Star.
London, England, 1829-11-28 00:00:00

LOGIC.

1. Logic, which professes to direct as bow to use that glorious
faculty, that distinguishes us from brutes, in the most proper and
advantageous manner, is a Science that may be so simplified, as to
sender it extensively useful ; but has been so disguised by barba-
rous terms, and perplexed by unnecessary subtleties, so as to render
the study of it rather revolting than alluring.
V. Reason, that godlike attribute, which enables us to distinguish
right from wrong, and to discover truth, though veiled under the
most difficult disguise, like other faculties of the human mind, re.
quires to be educated and exercised before it can perform its time-
tions well. Unassisted Reason is liable to error, to mistake pbu-
sible falsehood for truth, to adopt wrong premises, or to infer false
conclusions.

S. It is for the purpose of assisting her in her inquiries of enabling
her to proceed with unerring precision, and to come to an undoubted
certainty in her conclusions, that Logic offers her aid, to guide
and direct her through the labyrinths of doubt, and the mazes of
perplexity.

4. It is true, that Logic cannot in all cases thus effectually aid
the efforts of Reason; by the utmost exercise of ingenuity, we
cannot, on some subjects, attain to more than a probability; but
even here, Logic is exceedingly valuable ; for. without its aid, we
might be induced to consider some things as certain, which are
merely probable, and to act accordingly, to our great injury
and loss.

5. For instance, did Men reason accurately on the subject of the
perpetual motion, according to the rules of Logic, they would
clearly see, that it cannot exist in this world, and this conviction
would have prevented the loss of much valuable time, and of large

sums of money, and the ruin of thousands.
6. Although Aristotle is generally allowed to have been the
first philosopher who systemised the " Art of Reasoning," and
Introduced the syllogistic method" of discovering truth, there is
ground for supposing that it existed, long before his time, among
the Brahmins of India. Sir William Jones asserts, on the au-
thority of a Mahometan historian, that Callasthases transmitted to
Aristotle a Hindoo Treatise ou Logic, in which the doctrine of
syllogism was completely unfolded.
7. If this be true, the claim of Aristotle to the invention of this
art falls to the ground; yet he has, undoubtedly, the merit of hay-
ing laid the foundation of it in the western world, and his Treatise
has afforded the ground-work, and most of the materials, of other
writers on this subject, to the present time.
S. In the dark ages of Europe, when men argued and disputed

on subjects which, to us, appear in the last degree trifling and ridi-
culous, Logic was reduced to a mete an of words, and so obscured
by a multitude of terms and phrases, which served rather to con-
ceal ignorance than to improve knowledge, and to confound truth
instead of discovering it, that it became a disgusting rather than a
pleasing and profitable study, and few paid attention to it, except
those schoolmen, who found it a convenient medium through

which to carry on their senselr.ss and unmeaning disputes, with
a show of learning and wisdom, to which, in reality. they had little
pretension.

9. So great an abuse of this valuable art occasioned k to fall
into contempt, and to be considered undeserving a place in a liberal
education.

10. But this unmerited idea of it seems fast wearing away. Men
of understanding arid of profound learning have exerted themselves
in the ungrateful task of clearing away the rubbish that disfigured
the edifice, and in reducing to order and proportion the chaotic
mass of incongraous pans which formed the stately building, so
that it is now become a lovely temple of most exquisite architec-
ture, worthy of that Reason to whose service It is dedicated. -
11. The advantages fo be gained from the study of Logic have
been stated as follows :

12. First—The consideration of Rules excites the mind to a
closer attention and application in thinking.
Second—We can more easily and accutately discover and find
out the errors and defects in our reasoning:
Third—By these reflections on the order and manner of t►e ope-
rations of the 'mind, we are brought to a more just and complete
knowledge of the nature of our own undemanding.

13. The age of Cbarlatanerie in learning is past. Alen no looser
endeavoured to make a mystery of the most simple 'lancets; on

the contrary, the most abstruse sciences have been simplified to
meet the comprehension of the meanest capacities, and subjects,
once the object of the profound attention of a Bacon, a Locke, and
a Newton, are now familiarly discussed by mechanics and
schoolboys. May the effects of thls diffusion of knowledge be
truly beneficial !

. .
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lot the can tract' at Duaeralle: Thiperlod
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Lea►y had been previously respited, hot the es-
• amounts to a lull reprieve.—Cora Cortatitntsen.

.

