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

, wereI.ILTTETIS, TRACTS, bV.^3S5perron, who, it was aHirmrd, Iiaci abuf(?d them-, andit is beyond all doubt, that it wis with this view thatfuch exprefhons were publiflied in the city : But thecitizens of Chitha judged and aclcd quite diiYerentJyfrom what the protcflbYs wilhed and cxpefted. Nofooner did the generous inhabitants of that city hearthat a violent proiecution was relblved on, foundedupon caufes which to them feemod totally groundlefs,but they inftantly determined to fupport the perfc-"'cuted fbudent : They fubfcribexi a paper, binding tliemfelvesto lend him money to defray the expcnce of founnecefTary and fpiteful a procefs.This contributionin the caufe of liberty, and to fupport a young perfonwho was a ftranger (for he had refovtcd to the coi-•^.I'^gQ from fome diitant part of the idand), is an ilhij^ftriouspart of the characfer of the citizens of Clutha: For it is a demonftration, that however deeplythat ancient people were engaged in commerce, tlicvof a liberal turn of mind, and \\4ien they faw aproper occafion, interefted tliemfeives in behalf of apoor and innocent ftranger, in oppoiition to the tyrannyof bigotted pedants and furious ecclefiaftics.^Chap. 14. It may, however, without any fort ofreflecfion, be well fuppofedj that the inhabitants ofClutha were not ail of the generous fentiments I havejuft now taken notice of j there were many in thatcitVj whofe hearts were hardened bv means of commerce; many, who had never read any other bookbut thofe y/hich conveyed the narrowell ideas aboutreligious belief, and which iecm to have been m.uchof the fam^e kind with thofe called chapman books,fo much complained of in the prefent age : In fliort,there were many of the people, who had all theirlives trembled to converfe with any perfon, who, uponthe moft abftrufe and difputed points, was believedto think any ways differently from themifelvts ;many who, fmce they travelled with ^a pack upontheir backs, had never travelled beyond the fuburbsK k