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

344 LETTERS, TRACTS, iffc.worthy gentlemen, and we cannot think they willever intereft themfelves in this aiFair. We are ratherof opinion, that they have been mentioned in thatpamphlet only to make them fufpedted by the friendsof trade and religion. But their enemies have heremiifed their aim, for we are convinced of their innocence.One of them has long been at the head ofpublic affairs in this city, and we are pcrfuaded he isa better politician than to introduce knowledge amongthe common people. If ignorance be not the motherof devotion, we are fure it is the mother of obedience.Knowledge makes men afpirc to power, andenables them to oppofe their governors. Hiftoricalknowledge particularly is very pernicious to government."We remicmber to have heard from a bookifliexcifeman, who once lived in our neighbourhood,that the Greek and Roman hiflorians, and feme fewmodern ones too,give people fuch notions of libertyas are quite incompatible with the dutiful fubmilTionwhich fubje61:s owe to their magiftrates. Now, asknowledge is fo dangerous to the fprings of government,we may hope that academies will always be difcouragedby men in power.And unlefs the prefentfchemx for creeling one in this city be countenancedby fom.ebody in power, we will venture to foretel,without pretending to the gift of prophecy, that itwill come to nought.The authors of-that pamphlet indeed feem to thinkthat the inhabitants of this city may be driven intothis fchcme by dint of fatire. But here they arequite out of their logic. Our prefent ftate of ignorance,as they are pieafed to call it, is attended witha certain firmnefs of mind, that makes us fuperiorto all attacks of this nature. Some people indeedare pieafed to baptife this our firmnefs of mindby the name of ftupidity. But if it fliould be ftupidity,we rejoice in the pofTeflion of it. It puts usbeyond the reach of the only weapon with whicli