The works of the Rev. William Thom, late minister ... - waughfamily.ca

200 LETTERS, TRACTS, tffc,oufly refufe that ever he writ the piece, and endeavourto fatlier it upon fome unknow^n or ignorantperfon. This opinion gains no credit. The pubhflierfirmly believes the motives mentioned in the Letterto be the real and genuine ones, and hopes, that ifthere fliall unluckily be a controverfy on this point,the learned gentlemen will manage it with decency,and with the temper of philofophers. When greatfcholars have different views of a fa6t or fpeculativepoint, they treat one another politely, and keep everin mind, that to difcover or convey truth is the greatend of all the controverfies of the learned.5. And hftly, He begs the other learned gentlemen,inftead of vain altercations with their brother,to publifh, as faft as ever they can, thofe valuable manufcriptswhich they have hnifhed, whether compofedby one or by the joint efforts of five or fix ; becaufeto print them is the mofl effe6tual method to prefervethem from being loft. And he humbly calls uponthem to take warning from that woeful an^ unfortunateaccident v/hich fo lately happened to one ofthemfelves whofe whole manufcripts, the labour of•,many painful days and nights, was fhipwrecked, andcaft away upon the coaft of Norway -, a misfortunethe more grievous, as it is fo obfervable, and neverlike to be repaired ; for, ever fince, from all that unfortunategentleman's le6lures and difcourfes, the fatallofs of his papers hath been too manifeft ; andhath been painfully felt and heavily bemoaned by«very perfon who went and ftayed to hear him.