right judgment of things; to distinguish betwixt truth and falsehood, right, and wrong, and to act accordingly, be careful not to let your son be bred up in the art and formality of disputing. And, as a reason for that conclusion, he goes on to describe the wretched manner in which disputes were generally managed: "Whether pertinent or impertinent, sense or nonsense, agreeing with or contrary thereto, what he had said before it matters not: for this, in short, is the way and perfection of logical disputes, that the opponent never takes any answer, nor the respondent ever yields to any argument. This, neither of them must do, whatever becomes of truth or knowledge, unless he would pass for a poor, baffled wretch, and lie under the disgrace of not being able to maintain whatever he has once affirmed, which is the great aim and glory of disputing."

Here we find a "collision of different sentiments" on the very question whether disputing tends to advance correct knowledge or to retard it.

Now, to do justice to both sides, it must, I think, be granted that each is in the right, provided allowance be made for the opposite views in which the subject presents itself. Were disputing conducted as it ought to be, with sincere and paramount love of truth, and a benignity of temper, there might spring from it much good, without any considerable mixture of evil. But conducted as it most commonly has been, with acrimonious feeling, and the fierceness and obstinacy of pugilists, rather than with the honest candor that is willing in all cases to yield to evidence, it too often serves but to exasperate and mislead; so that nothing is less desirable in youth, or less to be encouraged, than a disputatious or cavilling temper.

In certain memoirs of the life of Frederick the Great, it is related that, aspiring after the fame of a philosophical reasoner, he was much inclined to exercise his talents, now and then, in disputing with the learned men of his court. Accordingly, he used, at his leisure, to send for the philosophers whom he kept in waiting, to reason with them; professing, the meanwhile, that he laid by the monarch, and put himself on an equal footing with them, and encouraging them to be free and do their best. But if any one of them happened to invalidate his arguments, or to get the better of him in any way, he instantly flew into a violent passion, and bestowed upon the offender the most scurrilous epithets. The memoirs further relate, that at one of his literary entertainments, when, in order to promote free conversation, he reminded the circle that there was no monarch present, the conversation chanced to turn upon the faults of different governments and rulers. General censures were passing from mouth to mouth, with a kind of freedom which such hints were calculated, and apparently intended, to inspire. But Frederick presently put a stop to the topic, exclaiming, "Hold your peace, gentlemen, be upon your guard, else the king will be among you." This instance, while it speaks the imperious, insolent despot, is characteristical of our general nature. Of disputants, in all ages of the world, there have been but few that were scrupulous of using all the means in their power to baffle, bear down, and silence their opponents; but few, whose unfairness of manner and bitterness of temper have not furnished clear proof that they were more actuated by the proud desire of victory, than by a sincere regard to truth; very few, who have shown themselves willing, in all cases, to give truth fair play. Contrariwise, men, that are naturally, or by custom,

of a disputatious temper, seldom are so for truth's sake. Generally, something else than the love of truth has the strongest hold of their hearts.

Perilous, in this respect, is the moral condition of that class of men, whose professional business of disputing, and whose fame and renown, depend upon success in gaining their causes, just or unjust.

“An indiscriminate defence of right and wrong, contracts the understanding, while it corrupts the heart." This short sentence of the celebrated Junius, is deserving of the serious attention of young men of ingenuous dispositions, who have recently entered, or are about entering, upon the profession of the law. One, accustomed to argue indiscriminately for and against truth and right, and whose main road to distinction lies in his talent to make the worse appear the better reason," needs, of all men, to keep a careful watch over his moral frame.

Theological disputes are of a nature, that would seem to secure them from the aberrations incidental to those of worldly men. The theologian stands upon hallowed ground. Truth, Divine Truth, is his pole-star. The inspired volume is his directory; of which he must not wittingly misconstrue any part for the sake of gaining his argument, or even though he might gain by it the whole world. His case is similar to that of the Persian judges, who were made to interpret the laws of the realm with ropes about their necks, as indicative of the punishment that awaited them if found guilty of any wilful misinterpretation. And besides, as truth must be his sole aim, so his manner of defending it must be consonant to the spirit of Him, who was "meek and lowly in heart "--who, "when he was reviled, re

viled not again." Wherefore, in that sacred department, if any where, it might be expected that disputes would be conducted with the utmost fairness, and with exemplary benignity of temper. Would it were always so!

“The man who, in controversy, pays a strict regard to truth and candor, gives clear evidence of the excellence of his understanding and the uprightness of his heart; whereas, sophistry and quibble, rancorous invective and scurrilous abuse, warrant a suspicion of the advocate, however righteous be his cause."

NUMBER LI.

OF OVERDOING IN GOVERNING CHILDREN.

As nothing more clearly evidences the weakness of a legislature than a strong propensity to multiply laws beyond what real and absolute need requires, so also is it in regard to domestic government. In families, as well as in larger communities, there often is too much Law. A few rules are necessary for the govern

These should be too plain to

ment of children, and but a few. be misunderstood; too reasonable to admit of any dispute or doubt; and too important to be violated or neglected. They should be engraven early upon the memories of the children, and enforced, when need requires, with steady and inflexible firmness; and, by and by, they will grow into habits. Submission and obedience will become natural and spontaneous.

Children managed in this manner from infancy, and by parents, too, whose examples comport with their rules and injunctions, and whose exercise of authority carries along with it evident