&54 JQIBERTY OP THE PRE5S; 



inconsiderately defpife danger as well as violate the laws 

 of decency and order without remorfe. Caius himfelf 

 could not deny that there are cafes, where the like in- 

 ftances of precipitancy and thoughtleffnefs are ufed to 

 be attended with ftripes. Indeed he might excufe 

 himfelf on the fcore of a righteous zeal for the caufe 

 of humanity: but he would be anfwered, that a wife 

 man fhould know how to keep his paflions, however 

 juft and good their object and aim might be, within 

 due bounds. It is likely that he might not be wanting 

 in a plauflble reply : but in all cafes, it is a main point 

 to give the adverfary no advantage. 



Nothing, however, is more natural, than for fuch 

 paffionate beings as we poor homunciones are,* to be 

 heated above what is neceffary or advifable, when our 

 zeal is too ftrongly excited. In thefe, as in all other 

 cafes, where men fplit into parties, we find the obfer- 

 yation of Horace to hold good : 



Iliacos intra muros peccatur et extra. 

 The hufband, fays a vulgar proverb, breaks the pans 

 and the wife the pots. Commonly nothing comes of 

 fuch houfe-keeping, but Iherds of earthern ware. But, 

 my friend, I fhall always be of opinion, that a man 

 may utter the ftrongeft truths with impunity, if he 

 delivers them in a calm and eafy manner, and without 

 perfonal affront to fuch as think otherwife. Not that 

 I would have a man fpeak coldly and indifferently on 

 truths whereon the welfare of mankind depends : let 

 him fpeak with all the warmth of fentiment, in a ftyle 

 of perfonal conviction and of pure benevolence, and 

 yet with temper and moderation, and he will offend no 

 one. Or, in cafe any perfon fhould be felf-conceited 



and 



