The Wilmingtonian, and Delaware advertiser., 1826-11-30


of the series in succession.
am friend and well-wisher
w. II.
PRELIMINARY LETTER,
addressed TO a conscientious Clergyman Of The Es-
taJl;hed Church Of England
lido not know what are the feelings with which
Won aIc induced to regard that portion Of your
fcllow-creaturcs, who have the same object as
yourself, but whose opinions differ from yours
do not know whether you are in the habit
of considering as friends to religion, those indi-
vid,lals, who come forward fairly and honestly to
avow and support, in friendly ard temperate
manner, ideas and sentiments on the subject,
when these arc opposed to your own.
Writer'S on scientific subjects very rarely agree
in opinion. Each one has in general some favorlte
theory Of his own; yet each one, believe, does
the other the justice to consider him friend to
science Nor is that writer regarded as the least
useful or least worthy friend to science, who
breaches opinions differing from those in gcner-
al acceptaton.-i opinions arc not, it is true,
implicitly received. The public, and the indi
vilual by whom they have been advanced, are
alike desros that they should be submitted to
the test of discussion and of experience 1t true,
they are'adopted and acknowledged, and science
has made an important acquisition. II they
prove to be erroneous, the acquisition to SCI
encc is not indeed positive; still, her interests
have been really advanced--for the refutation
of this new theory furnishes additional argument
in support of those opinions TO which it was ori-
| ginaly opposed.
In either case, however, it is certain that none
but the more ignorant and illiberal ofhis oppo-
nents would regard the Individual himself with
other than the most friendly feelings,
To designate any temperate scientific writer,
let his opinions be true or false, an enemy to
science is not only flagrant breach OF com
mon courtesy, but an evident pervcrslon OF the
term. If the appclation applies to any one, II
is TO that man who discourages or prohibits scen
t6c discussion and scientific experiment, and
thereby labors to divert the public mind from the
investigation of truth. He is the only real enc
my 10 science.
In addressing public advocate of the science
, of yeEgton, claim the same privilege which |:
thus accorded to those who express their opin
ions on Q subjects connected with other sciences
Some of my ideas on the subject OF religion
are probably similar to those which you support
On many other most important points, however
) believe that we differ. l do trust that th
difference of opinion will not induce either of u
to regard the other as an enemy to truth, or true
religion: for myself, can say, that consldc
S YOU 10 be areal friend and supporter of religion
(, although think that you have been induced t.
/. atlopt most erroneous opinions on the subject
And feel it to be Just, that you should regar'
me in the same light, so long as you find me eS
. pressing, honestly and temperatciy, what l be
y licve to be truth.
do not ask this as favor. What require c
E you is mere Common justice. And it's extreme
ly unpleasant to commence an argument on an
other terms.
l.. l find it interesting and instructive to reaso
: with a friend; but think it sometimes ilritatin
. and generally useless, to dispute with an adve
:, saly a.,
Il have seen persons, whose object in arguin
!, appeared to me not wish to set their oppone'
II right, but desire to prove him wrong; %'
seemed anxious not to convince his judsmen
J. but to wound his feelings And with such
II individual, have no wish to argue at all. q
in not care to expose myselfto the infectious NM
ence of the spirit they display; for 1t is easier
y avoid temptation than to resist it.,
,e But, however irrational in its principle and u
pleasant in its immediate effects, the spirit whie
these individuals evincc, the most powerful arg
s. ment against it, is founded on the fact that
ne tends to ruin the it is meant 10 support
IN II is perhaps fortunate when the advocates
& error adopt it, for nothing will more eiiec'uai
i. open the eyes of the world. But that the adV
Gates Of truth should ever so far forget
as to be betrayed into it, is indeed 10 Dc ia.Iel
ed; for it will cast suspicion even on truth use
s. One grand characteristic oftruth is "conilden
o. Q, without presumption To shew the least
" casness or doubt of ultimate success, OF to su
le pose that success ought to be ensured by mea
Of any artificial advantage may be consistent IT
g. supporter of error: Gor we have seen, that
m success Of error even for limited time is indie
a. doubtful, and that some artificial advantage Is
ally necessary to enable error to keep the ne
I'd even for day against truth;) butthat the fole
a. ers oftruth should ever borrow such expresslo
e. and NIT them firth as their own, is a measure