NATIONAL BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION. •

A Meeting of the Subscribers to this Institution was
held at the Freemasons Hall yesterdays to receive the Annual Re-
porker the Committee, and select 35 new pensioners. The Rev.
Charles M.Canby in the Chair.
The SIIICRITARY read the Report, from which, and the Addreu
of the Committee to the public, it appeared, that the Institution
was founded in 1812, for the relief of respectable and worthy
(but distressed) persona in the middle ranks of life, of whatever
country or persuasion. To rescue such persons, and such only,
from the misery which the enlightened and feeling mind must
endure on becoming the inmate of a parish poor-house, in the
decline of life, Is the object of the Institution. The characters to
permanent relief are rotors and
whom It affords essential and
governesses, who have lived in private families or seminaries, par-
ticularly such as have expended the chief fart of their salaries
on aged relations, and, in their old age, want that support
which they afforded others ; and. generally, all persons who
have lived respectably, either in independence or in any profes-
sion, or in the. more respectable departments of trade, and are
reduced to want. The applicants, in order to be eligible, must
have completed their sixtieth year, out have been residents in the
metropolis, or in the environs, for twelve months, and must not
be in the receipt of any parochial relief. None possessing an in-
sane of £3O per ennuis can be admitted, and every pensioner who
is wholly destitute of permanent t shall be allowed £2O per
i annum • and in no case are any of them to receive less than .212 or
more than £3O. In order that the funds of the charity may not be
abused, the applicants must produce a certificate, containing
a declaration that his poverty was not the result of
vice, extravagance, or idleness attested by four subscribers,
who have a personal knowledge of the truth of the
case, four housekeepers, and the Clergyman of the parish
in which he resides. or by the Minister whose religious tenets
he may have adopted. The pension to cease by the misconduct of
the parties, or any alteration lin their circumstances which may
render them no longer objects of charity. In order to show the
patronage which the Institution has received, it may be necessary
to state, that at the Best election only 10 were chosen, and the
number had been gradually increasing till 1828, when it amounted
to 42. The receipts in 1828 were £7,603, and this year, owing to
the generous support of the public, the funds had greatly increased.
Mr. Tnomonct., on moving that the Report be received and
approved, said there could be no necessity for him to trespass
long on the attention of the Meeting. In the infancy of an In-
stitution, nothing could be more proper than to urge its peculiar
characteristics and claims on the notice of the public. There was
a time when, if this had not been done for the Institution, the
germ might have been destroyed which had grown into a goodly
tree, sheltering beneath its branches many valuable members of
society. That time, however, had gone by. The public now
knew and appreciated its value. As for the Report, it told its
tale so well that no notes of illustration were necessary. Many
Institutions had been thrown into great embarrassments by
having too many pensioners on their establishment. This was a
circumstance greatly to be regretted, and he thought much credit
was due to themselves for having pursued a different course, and
disregarged the censure which was heaped on them by some on
that account. Nothing could be more painful than, after having
stretched out a healing hand to the unfortunate, and placed them
above the trouble of the world, to be afterwards compelled to
withdraw that assistance, and cast them again on the rough ocean
of life.

Mr. MAUCULIM seconded the Resolution, which was unanimously
agreed to.

The Rev. C. M'KNA/r moved the thanks of the Meeting to the
Patrons and Patronesses of the Institution, and read a letter from
the Duke of Gioucener. In which his Royal highness expressed
his regret that he could not take the Chair, but testified at the
same time his warmest wishes for the success of the Charity.
Mr. Roe moved thanks to the Committee.
Mr. CoLvrawst.t. returned thanks, and expressed his hope that
the Committee and the Subscribers might long steer together in
the good vessel, called " The National Benevolent Institution."
The Rev. B. Humans. in moving the thanks of the Meeting to
the Chairman, said he looked upon this Institution as one of the
special provisions of PROTIDZISCZ to meet the wide-spreading dis-
tress evident on every side.
The CUAIRMAN returned thanks; and the Subscribers then pro-
ceeded to ballot for the additional pensioners.
It is a singular enough circumstance that the only sister of the
founder of this Institution (the late Peter Here, Esq.) has been
by some unforeseen calamity reduces' to distress, and forced to
apply to the Institution for relief. Her age, and residence at a
distance from the metropolis, precluded her from being admitted
as a pensioner, but the Committee, with the approbation of a former
Meeting, voted her a gratuity of £2O, which will be continued
annually, as a testimony of respect to the memory of her deceased
brother.

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