]2 Correction in the Applications of the Electric Column, 



or the patience of ymir reatlers, by a lengtliened discussion on 

 tliC contrivance of an electrical toy, however ingenious it may 

 be ; and therefore f,;el it only necessary to observe, that I have 

 endeavoured to sta.1.e the facts with whicii I was acquainted, 

 distinctly and impartially, without offering' any insinuation, or 

 drawing any inference i>ut froin iny own experiments, which had 

 previously indicated every conclusion I have ventured to offer ou 

 the occasion. 



I am, dear sir. 



Yours, Sec. 



London, July 4, lf!l5. G. I. SlNGivR. 



P.S. — It appears to me that much misapplication of time and 

 talent would be spared, and many trifling but vexatious disputes 

 be prevented, if men would endeavour to estimate the value of 

 their individual labours with more diflidencc ; and attend a little 

 to the advice of Dr. Franklin, who has so properly pointed out, 

 both bv precept and example, the necessity of doubting one's own 

 iafallibilitv. The following remarks of a reverend contemporary 

 of ours on this s',il)ject, may perhaps be quoted with advantage: 



" I marvel much how mortals can spend their time hi cavil- 

 ling at each other — in murdering with tiieir pens as well as their 

 swords, all that is excellent and admirable in human nature — 

 instead of curbing their passions, elevating their hopes, and 

 tranquillizing tlielr fears. Every eveuhig, for at least one-third 

 of the year, heaven has fixed in the sky yonder visible monitor 

 to man. Calmnccs and splendour are her attendants: no dark 

 passions, no carking cares, neither spli^en nor jealousy seem to 

 dwell in that bright orb, where, as has been fondly imagined, 

 ' the wretched may have rest.' — And here we do nothing but 

 fret and fume if our fancied merits are not instantly rewarded, 

 or if another wear a sprig of laurel more verdant than ourselves. 

 *** * * ************ 

 ********* 



" This is the dangerous Cvonsequence not so much of vanity 

 and self-love as of downright literary Quixotism. A man may 

 be cured of vanity as the Frencii nobleman was, — Ecoutcz, 

 Meisicurs! JMonscigneur le Due va dire la 7v.eillcurc cko^e dit 

 monde ! — But for this raving luigovern.able passion of soaring 

 beyond all human comprfiicnsion I fear there is no cure." — 

 P.ev. T. F, Dibdin. Biblicuiania. pp. (i &: 7. 



V. Se- 



