LECTURE Vir. 337 



and intelligent observers? Or why does 

 the untutored Indian deride the cruel tor- 

 ments of his enemies, but that he also 

 believes he is going to the land where his 

 father is gone, and would feel shame to be 

 recognized a degenerate son ? 



Being desirous to avoid all personality, 

 and to contend only against opinions, it 

 seemed necessary to denounce those that I 

 meant to oppose, at the very outset, and 

 in the first lecture ; for if we try to hit a 

 mark, and others are to judge of our suc- 

 cess or failure, it is necessary to place the 

 object distinctly in the view of the obser- 

 vers. Yet even in ascribing opinions and 

 conduct to a party, under the denomina- 

 tion of modern sceptics, I may give offence; 

 for some may suppose themselves compre- 

 hended in it, though they do not actually be- 

 long to it; whilst others may even think it 

 unwarrantable to suppose that there can be 

 any such party at I have described. Hesi- 

 tation in decision is natural to many cha- 

 racters, and caution, to a certain extent, is 

 an indispensable ingredient in all those 

 who have any pretensions to be accounted 



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