“You smile, papa; but what is my cousin William to do, if he becomes, as you think from his talents he will, a judge? You know he thinks many of our criminal laws contrary to justice and benevolence; yet he must then assist in executing them.”

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If he must become judge, your inference is correct; but I should suppose his principles impose on him a moral necessity not to take this office until these obnoxious laws are repealed; and thus, in the spirit of martyrdom, of which we have been lately speaking, sacrifice self-interest to duty. It is infinitely better he should remain in the lowest grade of his profession, than rise to the seat of judgment wearing the defiled ermine of a stained conscience. So little is it generally considered an inconsistency for men to obey or to aid in executing laws opposed to their consciences, that our neighbour M'Kinnon, the attorney, appeared quite surprised at my surprise, when I found he collected and distrained for tithes, though he had denounced them at public meetings, as contrary to Divine law and the rights of man. When our duties to God and our neighbour apparently clash, for they can never really do so, our judgments are more frequently led into error by self-interest than by zeal, and we consequently obey man rather than God;' but we must remember, that whenever man commands us to perform any thing in religion which is contrary to Divine authority, or any civil action contrary to morals, at this point we must stop, and suffer all loss for conscience' sake. Nor can any means so efficacious be adopted to diffuse our

opinions, as the attention of others is drawn to them both by sympathy with our sufferings, and esteem for our sincerity. This moral warfare against the evils of national institutions would be far more speedy and successful than that of the sword, and is a civil war that religion and patriotism approve. By thus crucifying self, we may conquer the world."

"There is, indeed, papa, something very sublime in seeing persons quietly suffer loss for conscience' sake."

"Yes; man then appears in an attitude of the noblest moral heroism. Standing alone upon the adamantine rock of principle, he defies the universe to move him from his position; and though his blood should be poured out as a libation upon this altar of duty, as was seen in the days of martyrdom, it will flow into the channel of the truth fo which it was shed, and increase the force of the ever-widening and irresistible current."

CHAPTER XXI.

SACRIFICE OF TRUTH TO SELF-INTEREST.

MR. O'BRIEN, the editor of a widely circulated paper, called on Mr. D'Arcy one morning respecting an approaching election in the neighbourhood; and the political opinions of the candidates being alluded to, Mr. D. was surprised when his guest avowed himself warmly on an important subject at that time very keenly agitated, but which was never alluded to in the paper in question.

On noticing this to him, he replied, “I assure you it is difficult enough for me to restrain myself, but were I to advocate my opinions there, I should lose more than half my readers; so strong are the prejudices on this point among the class who chiefly support it."

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But," said Mr. D'Arcy," is it right to suppress truth in order to please prejudice? As the primary object of every writer ought to be the benefit of society, by the diffusion of just opinions and the removal of errors, can we be justified in neglecting this from a motive of self-interest? If it is right for one writer to do so, it must be for all; and as new truths are generally unpopular, if no one has the disinterested

ness or moral courage to advocate them, how are they to be circulated at all?"

"And how, my dear Sir, can truth be circulated in a paper which no one will read ?"

“There will always be found a small number of readers sufficiently free from intolerance of opinion to be inclined to listen to a man who differs from them. Many of these will be convinced, and will become warm advocates of the publication which has enlightened them. It will thus gradually be rendered popular, and ultimately secure a degree of patronage which will prove that in all cases honesty is the best policy.'"

“This might be true, Sir, if the majority of readers were willing to receive the truth on all subjects, instead of determining to hear only the advocates of their party and opinions; but I have another difficulty-I am not the proprietor of the paper, acting only under a committee of share-holders who established it. Now, this committee is opposed to my views, therefore I am fettered on all sides."

"With bonds you have voluntarily submitted to, my dear Sir; I can, therefore, only disapprove and pity your ignominious subjection to this mental slavery. The sacrifice of truth to interest or to fame is a most insidious and dangerous form of selfishness, to which the conductors of periodical works are peculiarly exposed: and to which I fear some good men have sacrificed every thing short of the essential principles of religion, satisfying their consciences with the delusive plea that

a minor truth might be abandoned in order to conciliate its enemies."

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But, surely, Sir, you would not approve of continually forcing our opinions upon others in society, as many persons do, so as to render themselves quite disagreeable ?"

Certainly not; our zeal must always be controlled by charity; but we should never decline advocating just opinions, whether in conversation or by writing, from fear of loss or ridicule. When a fair opportunity occurs for introducing such opinions, they should be courageously, though temperately, defended; and whoever refuses to do this, betrays the cause of truth."

After Mr. O'Brien was gone, Mrs. Cecil said, “ Your remarks, just now, reminded me of the brief and affecting career of the eldest son of our poor friend Duncan, who was at length induced to sacrifice even his religious principles as a writer."

Ah, I do, indeed, well remember his degrading course and affecting death; but I do not think I have ever related it to Frederick. When he left college, he became tutor in the family of Lord G, and discovering that his lordship's political opinions differed from his own, he took especial care to conceal them, and affected an indifference to all political topics, which he was very far from feeling, but which he persuaded himself was a necessary dictate of prudence in his present situation. His principles' were, however, soon brought to an unwelcome test. On occasion of an election, Lord G.'s views were attacked in a spirited