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

226 LETTERS, TRACTS, i^^.You will probably be furprlfed,acquaintances, are now become a Society.that we, your oldBut whenTracked academicians are uniting in focietles for demolifliingour trade, and undermining our religion,we tliink it is full time that the friends of trade andreligion fliould alTociate themfelves for their defence.Thefe academial gentlemen need not think to terrifyus, by calling themfelves a Society ; for we are convincedthat the uncorrupted inhabitants of this cityare flill a very numerous and refpeclable body. We,who glory in being-of that number, have refolved totake joint meafures in oppofing this academy-fcheme,and it is with pleafure we inform you that great numbersare every day applying for admittance to ourSociety.The authors of this propofal for an academy feemto have minded their books more than their tradeit cannot therefore be expected that we, who havebeen all along men cf bufmefs only, fliould be able tocope with thefe people at fine writing. All that wepropofe is, to fet forth, in the way of fober reafoning,the dangerous confequences cf this academy, fhouldour fellow-citizens be fo far left to themfelves as toWe think we are called to exert ouffelvesere£l one.on this occafion ; and a fenfe of our own weaknefsihall not deter us from our duty.The authors of that pamphlet are pleafed to faythat we are ignorant. Has any body feen us throw.''away our money Or have we been catched makingbargains again ft our own intereft ? Thefe indeed hadbeen fymptoms of ignorance. But if we have nobook-knowledge, if we have no knowledge of hiftorv,if we are totally unacquainted with geography, if wehave no fmattering of natural philofophy,, are wetherefore to be branded with ignorance ? This, however,is not the cafe with us. We are not fo ignorantof the hiftory of our own country as thefe peoplewould reprefeat us. There is no trader who has