1893.) 
of the doctrine of attraction, and of 
universal gravitation, (founded on it,) 
that they prevailed upon the late Pro- 
fessor Vineé to write and’ publish a 
formal ‘demonstration, ‘ that attraction 
is a constant standing miracle, and 
altogether miraculous wherever it ap- 
pears ; and his Ztemtnvus tract on this 
subject may stiil be bought of any of 
the booksellers to the university of 
Cambridge.’ In the better days of the 
Edinburgh Review, it was ably an- 
swered by Playfair; but,as the Review 
lost many admirers owing to its ho- 
nesty on this occasion, its conductor 
has since become more wary in the 
exertion of that quality. 
If Professor Vince were now alive, 
I have no doubt that he would in like 
manner, and with equal conviction 
and ability, demonstrate the cures of 
the German prince to be in no other 
manner accounted for than as mira- 
eles; and then Hohenloism would 
rank with the miraculous and super- 
stitious philosophy of the age. Science 
in power and authority will not, how- 
ever, suffer for want of supple Vinces ; 
and there are Jacobs to parrot for the 
Quarterly Review, and other syco- 
phants for the Edinbusgh, who, ex- 
cited by the alarm felt’ by the craft of 
the ‘schools, will not permit Hohen- 
loism to be decried while profit is to 
be made of the very saive principles in 
the chairs of philosophy. 
In plain truth, lamentable though it 
be, ‘and’ piqued as the parties will be 
at the association,- the doctrine of 
attraction and Hohenloism are exactly 
analogous in fundamental principles. 
Their flagrant errors ‘are sustained by 
similar confederacies and imposing 
machinery, in proud’ societies ‘and 
ancient universities on ‘the one Kand, 
and in a proud hierarchy and ancient 
establishments on the other; and, 
though each party is flattered by all 
the credulity and superstition in so- 
ciety, yet both are laurhed at by every 
person who troubles himself to think, 
and who possesses the smallest share 
of independance and 
: Common SENSE. 
—— . 
To the Editor of the Monthly Magazine. 
BIR, 
WT seems to be my fate to differ in 
opinion from Mr. Bartley (July 
Magazine): I) can assure him, how- 
ever, that with me such circumstance 
is not the slightest indication of disre- 
MontTaLy Mac, No. 887. 
Mr. Lawrence on Usury. 
217 
spect. On ‘the contrary, ‘there are 
many men, with whom Tam compelled 
to differ on matters of fair controversy, 
whom I, nevertheless, hold in the 
highestdegree of respect. - 
I must acknowledge, I haveno very 
exalted opinion, so far as Tam able to 
understand it, of our modern Martinet 
and ultra system of political economy. 
It appears to me, in its grammatical 
structure, much to resemble that of the 
philosophy of Kant, the full-blown 
superstructure of which so completely 
overshadows, that it conceals the 
slender foundation. A secker after 
truth, in either of them, will find him- 
self so embarrassed and-entangled ia 
the outworks, that his weariéd and 
confused intellect will! scarcely be able 
to arrive at the penctrale, the ‘sanctum 
sanctorum, of his object. There is yet 
a true and legitimate system’ to be 
formed of political ‘economy,—a fair 
and equitable adjustment of the rights 
of things, as’of the rights of man; and 
which, in conjunction, will Jead to a 
just and proper regimen of the tights 
both of men and things. This, how- 
ever, I regret to say, { cannot discover 
in the Incubrations of’ our modern 
teachers, who haye refined ‘away 
nearly allthe common sense of Decker, 
Quesnai, and Smith. ‘ > 
With respect to the Jaws against 
usury, like their kindred navigation 
laws, and those against monopoly and 
forestalling, all such are ‘emana- 
tions from the wisdom of former and 
less enlightened times, when it was 
supposed that both men and things 
could be no otherwise’ safely governed 
than by arbitrary specific regulations 
and restrictions ; and when the human 
will was retained in swadling clothes, 
and at‘nurse. Soattached were these 
legislators to their functions of Icgal 
control, ‘that they would, if possiblic, 
have subjected the very elements, and 
have confined the winds themselves in 
an /Folian ‘bag. The philosophy of 
restriction, that is, the point’ at'which 
the legitimate ‘species ‘¢nds, and 
oppression, inutility, and folly, begin, 
had not been revealed ; or, if revealed, 
could be comprehended but by few. 
It- was destined to be the glory of 
another age ‘to unfold the sublime 
truth, that not oné shackle beyond the 
well préven and’ obvious necessity, 
should be imposed on the human'will, 
—that law and government, if nomi- 
nally the masters, ought to be essen- 
2'F tially 
