436 
In a metropolis we contemplate 
the human mind in all its inflections. 
If we were to judge of men by the 
condition of their minds (which 
‘perhaps is the moft impartial man- 
ner of judging) we fhould not con- 
fult the year of their birth to daté 
their ages; and an intellectual re- 
gifter might be drawn up, on a to- 
tally different plan from our paro- 
chial ones. A perfon may, accord- 
ing to the vulgar era, be in the ma- 
turity of life, when, by our philo- 
fophical epocha, he is born in the 
fenth century. That degree of 
mind which regulated the bigotry 
of a monk in the middle ages, may 
be difeovered in a modern reétor. 
An adventurous {pirit in a red coat, 
who is almoft as defirous (to ufe the 
wit of South) to receivea kifs from 
the mouth ofa cannon as from that 
of his miftrefs, belongs to the age 
of chivalry; and if he fhould com- 
pofe verfes, and be magnificentl 
prodigal, he is a gay and noble Trou- 
badour. A farcaftic. philofopher, 
who inftructs his fellow - citizens, 
and retires from their fociety, is a 
contemporary with Diogenes ; and 
he who, reforming the world, graces 
inftruction with amenity, may be 
placed in the days of Plato. Our 
vulgar politicians muft be arranged 
ainong the Roundheads and Olivers; 
and Tom Paine himfelf is fo very 
ancient as to be a contemperary of 
Shimei. The refult of our calcu- 
lations would be, that the enlight- 
ened public form an inconfidérable 
number. , 
It muft, however, be confeffed, 
that what knowledge has béen actu- 
mulated by modern philofophy, 
cannot eafily perifh ; the art of 
printing has imparied ftability to 
our intelleétual ftructures, in what 
depc ads on the mechanical prefer- 
ANNUAL REGISTER, 1797. 
vation. Human fcience can no 
more be annihilated by an Omar. 
A fingular f{peétacle has, therefore, 
been exhibited ; and it is fometimes 
urged by thofe who contemplate, 
with pleafing aftonifhment, the ac- 
tual progrefs of the human mind, as 
a proof of the immutability of truth, 
that, in the prefent day, every en- 
lightened individual, whether he re- 
fides at Paris, at Madrid, or at Lon- 
don, now. thinks alike; no varia- 
tion of climate, no remotenefs of 
place, not even national prejudices, 
more variable and more remote than 
either, deftroy that unanimity of 
opinion which they feel on certain 
topics effential to human welfare. — 
‘This appears to be a fpecious ar- 
gument in favour of the enlightened 
public. But we fhould recollect, 
that this unanimity of opinion, 
which fo frequently excites. fur- 
prife, is owing to their deriving 
their ideas from the fame fources: 
at Paris, at Madrid, and at London, 
the fame authors are read, and, 
therefore, the fame. opinions are. 
formed. 
Thus we account for this unani-+ 
mity of opinion; and we may now 
reafonably enquire whether un- 
animity of. opinion always indi- 
cates permanent truth? It is cer- 
tain that very extravagant opinions 
were once univerfally - received : 
it becomes not an individual to af- 
firm that fome of our modern api- 
nions are marvelloufly extravagant; 
we muft leave them for the decifion 
- of pofterity. We may, however, 
fay to the greateft genius, Look 
at what your equals have done, 
and obferve how frequently they 
have ezred. Reflect, that when- 
ever an Ariftotle, a Defcartes, ant 
a Newton appeared, they formed a 
new ep ocha inthe annals of human 
I knowledge; 
