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    i ^ , and therpoTTer ofprodudingthit ^ ffeol-so gentrally ^ iiifeaitog * that the admission of the < aaaci ? ted gauge . nrast jcfwwinoaiy fce ^ as immediate as the physical phenomena . The appeal oftth&aottev

    physician to great authorities < aa not equally availing : > if & £ silence * he cannot convince ; for where are the tangible proofs ? If he appeal to facts of human action , they may ibe adnifttod ^ but then his analysis of the subtle causes- *—the ; mental facts * which are his main point—are denied or doubted ,, for he cannot

    make the experiments before their eyes . Suppose a profound metaphysician and a mere tyro in physical science , of equal con ^ vereational powers > should severally take it into their heads to enlighten a mixed company of those who are considered well educated people—let us say considered , because mental education , which is the highest , is not conventional . * How few , if any *

    would be the converts of the former to an abstruse theory , par * ticularly if new ; while how few would dispute the well-supported positions of the other . Finding the latter had thus gained a status in the opinions of those present , the former ( in the temporary oblivion of certain other theories ) might think it wise to try . and gain him over to his particular notion , and thus make

    converts of the rest through him . Futile endeavour ! - —the tyro of physical science would probably regard him in the light of an occult speculator on dreams and chance contingencies ; and after listening with , or without , patience , mi g ht be exceedingly apt to draw a long respiration , together with nis watch , or look out at the window * remarking that we shall soon have some rain ! ' He is correct as to the time , and , in fact , it does rain . Not much , « fc

    is true ; but still there is some rain . His watch was right by St . Paul ' s church , or by the Horse Guards , ( which is the isama thing , ) and St . Paul ' s by the sun ; unanswerable reasons can be given why the clouds burst and came down in accordance with gravitation , because they could not hold up ; and albeit the me * taphysician could suggest that something mi g ht have occurred ia the windy ways above to alter the accomplishment of the

    scientific opinion , just aa we find in speculating on human actions * still it did actually and visibly rain . If it had not , the causes * of the suspension could have been so clearly explained , that almost as much , and perhaps more , credit would be gained b y the altered circumstance . But a metaphysician is seldom allowed to

    explain away a failure in result : he cannot address his arguments palpably to the external senses , and his hearers smile and stake their heads : ' This is all very fine , sir , but you see V Now the real metaphysician does see * , in his mind ' s eye , and believe ^ few * this will not satisfy the world at large , who , for the moat « p « rt f

    believe only in the tangible , except in matters mythological * >»* * Is a short speech delivered by Mr * ? e * ron at the annual meeting of the Ftna \ mrj cenpreration , be wy ftfoftfrl * advocated the propriety of M iiettage being e * Ur bliaoad fox the education of tchoofmaatera * ¦ . .: » \ , t '•¦ i- ^ i . -. \ r ^

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    % ^ semrfuto& ^ miHamWK m $ y * m

• Citation
  • Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Nov. 2, 1835, page 745, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2651/page/53/