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has given fo convincing a proof of its utility?

BESIDES, your application to me is a little fufpicious; and looks as if you wanted to draw from me a confirmation of your own fentiments, rather than a candid examination of them. For how was it poffible for you not to foresee the difficulty I must be under in debating this point with you? When have I been able to diffent from you in any question of morals or policy? and especially what chance for my doing it in this instance, when you know the bias which my own education, conducted in this way, muft have left upon me?

I AM therefore at a lofs, as I faid, to account for your fancy in making me of your council on this occafion. But whatever your purpose might be, fince you have thought fit to honour me fo far, I muft own your Letter of Inquiry could

not

not poffibly have found me in a fitter feafon.

I HAPPENED just then to amuse myself with recollecting a conversation, which, not many days before, had paffed between me and a certain Philofopher of great note, on that very subject.

You know the esteem I have of this Philofopher; I mean, for fuch of his writings, as are most popular, and deferve to be fo; fuch as his pieces on Government, Trade, Liberty, and Education. No man understands the world better; or reasons more clearly on thofe fubjects, in which that world takes itself to be most of all, and is, in truth, very nearly concerned.

His Philofophy, properly fo called, is not, I doubt, of fo good a taste. At least, his notion of morals is too modern for my relish I had put myself to school B 2

to

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