140 



tiie polished arts of protraction and deception may derive 

 their most striking effect from long and studied exercise ; but 

 a minister may possess all these virtues in perfection, yet fail 

 of being esteemed a blessing to his country. His opinions 

 are of more consequence than his operative skill ; and are 

 more likely to affect the permanent interests of society. But 

 the influence of habit on opinion has seldom a favourable 

 tendency. Prejudices do not often lean to the side of reason, 

 truth or justice — and the body of a Fakir is not more cramp- 

 ed by his favourite posture, than is the mind by a weak and 

 predominant tenet. 



It is a melancholy amusement to reflect on the prodigious 

 absurdities in politics and religion, which in all ages of the 

 world have been adopted by the mass of mankind, and, in 

 some countries, with the full acquiescence of the select and 

 the studious. Indeed the ignorant would perhaps always con- 

 tent themselves with the suggestions of common sense ; but 

 these are too often forgotten in the lucubrations of the learned. 

 Excessive refinements of reasoning have introduced many a 

 doctrine irreconcileable with common s^nse; and the igno- 

 rant bow with deference to the tuition of the learned, if their 

 mind happens to be unoccupied. But the opinions which 

 they once imbibe from their teachers, they hold more tena- 

 ciously, in proportion as they are absurd. They acquire a 

 habit of regarding them as sacred ; and the habit grows older 

 and stronger, and at length bids defiance to the united powers 



