fjgi, the Infarmir. 2 '7 



this prejudice of tlie mind, are capable, by slow- 

 degrees, of making the most palpable absurdities 

 be n6t only tolerated, but even be idolized as su- 

 perior to the dictates of reason itself. The iiiflu- 

 ence of habit is such, as to make the man who 

 dares attempt to controul it, run even the riHz 

 of being deemed insane, — a disturber of the pu- 

 blic peace, — an enemy to good order, and a dan- 

 gerous member of society. 



In the laws respecting the customs, some regu- 

 lations, though sparingly, have been adopted for 

 punilhing the officers who, in the discharge of 

 their duty, overstep the bounds of their authority, 

 and commit outrages on the subject ; Judges have 

 been fined, and put to death for errors i'? the dis- 

 charge of the duties of their office ; but where Is 

 the law that has been enacted for punilliing an ex- 

 cise officer in the discharge of his duty ? If there 

 be such a law, I know it not. If there be such a 

 law, the universal practice' of all our courts disre- 

 gards it. 



The following case which recently happened in 

 this country, plainly fliows that tliere is no such 

 law in existence. 



A merchant in Edinburgh having lately imported 

 some pieces of French cambrics, paid the duties 

 for them ; and every form required by law was 

 complied with at the Customhouse. Some of this 

 cambric was afterwards sold to a person who kept 

 a retail ftiop in a country village. The goods, 

 like others, were openly displayed in his fhop. 

 An excise officer hap|)eued to be there one day. 



