I will not attempt to reconcile these contra- 

 dictory statements, but I conclude they are 

 specimens of that * " variety which is the source 

 <c of every thing which is beautiful and interest- 

 c * ing in the external world the foundation of 

 cc the whole moral fabric of the universe." 



On these principles it is no difficult task to 

 account for your dislike of " all attempts at 

 " making mankind act or think alike." No 

 wonder you cannot endure " those legislators 

 " and rulers of the world, who have persisted 

 * c for centuries in endeavouring to reduce the 

 " opinions and the belief of their subjects to 

 <c certain fancied standards of perfection, and 

 cc to impress on human thought that dreary 

 " sameness and dull monotony which all the 

 " discipline and rigor of a religious sect has 

 " been hardly able to maintain in its followers, 

 " &c." Indeed, Sir, this would be a fatal era 

 for scepticism, if the success of such projects 

 could be realized. " You cannot doubt there- 

 " fore that a day will arrive when the attempt 

 " at imposing uniformity of opinions will be 

 " deemed as irrational and as little desirable, as 

 " to endeavour at producing sameness of face 

 " or stature." f 



Passing over those remarks at present, which 

 relate to the difference of a species and variety, 

 1 shall confine my observations to the conclud- 

 ing parts of this Lecture, in which you put 



* P. 95. f P. 96. 



