the progress of the principles arising from them, he thought it extremely easy to account. Singular opinions, which had no tendency to restrain either the conduct or the passions, however irrational and improper, he found to be well calculated to attract the attention of the ignorant and conceited; who, because they have a set of notions different from other men, are apt to conceive themselves also to be possessed of superior wisdom and discernment. He was astonished at the effrontery (which would be inexcuseable if they really possessed all the learning they pretend to) with which such men abused every system but their own, and every professor of different principles; using all the odious epithets which language affords. Their own precious philosophy was, at the same time, extolled to the skies, as the' unparallelled effects of literary investigation and refined thinking, whilst, to a sober unbiassed spectator, its only aim and natural consequence seem to be,-the destruction and suppression of the principles and practice of every other system, without attempting to substitute any thing in their room, but the comfortable doctrine,-to licentious men I mean, that there is no such thing as morality, or a right and wrong in actions; that in the system of things which we behold, there is neither benevolence nor any other paffion; that death is an eternal sleep; and that men may act in this world as best suits their in

clination or their passions, (i. e.) like the beafts that perish.

From these wild and comfortless doctrines (from the consideration of which, in their origin, progress, and effects, he became more and more convinced of the neceffity and truth of the Christian revelation) Mr Christian at length turned his attention towards his native country, and arrived in London in 1784. He had been urged by his friends to accept a seat in the new Parliament; bat though he had determined to return, and to stay for some time in London, he declined the honour which they had most earnestly urged him to accept. Here he lived in habits of great intimacy with all the learned, attending every society where knowledge was to be acquired or improved; till, about two or three years ago, when he returned to Scotland, he took upon himself the charge and improvement of his property, and at length completed his domestic felicity, by marrying an amiable woman, who has since brought him two children, a boy and a girl. He was still partial to literary pursuits, and to the company of learned men; and accordingly in Edinburgh, as elsewhere, he sought for amusement and instruction, in the intervals of business and domestic enjoyment, in the pursuits to which he had been so long accustomed; and he was particularly partial to private literary societies. It was this partiality which brought

him into the society which we have mentioned above; and we shall now leave him, till he appear in that society again as the advocate of revelation.

3. HISTORY OF MR GOODWILL.

MR GOODWILL is about 25 years of age, and succeeded, about 10 years ago, to a property, not extensive indeed, but extremely comfortable. He was also an only son, his mother having died about two days after he was born. His father, who, during the short period of his mother's life, behaved with great propriety, fell soon after into dissipated and expensive habits, which at length put a period to his existence, just in time to save his fortune from total ruin. Young Francis was just 15 when his father died; and, from the example which he had afforded him, he was ripe for any course of dissipation to which he might be tempted. His temper was naturally amiable; his abilities were good; and nature seems to have intended that he should be modest. But he was left so much to himself, or to servants, that those natural advantages were not only not improved, but they were abused. He became forward, petulant, and assuming, and he disdained to follow any advice but his own. He went to college soon after his father's death, but it was to spend time, not to improve in science. He was considered

as the oracle of all the idle boys in the University, and his will was at all times considered as a law. Drinking, and every other mode of dissipation within his reach, he gloried in; and, by affecting a singularity of opinion on important or common topics, he wished himself to be considered as a man of genius. Religion he treated with great contempt; and the restraints of morality he considered as the whims of an old woman. Without at all considering the matter with the attention and candour of an enquirer after truth, he gathered together a few common place invectives, in the application of which he was extremely liberal. The Clergy he reckoned a set of prejudiced and bigotted knaves, who made a livelihood by hood-winking the people; and he declaimed, with great acrimony, against that superstitious mode of thinking which considered. dissipation and irreligion as criminal or im

proper.

With all these faults, so many and so great, the poor young man had really what is called a good heart; and, had he fallen into better hands, he would probably have made a most respectable figure. At the age of 21 he became completely his own master, which in some sense he had been from his

earliest years. His dissipation now increased; and he was preyed upon by all the needy minions of vice,-till, in the short space of two years, his fortune began visibly to

diminish. An old relation of his mother's had influence enough with him to make him turn his attention, after passing a year or two at college, to the study of the law; and he had just passed advocate, a week or two before he made the speech which we have already recited; and such is now the disordered state of his affairs, that it is more than probable he will be obliged seriously to apply to his profession to earn a livelihood. At present, however, he does not seem to be aware of this; and he goes on in the same thoughtless career as he set out upon. But

we shall now leave him and return to the business of the society.

ACCOUNT

OF

THE SECOND DEBATE:

At the time appointed, the society met, and was constituted as usual. Mr Christian observed, that he hoped every gentleman present was disposed not to raise idle objections, or to excite ill-timed ridicule, but to enquire for truth, with the assiduity and candour of true philosophers; and that, during the interval which had elapsed since their last meeting, they had been carefully inves