1 791- LITERARJ INTELLrGEKCER. 295 



nation at large. It is perhaps impofllhle to compute 

 tiie full amount of the benefits that focietj would de- 

 rive i'rom tins meafure ; but taken in this point of 

 view, it is obvious it mufl be very great. 



With regard to debtors of note, who are in general 

 greatly more culpable tliah thofe in lower rank, as they 

 attract th>i attention of the people, thefpirit of the times 

 affords them a protection, againll fuifcring undue feve- 

 rities in priion. — But fuch debtors would rind it a much 

 more diiTicuIt matter tlian.they now do, to iliake them- 

 fclves free from the effecls of a bankruptcy, and after- 

 wards to live in affluence and fplendor, while many of 

 their creditors were, through their means, rcdr.ced to 

 poverty and want. 



Further explanations on this fuhjcB v:ill bs given in our 

 next. 



For the Bee. 



On the prevalence of Error. 

 Truth is reality ; error is nonentity. The one is the 

 fource of goody the ether of evil to the human race. — 

 In proportion to the deteftation of honelt men towards 

 every fpecies of delufion, deception and falfehood, fo 

 Ihould be their efforts in removing ignorance, inconfi- 

 deration, undue prejudice, precipitance of judgment, 

 and unjuft diicrlm.ination as to the refpeftive importance 

 of different fubjefts and purfuits ; all of which give 

 countenance and fupport to the prevalence of errror a- 

 mong mankind. 



Whatever be the fubjefl under confideration, a due 

 knoivleJge of it is an indifp<nfible rcqiiifite, towards a 

 true judgjuent thereof. Mankind, therefore, ibould en- 

 deavour to balance the i}alue of Inoivledge, againll the 

 temptations to ignorance, peculiar to their refpetlive fi- 

 tuations in li'.c. Thus, in ligh rank, the allurements 

 to inferior pleafure, would more often lofc their influ- 



