386 



limits of my capacity better than most men, 

 I might long have passed for a driveller, if 

 the Edinburgh Reviewers in their account 

 of the Analytical Inquiry, had not very 

 kindly taken my part : they have defended 

 me (not without a little risposte to my an- 

 tagonist) more ably, and with much more 

 effect than I could have defended myself: 

 it is clear that it was, and could only be a 

 slip of the pen; but they have pointed out 

 whence the mistake arose, and how by a 

 slight alteration, which I have readily 

 adopted, the passage might be made con- 

 sistent with the general tenor of the reason- 

 ing, and with common sense.* In short 

 they have taken Mr. Knight's key from him, 

 which, after all, seems to have been very 

 like a lord of the bed-chamber's ; a key of 

 mere parade, and never intended to unlock- 

 any thing. 



Controversy I am afraid has some resem- 

 blance to gaming ; those who are warmly 

 engaged in cither, can hardly refrain from 



* Edinburgh Review, No. xiv. p. SQQ. Jan. 1806. 



