It is unnecessary to state how diametrically opposite this is to the character and conduct of a gentleman. I venture to assert that urbanity requires us frequently to pass over in silence opinions which we have reason to believe entirely erroneous: for if we are to contradict every thing we hear advanced in company, which we disbelieve, it destroys the chief pleasures of social intercourse, and changes conversation into disputation and contention. I would not, however, be understood to mean, that we should pretend assent, when our convictions would be in hostility with our words. This would be simulation and deception, and on the man who should practise it, would affix the stamp of degradation.

To the rule laid down in the preceding paragraph, there will be many opposed. They will assert that our "silence gives assent;" that it is disingenuous not to controvert error wherever we meet it; and advance various other reasons somewhat plausible. I am, however, firmly convinced of the propriety of the rule, and of the advantages that would result from the general observance of it. But whatever may be the diversity of sentiment respecting that, there cannot, among rational or polite people, be any on the subject of another rule, which I strongly recommend to the observance of those who honour my lucubrations with a perusal, and that is, never, on any account, to controvert a position which is substantially correct, merely because they can imagine an exception to it; nor to express a doubt of a fact because it is improbable. I believe that this rule cannot, in any instance, be violated without a departure from those rules that ought to regulate the conduct of a gentleman.

I add one more observation. The less a man has seen-the more scanty his intellectual powers-and the more contracted his knowledge, the more prone he is to doubt the truth of every extraordinary fact he hears, and to controvert any idea out of the narrow track of his own paltry conceptions. He makes his thimble-full of brains the infallible test of right and wrong. He who has had opportunities of seeing the world on a large scale, or who has perused books extensively, must have seen and read of numberless things which will appear incredible, nay, impossible, to the insignificant animal who has not gone beyond his A, B, C, in study, and has always vegetated upon the spot where Nature thought fit to place him. The former has read of various incidents of the most extraordinary kind, which are

nevertheless established on the very best authority. To the latter these appear as extravagant as the wild stories of Sir John Mandeville, of one-eyed and headless nations.-Idem, p. 119.

SAME SUBJECT.-A few evenings since, I was in a company in which the effects of Thomas Paine's writings, in the early stage of the American Revolution, was a subject of conversation, and finally of ardent dispute. One gentleman boldly contended that they had had no effect whatever-that the mass of the nation had been previously prepared for independencethat there was none any way doubtful or hesitating, but the wealthy and higher orders generally, who could not be affected by such a flimsy composition as Common Sense. Another asserted with equal earnestness, that " Common Sense" had been eminently instrumental in reconciling the public to independence-and in removing the objections that had been made to it by many of the warmest friends of the liberty of this country. In a word, he stated on the authority of the late John Dunlap, and numbers of other persons of the very best information, that some weeks previous to the appearance of Common Sense, it was highly unpopular to advocate a declaration of independence, whereas some weeks afterwards it was equally unpopular to advocate any thing short of that bold measure. He added, on the same authority, that carts-full of the pamphlets were dispersed in every quarter, under the direction and at the expense of the committee of safety.

The parties could not agree, and the dispute terminated as such foolish disputes usually do, in a downright altercation. Each party obstinately persisted in the assertion of his opinion —and there was no umpire to decide.

The dispute had no reference whatever to any other part of the career of Mr. Paine, or to his character either then or subsequently thereto—It merely referred to that portion of his political writings, styled "Common Sense." This is necessary to be distinctly understood, in order to form a correct estimate of the merits of the question.

As other persons besides the first party alluded to above, may entertain the same erroneous opinions of the revolutionary services of Mr. Paine, it may not be unentertaining to your readers to furnish authentic testimony on the subject, so as to remove all doubt, and to enable them to form a correct estimate

on one of the leading points of the most important period of the history of their country. I therefore annex extracts from a work, of indisputable authority on the subject.* Before I close this introduction, I cannot help lamenting the immense folly of that spirit of contradiction, which is so very prevalent; which leads to so many frivolous disputes; which so frequently breaks up long established intimacies and friendships, and has as often as any other cause, led to duelling and bloodshed. Although we ought by no means to assent to what we disbelieve; nevertheless we are not called upon dogmatically to contradict every fact stated or opinion advanced in our hearing to which we cannot assent. This would lead to debates and disputes, and destroy the pleasure of conversation.

