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The genuine history of the Britons asserted against Mr. Macpherson ...

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3o5 3<br />

" pleafe, oppugn. Tired <strong>of</strong> polemical writing,<br />

** I leave my fyftem to its fate ; and even my<br />

** vanity joins iflue with my indolence. I hate<br />

" to fight without fpeftators. Should <strong>Mr</strong>.<br />

" Whitaker and I retire into antiquity, <strong>the</strong> ob-<br />

'' flinatc world would not follow us to fo flerile<br />

*' a field. <strong>The</strong> trophies <strong>of</strong> vidlory would dif-<br />

** appear in d^rknefs, and <strong>the</strong> combatants re-<br />

** main with nothing but <strong>the</strong>ir toil.'*<br />

This is <strong>the</strong> whole <strong>of</strong> <strong>Mr</strong>. Macpherfon's reply.<br />

And it is all that could reafonably be expef^ed<br />

from him. In one <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> fevereft trials to which<br />

<strong>the</strong> candour <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> human heart can be fub-<br />

jefled, great allowances mufl be made for any<br />

feeming (Irokes <strong>of</strong> difingenuoufnefs. <strong>The</strong> na-<br />

tural felf-complacency <strong>of</strong> every mind will try to<br />

throw a fhade over its own conviftions, and take<br />

refuge behind its judgment or its vanity, its own<br />

indolence or that <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> public. And, confidered<br />

with <strong>the</strong>fe allowances, <strong>Mr</strong>. Macpherfon is very-<br />

candid, and has virtually fubmiited to every plea<br />

that has been urged againft him. He confefles<br />

<strong>the</strong> inaccuracies and contradiftions, <strong>the</strong> mifrea-<br />

fonings, and <strong>the</strong>' mifquotations, into which <strong>the</strong><br />

equal vivacity and indolence <strong>of</strong> his genius have<br />

thrown him. He owns <strong>the</strong> fafcinating power <strong>of</strong><br />

patriotifm on his mind. And he acknowledges<br />

<strong>the</strong>

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