560 



Designs for layi7ig out 



that he never could be wrong, and that therefore the very act of 

 enquiry was an act of indehcacy, as calhng in question his general 

 veracity. 



These are a few of many ideas which have often been im- 

 pressed upon my mind by the manner in which discussions have 

 been conducted ; and, should you think proper to insert them, I 

 humbly hope they may be somewhat instrumental in leading us 

 to sacrifice our false principles of consistency upon the altar of 

 truth ; and, while taking the utmost care that we are fairly dealt 

 with by our opponent, that we may display similar anxiety in 

 retracting our opinions as soon as the error of them is made 

 apparent : fully convinced that, though a fleeting honour may 

 sometimes be obtained by artfully evading the force of a home- 

 thrust argument, by an irrelevant dissimulating system of reason- 

 ing, it will sooner or later be treated with deserved contempt ; 

 while at no time can the honour derived from it be for an instant 

 compared with that which, after the first moment's irritation 

 from having been deceived is past, will be universally stamped 

 upon the character of the man who, acting from sterling prin- 

 ciples of honour and sincerity, has the noble manliness to publish 

 a declaration of his misconceptions, lest his previous recommend- 

 ation of what he has by experience found to be erroneous should 

 be the means of leading others astray. 



Hyde Park Corner, Sept, 15, 1835, 



