354 MEMOIR OF AUGUSTUS DE MOEGAN. 



186f>. Philosophy, without any reference to their theological opinions 

 or their ecclesiastical denomination, because their theology or 

 their denomination will in no way affect their teaching of 

 anatomy, or Latin, or Natural Philosophy. But the College 

 may reasonably and consistently think twice before appointing a 

 professional theologian Professor of Mental Philosophy ; because 

 it is not only possible, but not unlikely, that his professional 

 theology will make him a worse teacher of mental philosophy. 

 We will borrow the language of one of the assailants of the 

 Council. * Such is the nature of speculative inquiry, that of 

 necessity it brings into view the truths of Revelation, and forces 

 up the question whether they agree with the principles which 

 the thinker has reached. If his mind have the logical grasp 

 requisite for the profoundest of all studies, he will not be content 

 with laying down certain doctrines regarding cognition, but will 

 follow their issues through the windings of thought, till they 

 come into contact with theology itself.' True : and if his 

 theology be really his own, good ; but if his theology be a fore- 

 gone conclusion something which he has accepted independently 

 of philosophical investigation, if he is trammelled by connexion 

 with a party or a denomination, if he has an ecclesiastical position 

 to maintain, or a theological reputation to lose, there is no small 

 chance that his philosophy will be, or has been, modified by con- 

 tact with his theology. We put the case generally ; but there is a 

 strong a priori probability that a layman will be a more unpre- 

 judiced, and therefore a better teacher of mental philosophy than 

 a minister of religion ; and, if so, it is no part of the duty of the 

 Council to ignore the distinction. 



If the general principle be sound, there is no force in the 

 objection that our late Professor, Dr. Hoppus, was a minister of 

 religion. If the general rule be a safe one, the fact that no 

 harm followed from one departure from it l is no argument for 

 lightly departing from it a second time ; and still less is it an 



1 The suggestion that the election of Dr. Hoppus was at the time 

 regarded as a departure from a general rule, shows that the writer of 

 this passage had not been connected with the College from its founda- 

 tion. The elections of two clergymen of the Church of England, among 

 the first appointed, were looked on rather as affirmations of a distinct 

 principle than as departures from an unexpressed ' general rule.' 



When Dr. Hoppus's name first appeared in the list of Professors, a 

 remark was made in my hearing on his being a minister of religion. 

 The reply, given by an influential member of the institution, was, ' We 

 do not consider these things.' S. E. DE M, 



