1825. a 
real interest of their country’s esta- 
b hed reli ion. And, besides this pow- 
rfl rééommetdation, where does the 
apparatuS of Sacred Criticism so amply 
exist: as’ at Oxford. or Cambridge ? 
Where do rare and curious works, in 
various languages, and tending to the il- 
lustration of Scripture, soamply abound, 
as in those depositaries of literary trea- 
sures? And when is learning so use- 
fully and laudably employed, as when 
applied to the universal advantage of 
society, in the department of its highest 
interest? In what does knowledge so 
well demonstrate its worth, as in the 
utility of which it is made the parent ? 
and what utility can exceed that which 
is connected with the future existence 
to which we are taught to look, and 
without a view of which, our’ present 
abode would be but the dwelling of 
dreariness, sorrow, and despair ? 
Impressed with these sentiments— 
conyinced of the good that would result 
from.a more accurate translation of the 
Seriptures,—especially now, that the 
Bible’ is. so. industriously . circulated 
among the labouring classes of society,— 
I could not, Sir, but deem it far from 
unserviceable, to offer a few arguments 
in fayour of an’ undertaking which, 
I am sensible, thousands would rejoice 
to see realized, and by which, we all 
know, millions would be benefited. 
Crericus. 
; —_ 
voc Mor the Monthly Magazine. 
On'the Uritrty of DEsatine Socretizs. 
HE communication respecting the 
“St. Alban’s Literary Society, con- 
tained in the last number* of your maga- 
zine, seems to require some further 
illustration, I therefore take the liberty 
of addressing to. you an extract of a 
short, essay, entitled as above, which 
was read.a few evenings, ago in a Lon- 
don diterary society of which I have 
the honour: to be a member, and which, 
I hope; you will feel. no objection to 
insert, 
“Tf I were asked, what is the utility of 
such a society as your’s ? I would answer, 
in, the first place, It is an intellectual re- 
creation ; a, rational, and, in most, cases, a 
cheap amusement, In the second, it is 
an exercise of our faculties ; it sharpens 
our attention; it practices our memory ; it 
es us to collect, arrange, and method- 
ur thoughts, In the third, it increases 
' knowledge, by adding to it some of that 
ssessed by our associates, and by fre- 
p. Bi 
On the’ Utility of Debating Societies. 
en SF eae Re SY Ts OER SBE ST Pe 
are Monthly Magazine for October; 
495 
quently inducing us to search for informa- 
tion, in those sources ‘which’ otherwise we 
might'“never have ‘explored. Lastly; it 
teaches us diffidence im our opinions; and, 
consequently, modesty. «It -is natural for 
young people to be ‘wise in their own con= 
ceit :’ we are but too apt to form hasty nds 
tions on matters of science, belles-lettres, 
philosophy, religion, or politics, either from 
the instruction which'we received in our 
infancy, or from books, newspapers, casual 
conyersations, &c. In a thousand ¢ases to 
one, an opinion enters our mind acciden- 
tally, and there takes its residence, uncon- 
tradicted and undisturbed, often to the end 
of our lives, without our ever having had an 
opportunity of examining on what ground 
it is-founded, or, indeed, if there exist any 
foundation for it at all. If the subject hap- 
pens to be brought up in company, we are 
prone to decide upon it er cathedrd, and are 
startled if our notions are called inte ques- 
tion: they are our notions, and therefore 
we feel ourselves bound to defend’ them 
tooth and nail, and generally make up’ by 
blustering for our want of argument. A 
“Now I conceive, that, in this point of 
view, a Debating Society is of infinite’ bel: 
nefit to an individual.. “Whether we bring’ 
a subject forward ourselves, or it be introu 
duced by another, we are bound: to give it: 
some consideration before we. venture to: 
speak upon it. The matter, whateyer. it 
be, is shaped into a single question; and 
whichever side we take, we must search 
for grounds of our support, and bring our. 
ideas together in regular connexion: and’ 
there being no interlocution, and therefore 
little to excite our passions, we shall’ more 
readily discover, that we-often had no suffi 
cient reason for the opinions we have held : 
in short, that every question has ‘more sides 
than one. Such an experiment, frequently, 
repeated, will make us humble and modest, 
We shall begin to doubt our own wisdom ; 
we shall learn to suspect that, as we had 
been mistaken in some matters, we might, 
by possibility, also be mistaken in others : 
and this consideration may lead us either to 
re-consider our opinions in general, or at 
least to moderate our warmth in defending 
them ; every one of which will be a step 
towards the acquisition of truth and our 
own improvement,” 
In conclusion, I beg to add, that, by 
the rules of our institution, as by those 
of the St. Alban’s Society, party politics 
and religious controversy are excluded 
from our discussions ; but with the dif. 
ference, that we have hitherto adhered 
to our rules, and the gentlemen of St. 
Alban’s have not. I do not blame the 
gentlemen for liking the discussion of’ 
such topics as the Liberty of the Press, 
and the Disabilities of Roma Cache 
lics ; but I am at a loss to discover how. 
they can be discussed without party po- 
