinity with mathematics; yet, in order to see the difference which exists between these studies, for instance, history and geometry, it will be useful to ask how we come by knowledge in each: suppose, for example, we feel certain of a fact related in history, such as the murder of Cæsar, whence did we derive the certainty? How came we to feel sure of the general truth of the circumstances of the narrative? The ready answer to this question will be, that we have not absolute certainty upon this point, but that we have the relation of historians, men of credit, who lived and published their accounts in the very time of which they write; that succeeding ages have received those accounts as true, and that succeeding historians have backed them with a mass of circumstantial evidence, which makes it the most improbable thing in the world that the account, or any material part of it, should be false. This is perfectly correct, nor can there be the slightest objection to believing the whole narration upon such grounds: nay, our minds are so constituted, VOL. I.-17

that, upon our knowledge of these arguments, we cannot help believing, in spite of ourselves. But this brings us to the point to which we wish to come; we believe that Cæsar was assassinated by Brutus and his friends, not because there is any absurdity in supposing the contrary, since every one must allow that there is just a possibility that the event never happened! not because we can show that it must necessarily have been that, at a particular day, at a particular place, a successful adventurer must have been murdered in the manner described, but because our evidence of the fact is such, that if we apply the notions of evidence, which every-day experience justifies us in entertaining, we feel that the improbability of the contrary compels us to take refuge in the belief of the fact; and if we allow that there is still a possibility of its falsehood, it is because this supposition does not involve absolute absurdity, but only extreme improbability.—Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge.

CCCXXXVII.

Political Discussion.--What employment in the busy scene in which man engages, from the cradle to the tomb, is more worthy of him than political discussion? It affords a field for intellectual energy, and all the finest feelings of benevolence. It exercises and strengthens every faculty. It calls forth latent virtues, which else had slept in the bosom, like the diamond in the mine. And is this cmployment, thus useful and honourable, to be confined to a few among the race of mortals? Is there to be a monopoly of political action and speculation? Why then did heaven bestow reason and speech, powers of activity, and a spirit of enterprise, in as great perfection on the lowest among the people, as on those who, by no merit of their own, in

herit wealth and high station? Heaven has declared its will by its acts. Man contravenes it; but time and the progressive improvement of the understanding, will reduce the anomaly to its natural rectitude. And if a few irregularities should sometimes arise in the process, they are of no importance, when weighed with the happy result; the return of disturbed systems to truth, to reason, and the will of God. Occasional ferments, with all their inconveniences, are infinitely preferable to the putrescence of stagnation. They are symptoms of health and vigour; and though they may be attended with transient pain, yet while they continue to appear at intervals, there is no danger of mortification. Good hearts, accompanied with good understandings, seldom produce, even where mistaken, lasting evil. They repair and compensate.-Knox's Spirit of Despotism.

CCCXXXVIII.

Effects of a Neglected or Improper Education.-Where education has been entirely neglected or improperly managed, we see the worst passions ruling with uncontrolled and incessant sway. Good sense degenerates into craft, and anger rankles into malignity. Restraint, which is thought most salutary, comes too late, and the most judicious admonitions are urged in vain.-Parr's Discourse on Education.

CCCXXXIX.

Intemperance. He who is intemperate is the very lowest of all slaves. Doth not intemperance rob us of our reason, that chief excellence of man, and drive us on to commit the very greatest disorders? Can he who is immersed in pleasure find time to turn his thoughts on things that are useful? But, and if he could, his judg

ment is so far overborne by his appetites, that, seeing the right path, he deliberately rejects it. Neither should we expect modesty in such a character; it being most certain that nothing can well stand at a greater distance from this, than the whole life of the voluptuary. But what can be so likely to obstruct either the practice or the knowledge of our duty, as intemperance? What can we suppose so fatally pernicious to man, as that which depriveth him of his understanding, makes him prefer with eagerness the things which are useless, avoid or reject whatever is profitable, and act in every respect so unlike a wise man?-Socrates in Xenophon.

CCCXL.

Philosophic Temper.-What most of all contributes to give us that calmness of temper which is so necessary in disputes, is the confidence that knowledge inspires. For a mind that comes well provided to engage in the defence of truth, will calmly, and without concern, stand the shock of false opinions, having premeditated all that can be alleged against truth, by instructing himself in the truth it. self. What then can disturb a man so well instructed? What can seem to him inextricable, what unanswerable? All the difficulties that can be objected against him, will, if he be truly strong, serve on the contrary only to supply him with ideas that have already often triumphed over whatever is false.-Hierocles.

CCCXLI.

Justice.-Justice is as strictly due between neighbour nations as between neighbour citizens. A highwayman is as much a robber when he plunders in a gang, as when single, and a nation that makes an unjust war is only a great gang.-Franklin.

CCCXLII.

Of Greatness.-If I am asked, who is the greatest man? I answer the best; and if I am required to say who is the best? I reply he that has deserved most of his fellow-creatures. Whether he deserves better of mankind by the cultivation of letters, by obscure and inglorious attainments, by intellectual pursuits calculated rather to amuse than inform, than by strenuous exertions in speaking and acting, let those consider who bury themselves in studies unproductive of any benefit to their country or fellow-citizens. I think not.-Sir Wm. Jones' Commentaries.

CCCXLIII.

The Value of Time.-The proverbial oracles of our par. simonious ancestors have informed us, that the fatal waste of fortune is by small expenses, by the profusion of sums too little singly to alarm our caution, and which we never suffer ourselves to consider together. Of the same kind is prodigality of life; he that hopes to look back hereafter with satisfaction upon past years, must learn to know the present value of single minutes, and endeavour to let no particle of time fall useless to the ground.

An Italian philosopher expressed in his motto, that time was his estate an estate indeed, that will produce nothing without cultivation, but will always abundantly repay the labours of industry, and satisfy the most extensive de. sires, if no part of it be suffered to lie waste by negligence, to be overrun by noxious plants, or laid out for show rather than for use.-Johnson.

CCCXLIV.

Of Crimes and Punishments.-If those whom the wisdom of our laws has condemned to die, had been detected