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

328 LETTERS, TRACTS, 'd'C,appearance in difguife. An eminent phyfician, whois lately deceafed, and anotlier learned gentleman,y/ere one day walking by tlie river fide with a veryv/orthy inhabitant of thiy city. On a fudden the citizenilarts from tiiem, and runs forward to meet aman who was coming toward them in a very fnabbydrefs."What is that tattered fellow, (fays the phyfitian)of whom our friend feems to be fo fond?"— " Iam no way acquainted with him," replied the o-ther gentleman, " but he is certainly a man worthmoney."We are no v/ay concerned however at being calleddull. We are convinced that this malicious infinuationproceeds entirely from envy at our wealth.DuUnefsis an afperiion that has been thrown on richpeople in all ages. The inhabitants of ancient Carthage,and our indudrious ^neighbours the Dutch inmodern times, have met with this treatment. Andpeople who would be rich in any age muft lay theiraccount with being called dull by thofe who are incapableof imitating them.But indeed it is no way furprinng that the autliorsof this propofal fhouid fpeak fo contemptibly of us,when even the learned profeilbrs of the univerfityliave not efcapcd their fcurrilous tongues.They faythey are lazy, and allow their fludents but a fmailmoiety of initrucStion. They fay too tliat they ihouldchange their plan of education, and fet up in the academywa)^. And they even infinuate, that fome oftlic learned profefTors are ignorant of the things theypretend to teach. But for our part, we have alwayslived in great friendihip with the profelTors- We doiiot pretend to judge about their quota 01 learning ^but as to their plan of education, we arc quite fatif--iied v/ith it. One Sunday, a good many years ago,one of us happened to attend a church, in a certaincitv, where tlic minidcr was remarkable for the badr.els'of his- elocution and the impenetrability of his