Our minds are so variously formed-our opinious so very

* From Ramsay's History of the United States, vol. 2., p. 154. "While the public mind was balancing on this eventful subject, several writers placed the advantages of independence in various points of view Among these, Thomas Paine, in a pamphlet under the signature of Common Sense, heid the most distinguished rank. The style, manner and language of this performance were calculated to interest the passions and to rouse all the acting powers of human nature. With a view of operating on the sentiments of a religious people, scripture was pressed into his service, and the powers, and even the name of a king, were rendered odious in the eyes of the numerous colonists, who had read and studied the history of the Jews, as recorded in the Old Tes tament. The folly of that people in revolting from a government instituted by heaven itself, and the oppression to which they were subjected in consequence of their lusting after kings to rule over them, afforded an excellent handle for prepossessing the colonists in favour of republican institutions and prejudicing them against kingly governinent. Hereditary succession was turned into ridicule. The absurdity of subjecting a great Continent to a small Island, and on the other side of the globe, was represented in such striking language as to interest the honour and pride of the colonists, in renouncing the government of Great Britain. The necessity, the advantages, the practicability of independence were forcibly demonstrated. Nothing could be better timed than this performance. It was addressed to freemer who had just received convincing proof, that Great Britain had thrown them out of her protection, had engaged foreign mercenaries to make war upon them, and seriously designed to compel their unconditional submission to her unlimited power. It found the colonists most thoroughly alarmed for their liberties, and disposed to do and suffer any thing that promised their establishment In union with the feelings and sentiments of the people, it produced surprising effects. Many thousands were convinced and were led to approre, and long for a separation from the mother country. Though that measure a few months before, was not only foreign from their wishes, but the object of their abhorrence; the current suddenly became so strong in its favour, that it bore down all opposition."

different-our means of information run in such dissimilar channels, that few sentiments beyond mere common-place saws, can command the general assent of a large company. And therefore if every person makes a practice of denying every thing he disbelieves-and forcing the speaker to enter into proof or defence, of what he has advanced, mixed society, the genuine source of so much rational delight will lose more than half its joys. And many men, of whom I freely confess myself one, would prefer total silence to being obliged to defend every thing they say. I am no advocate of a slavish and hypocritical assent with, or without belief-far indeed from it. And therefore if our opinion be asked on points to which we cannot assent, we ought to express a decided, but a mild dissent. But this by no means implies either a necessity or propriety of contradicting whatever does not meet our opinions or impressions at the moment.-Philadelphia Sentinel, Oct. 9, 1817.

FALLACY OF HISTORY.-Who was he that said that history was a bundle of lies? Was he very wide of the mark? I believe Let me quote an instance in proof.

not.

There is an historian of the highest possible reputation, [Hume,] whose work has been translated into almost all the languages of Europe, and been regarded as a model, not merely of style, for which it is highly and justly celebrated, but by some extolled for its fidelity-who has fallen into the grossest errors, without censure, and even almost without notice.

In giving an account of a most important and highly controverted event, [the Irish rebellion,] he has forty-five references to the authorities on which his narrative rests, and of these no less than thirty-three are to a book written by a person, who could with propriety say of such parts of his work as were correct, quorum magna pars fui.

This latter book, [Temple's History of the Irish Rebellion,] however, is one of the basest, most false, and most corrupt that ever was written. It is one continued tissue of falsehood, and as absurd and ridiculous as The Seven Champions of Christendom, Don Bellianis of Grecce, or Parismus, Parismenos, and Parismenides. Many of the pretended facts are not merely to the last degree improbable, but absolutely impossible, and contrary to the most established rules of nature. The book, which

is very rare, is in the city library. Ainsi va le monde.-Port Folio, Feb. 1810, p. 121.

RICHARD CALEF.-To every liberal mind it is highly grateful to give praise where praise is due, and to rescue a meritorious name from obscurity. I have therefore resolved to devote a few lines to the excellent man whose name is prefixed to this paragraph.

Every nation has had its paroxysms of insanity, in which the "small still voice of reason," justice, and humanity has been for a while stifled by the violence of party passions, prejudice, or bigotry. To resist the public delusion on such occasions, is attended with very considerable danger, and has not unfrequently involved in the common destruction those who have undertaken to advocate the cause of the oppressed. It therefore requires a very high degree of magnanimity and heroism to induce men to make an effort to stem the torrent. For the honour of human nature, however, on most occasions of this description, there have been found heroes who have thus signalized themselves.

In several parts of New England, more particularly Salem, in the year 1692, a most awful delusion prevailed on the subject of witchcraft, which extended its deleterious effects into the highest grades of society. The governor, the public officers generally, and many of the clergy, were numbered among the mass of those who implicitly believed in the guilt of the persons charged with this crime. About twenty were immolated (one of whom was pressed to death with weights) with all the forms, but without the least shadow of the reality, of justice. The evidence was to the last degree frivolous and absurd. Many of the accusers were constantly in a state of delirium, the result of rum drinking. At this frightful period, when the very sanctity of age exposed a superannuated creature to the most imminent hazard of destruction, Richard Calef, a merchant in Boston, signalized himself by the most decisive exertions to arrest the progress of the devouring monster, and was eminently instrumental in opening the eyes of the public, and rescuing many devoted victims from the gaping jaws of destruction. He wrote a number of valuable letters to Cotton Mather, who ranked among the steadfast believers in witchcraft. Mr. Calef had obviously the most decisive advantage over his opponent. He