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

L2TTERS, TRACTS, 'd'S'.42^Been- aimed at, the ftudent was diimlfljd with an admonitionand rebuke, is it not a pity that this cenfurc:was not adminiilered in private ? Though the expreffionswere improper, yet the lad was young 5 it washis firil ofFence Jhe was ibiry for it, and made fubmiflions.Or, after the trial was begun, is it not agreat pity that the mailers did not accept of theexplicationof terms given in to them in court, and embracethe offer made them by Gomalo ? This was.evidentlytheir intercft j for from the beginning of thetrial to the end of it, they appeared more like pannelsthaa the ftudent, who indeed fupported himfelfthrough the whole of it with a manly aiilirance. Ifby this profecution the mailers dehgned to extendand ellablifh their authority, they took a very impropermethod to do it, and have been very unfuccefsful.After exerting their utmofl "ftrength, they failedin their attempt 5 for the cenfure inflicled wasnext to nothing. It was a (Iretching of their authority,and authority overllretched is commonly enfeebled.So that if petulant talk, or licentious principles,have really got footing among the fludents, it iswell if fome of the mod headilronvro -md thoughtlef>oof them be not emboldened in petulance by the iiTueof this trial. In fhort, it is certain that the collegeacquired no fort of honour, either in Clutha or at adiilance, by this profecution. Thefe and other obviousdifadvantages,are the eiTecls of meafures raflilyentered into, and ftubbornly and unrelentingly purfued.Nor am I able to difcern any good eff^tl whichthis profecution can pofhbly produce, except that, bythe hardihips he hath fuiTered, the ftudent may himfelfbecome an inftance in proof of the pofition hecontended for in the 'parliament of Oceana, namely^that adverjity is a better fchool for virtue than pro^fperity.Chap, 44. It hath appeared from the hiflory, thatfbmeof the mod difguiling expreffions thrown out;'N n z