Part 24 (1/2)

I found hi his labours; except that noriting, engaged as I ih his copper and engraving tools lay dispersed by his side He received me as usual with calmness, but not without an evident s were, I had always experienced sory with him than with any other person In his countenance there was a sedate undeviating rectitude, that, but for my impetuous disdain of all restraint, would have inspired awe; yet, whenever his eyeso benevolent as aluments, as I supposed, but which in reality were only a repetition of those I had already adduced, I burst upon hihis answer He made various ineffectual atteed to suffer me to weary myself; after which he calive, to all you have urged, is to request you will read the defence of the articles and ain, with care Either I a you have said already confuted'

I endeavoured to divert hie that he should only weaken his cause by answering desultory arguments in a desultory hich in the present case would be folly, because his ansas already given in a clear and as he believed conclusivehis purpose not to be shaken, I asked him if he were aware that I was the author of the defence of the articles? He answered that, seeing the bishop's name to the publication, he could not but suppose the bishop hi of the work: but, from what I had formerly told him, he had suspected me to be a fellow-labourer

'If so,' said I, 'Mr Turl, how did it happen that you felt no aversion to the confutation, as you suppose, of a ard?'

He replied, 'You, Mr Trevor, are well acquainted with my answer: ”Socrates is my friend, Plato is my friend, but truth is more my friend” If I myself had written falsehood yesterday, and no it to be such, I would answer it to day Would not you?'

It was a home question, and I was silent

This subject ended, hemy present pursuits, and these furnished the opportunity of unburthening nation which resent him of my determination to publish the vice and infaan

'Which ill you publish the'

'A sense of duty has obliged uilty of several mistakes already: you are now intent upon another'

'How so?'

'The excess of your anger perverts your judg your passions in a vitiated state Owing to the prejudices of mankind, you will impeach your own credibility Moderate men will think you rash, the precise will call you a detractor, and the partisans, who are numerous, of the persons you will atteainst you, that will infinitely overpower the equivocal proofs you can produce It will become a question of veracity, and yours will be invalidated by the iuilt, at least of the folly of your persecutor's conduct You cannot reforood You will not only misemploy your time for the present, but impede your power for the future'

'If such be the consequences of honestly speaking the truth, what is the conduct that I am to pursue? Am I to be a hypocrite, and listen with approbation while lory in their false principles, and proclaim the destructive projects they mean to pursue?'

'No'

'Is not silence approbation?'

'Yes'

'Yet your system will not allow me to speak!'

'You accuseto which it attends The precaution of speaking so as to produce good, not bad, consequences is the doctrine I wish to inculcate He that should sweep the streets of pea-shells, lest old woood intentions; yet his office would only be that of a scavenger Speak, but speak to the world at large, not to insignificant individuals Speak in the tone of a benevolent and disinterested heart, and not of an inflaer yourself, and injure society'

'What, shall any cowardly regard to my own safety induce me to the falsehood of silence? For is it not falsehood, of the most conte such miscreants to the world? It is this base this selfish prudence, that encourages men like these to proceed from crime to crime Had they been exposed in their first attempt, their effrontery could never have been so enormous No! I am determined! Were my life to be the sacrifice, I will hold them up a beacon, alike to the wicked and the unwary! Will paint theross and odious colours that alone can characterize their actions, and drive them from the society ofin the spirit of justice, or of revenge?'

'Of both'

He who is resolved not to be convinced does not wish to hear his last argument answered With this short reply, therefore, I rose, took y, was sorry ere fated to differ so continually in principle, but each ed to hiood intention, and once ry than pleased, much in the same abrupt manner that I had formerly done The si the door, and I knew not whether to accuse myself of pettishness, obstinacy, and want of candour; or hiularity, and an inflexible sternness of opposition At all events,my pamphlet as soon as it should be written was fixed; and to that labour I immediately returned

CHAPTER VI