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fomething of a very unaccountable and capricious nature, which it Is not 

 eafy, to reduce to any thing of a fixed or regular rule or ftandard. In 

 the prefent ftate of fociety and morals, it will be found more ufeful, 

 to curb than to excite this propenfity. 



Thus, although it mufl be admitted on all hands, that paflions are 

 implanted in our natures, by the Almighty, for the wifefl; and bed 

 purpofes. Philofophers and divines, who have written on the fubjeft 

 of the paflions, confine themfelves to the neceflity of governing and re- 

 ftraining them, and the mofl effeftual modes of obtaining this end ; 

 leaving to nature the province of urging us to the gratification, and 

 indulgence of paflions and appetite. 



Popular rumour fets at defiance fomc of the other caufes of pro- 

 bability, which Mr. Locke has fumiftied. — Does the Ikill or expertnefs 

 of the reporter add much to the credibility of the floating ftory of the 

 hour ? — Is it always taken into the account, or ought it to add much 

 weight, if it were ? I believe not. What may be gained, perhaps, on 

 the one fide, from the fuperior competency of the reporter, may be 

 loft, on the other, through the additional motives for fufpefting his fide- 

 lity. An intimate acquaintance with the fubjeft of the rumour may 

 have fuggefted to him the idea of fabricating fome report ; and ena- 

 bled him to carry his purpofe into effeft, by making him mafter of fuch 

 fafts and terms, as qualify him to drefs up fiftion, in the garb of pro- 

 bability. If thefe artificers of fraud happen, not to be converfant in 

 the affair, which is the fubjeft matter of impofition, they will take care 

 to aflfociate with themfelves, in the ta/k of deceit, (unlefs they are grofs 

 bunglers in their trade) perfons, who are capable of giving a colour 

 to the tale. Again, the number of reporters, with refpeft to popular 

 rumours, feems to add little to their credit. We are not to confound 

 the number of reporters, afi"erting and diflTeminating any ftory, with the 

 number of aftual eye-wltnefl!es, depofmg to the fame faft. The number 

 of mere reporters, however great it may be, is ftill refolvable into the 

 credit of the firft witnefs, or the original authors of the report ; and 

 it is plain, that Mr. Locke meant real cye-witnefles, when he fpeaks of 



the 



