CONCESSION FROM INDOLENCE AND FEAR. 9 



employed metaphorically, and that it was not intended 

 they should be accepted in a strictly literal sense. But 

 metaphors often mislead, and much of the science of our 

 time will be deservedly laughed at, because her exponents 

 have endeavoured to smother essential and irreconcileable 

 differences of character and quality in ambiguous phrases, 

 and grandiloquent assertions. In other instances, to some 

 of which I propose to direct the reader's attention in this 

 book, the same word has been used in more than one 

 sense, and an apparently telling argument constructed upon 

 an ingeniously contrived ambiguity of expression. 



To concede a position which, after patient enquiry, has 

 been proved to be untenable, is judicious as well as right, 

 but what will be thought of a reckless surrender of a well 

 tried and established position raised by the honest work 

 and self-denying devotion of thousands, fortified by the 

 wisdom of the wisest who have preceded us, without even 

 an examination by the defenders as to the strength of the 

 walls, or a question being asked as to the power of the as- 

 saulting forces ? Who, but enervated, indolent, lukewarm, 

 and incapable soldiers would agree to capitulate merely 

 from the fear of having hurled against them such projectiles 

 as "illiberal," "prejudiced," "narrow-minded," "bigoted," 

 "orthodox?" The grand exhibition of force and energy 

 ought not to have excited alarm, and intrigue should have 

 been rendered hopeless by watchfulness and care. Had 

 vigour, intelligence, and industry been manifested, from the 

 first no harm would have resulted from such attacks as 

 have been made, but men have allowed themselves to be 

 frightened by meaningless noise, and some have surrendered 

 from dread of being mortally wounded by a sneer. Others 



