the best of it.' 'I hope too,' returned the other, 'you'll grant that a part is less than the whole.' 'I grant that too,' cried Moses, it is but just and reasonable.' 'I hope,' cried the squire, 'you will not deny that the two angles of a triangle are equal to two right ones.' 'Nothing can be plainer,' returred the other, and looked round with his usual importance. Very well,' cried the squire, speaking very quick, 'the premises being thus settled, I proceed to observe, that the concatenation of selfexistences, proceeding in a reciprocal duplicate ratio, naturally produces a problematical dialogism, which in some measure proves that the essence of spirituality may be referred to the second predicable.'-'Hold, hold,' cried the other, 'I deny that; do you think I can thus tamely submit to heterodox doctrines?' What!' replied the squire, as if in a passion, not submit ! Answer me one plain question: Do you think Aristotle right when he says, that relatives are related?' Undoubtedly,' replied the other. 'If so then,' cried the squire, answer me directly to what I propose: Whether do you judge the analytical investigation of the first part of my enthymen deficient, secundum quoad, or quoad minus? and give me your reasons; I say, directly.' I protest,' cried Moses, 'I don't comprehend the force of your rea

6

6

soning; but if it be reduced to one simple proposition, I fancy it may then have an answer.' 'O, sir,' cried the squire, 'I am your most humble servant; I find you want me to furnish you with argument and intellects too. No, sir, there I protest you are too hard for me.' This effectually raised the laugh against poor Moses, who sat the only dismal figure in a group of merry faces; nor did he offer a single syllable more during the entertainment.

But though all this gave me no pleasure, it had a very different effect upon Olivia, who mistook it for wit, though but a mere act of the memory. She thought him therefore a very fine gentleman; and such as consider what powerful ingredients a good figure, fine clothes, and fortune are in that character, will easily forgive her. Mr. Thornhill, notwithstanding his real ignorance, talked with ease, and could expatiate upon the common topics of conversation with fluency. It is not surprising then that such talents should win the affections of a girl, who by education was taught to value an appearance in herself, and consequently to set a value upon it in another.

Upon his departure, we again entered into a debate upon the merits of our young landlord. As he directed his looks and conversation to Olivia, it was no longer

doubted but that she was the object that induced him to be our visiter. Nor did she seem to be much displeased at the innocent raillery of her brother and sister upon this occasion. Even Deborah herself seemed to share the glory of the day, and exulted in her daughter's victory as if it were her own. " And now, my dear,' cried she to me, 'I'll fairly own, that it was I that instructed my girls to encourage our landlofd's addresses. I had always some ambition, and you now as that I was right; for, who knows how this may end?' 'Ay, who knows that indeed,' answered I, with a groan: for my part I don't much like it; and I could have been better pleased with one that was poor and honest, than this fine gentleman with his fortune and infidelity; for, depend on it, if he be what I suspect him, no free-thinker shall ever have a child of mine.'

6

'Sure, father,' cried Moses, 'you ar too severe in this; for heaven will never arraign him for what he thinks, but for what he does. Every man has a thousand vicious thoughts, which arise without his power to suppress. Thinking free of religion may be involuntary with this gentleman; so that allowing his sentiments to be wrong, yet he is no more to be blamed for them, than the governor of a city with out walls for the shelter he is obliged to afford an invading enemy.'

6

True, my son,' cried I; but if the governor invites the enemy there, he is justly culpable. And such is always the case with those who embrace error. The vice does not lie in assenting to the proofs they see, but in being blind to many of the proofs that offer. Like corrupt judges, they may determine right op that part of the evidence they hear; but they will not hear all the evidence. Thus, though our erroneous opinions be involuntary when formed, yet as we have been wilfully corrupt, or very negligent in forming them, we deserve punishment for our vice, or contempt for our folly.'

My wife now kept up the conversation, though not the argument: she observed, that several very prudent men of our acquaintance were free-thinkers, and made very good husbands; and she knew some sensible girls that had skill enough to make converts of their spouses: And who knows, my dear,' continued she, ' what Olivia may be able to do. The girl has a great deal to say upon every subject, and to my knowledge is very well skilled in controversy.'

Why, my dear, what she have read?' cried I. cur to me that I ever put

controversy can 'It does not ocsuch books into

her hands you certainly overrate her merit. Indeed, papa,' replied Olivia,

6

she does not; I have read a great deal of controversy. I have read the disputes between Thwackum and Square, the controversy between Robinson Crusoe and Friday the savage, and I am now employed in reading the controversy in Religious Courtship. Very well,' cried I, that's a good girl; I find you are perfectly qualified for making converts, and so go help your mother make the gooseberry-pie.'

CHAPTER VIII.

6

An amour which promises little good fortune, yet may be productive of much.

THE next morning we were again visited by Mr. Burchell, though I began for certain reasons to be displeased with the frequency of his return; but I could not refuse him my company and fireside. It is true his labor more than requited his entertainment; for he wrought among us with vigor, and either in the meadow, or at the hay-rick, put himself foremost. Besides, he had always something amusing to say that lessened our toil, and was at once so out of the way, and yet so sensible, that I loved, laughed at, and pitied him. My only dislike arose from an attachment he discovered to my daughter: he would, in a jesting manner, call her his little mistress; and when he brought each of the