"wherein the Object is Victory not Truth. 659 



ing, and yet exhibiting the desire to wound, without the moral 

 courage of striking an open blow ; namely, by pricking you with 

 a weapon which ought never to be seen upon the field of enquiry : 

 I allude to the too common inconsistency of neither attacking 

 the reasoning, nor yet the materials, of which the arguments 

 are framed, but endeavouring to depreciate the abihties of the 

 agent employed, and, by taunts, sneers, and personalities, trying 

 to ruffle his spirits, and thus divert him from the real case at issue 

 This is often accomplished by insinuations, such as, " What can 

 he know ? " " Where has he been to learn ? " " What expe- 

 rience has he had?" "Whose systems has he examined?" 

 " A pretty fellow, indeed, a fine specimen of presumption, to call 

 in question the sayings and doings of men whose very names, 

 appended to a system, used to be a guarantee of its truth ! " 



A practice like this, which, although (thanks to the improving 

 taste of the public) it can scarcely find vent in any respectable 

 publication, is yet freely indulged in by many so far as their in- 

 fluence extends, must inspire, in the mind of every man who has 

 a sincere regard for the interests of truth, the deepest regret 

 that such attempts should be made to crush incipient merit, 

 particularly as they must at the same time have a deteriorating 

 influence in prostrating the intellect, perverting the talents, and. 

 weakening the moral sensibilities of those engaged in such an 

 undertaking. 



We may allude to another method, adopted by those who are 

 more anxious to secure a personal triumph than the triumph of 

 truth : I allude to the introduction of irrelevant matter in a 

 discussion, when your opponent seems to be fully aware that he 

 has no chance of success in meeting you upon the chosen ground, 

 and therefore cunningly holds out a bait to allure you from your 

 position ; which he no sooner effects, than, keeping up a retreat- 

 ing fire, like the hero who, " though conquered, yet would argue 

 still," till he has gained a favourable position, and observes you 

 following, but walking heavily in fields with which you are little 

 acquainted, he rushes down, and, ten to one, obtains a victory be- 

 fore you have an opportunity of retreating to, or getting a sight 

 of, the position you had foolishly left. Hence the importance of 

 discarding all irrelevant matter in a discussion, and the impro- 

 priety of admitting even an inappropriate simile, which, if artfully 

 managed, might be made the subject of enquiry, instead of the 

 previous question ; while still more subversive of truth is the prac- 

 tice of bringing forward the general good character of, and the ad- 

 vantages conferred by, an individual, as a guarantee for the merits 

 of a system which he had propounded, and which has been pro- 

 posed for examination, instead of grappling with it as to its in- 

 trinsic value ; as if the general validity of the author's statements, 

 and his benevolent disposition, should operate upon us as a proof 



s s 4 



