disturbs the judgment, that we are in great danger of falling into egregious errors of estimation, and often believe those virtues or talents to be splendid, which in truth are only of an ordinary kind. There are prejudices of the heart which are rather weaknesses than vices. Thus the fondness of parents for their children leads them often to overrate their good qualities, and to be blind to their faults. What is called the love of country, or the warm preference of the land of our birth to all others, usually brings with it some false judgments, which cannot be deemed better than prejudices. There are prejudices of a more indefinite nature, though perhaps they may be traced to some modification of self-love. Such are the capricious and fond preferences which weak minds exhibit towards things, persons, or pursuits, they have accidentally become attached to. And such is that eager fondness for, and exclusive attention to, frivolous or comparatively unimportant amusements, in matters of science or literature, which fill some men's days with laborious idleness. So strong are prejudices of this order, in some cases, that the attainment of a rare coin, or shell, or insect, or plant, for completing a collection, or the purchase of a scarce book, shall entirely engross the mind, and appear a matter of more grave importance than the most momentous affairs of real life! Of such pursuits it

may

be said, that though they seem innocent, they are not so, if they withdraw the mind from the offices of charity and philanthropy; or render a man useless in the world, abounding as it does with miseries that might be alleviated by zeal and kindness. Prejudices springing from malignant motives have already been referred to (see OPINION): they are always both injurious and odious:-such are those which arise from the pride of rank, wealth, or learning;-from capricious antipathies against individuals;—from personal jealousies, or opposition of interests ;-from party spirit, in matters of religion, or politics;-or from national, provincial, or corporate animosities. There may indeed be something amiable in the prejudice which impels a man to think that the climate, and the produce, and the institutions of his native land are the best in the world; though in fact they may be among the worst. But the prejudice which leads an Englishman to hate, or to hold in contempt, an American or a German, is altogether vicious.

Candour may be defined as a willingness to revise or examine our opinions, on, subjects in reference to which we are exposed to the influence of some improper motive, and likely, therefore, to entertain a prejudice. False candour is-a prejudice, against prejudice. That is to say, it is such

a feeble and foolish jealousy of being influenced by prejudices, as prevents our making a decided choice between truth and error.

PREMISES,

Things laid down, or affirmed as known, or granted, from which some conclusion is to be derived:-as thus, 1st, If all men, without restraint, pursue their private advantage, there can be no security of life or property to any. 2d, But if there be no security to life or property, there will be no industry. 3d, And if there be no industry, men must remain in a savage state. 4th, Therefore some form of government, which shall have the power to restrain the cupidity or ferocity of individuals, is necessary to civilization. In this argument the three first propositions are the premises, and are assumed as facts, or principles that will not be denied; the 4th proposition is the conclusion, which must be granted, because of its evident connexion with the premises.

PRIMARY and SECONDARY QUALITIES,

Are distinguished on the supposition that certain properties are inseparable from a substance; or

that the want of any one of them would destroy its essence; while other qualities may be thought of as present, or absent, without affecting the nature of the thing. Thus extension and solidity are called primary qualities of matter:-colour, flavour, fragrancy, are secondary. These distinctions are of little importance.

PRINCIPLE,

From principium, a beginning. The elements, or the most important qualities, or parts of a substance, are called its principles; whence its other properties take their rise. The principles of a science, are those axioms, or great facts, which, though not always first discovered, are first to be learned, and which, when understood, lead the way to the comprehension of all the branches of a science.

PROBABILITY.

This word, though a higher sense is often attached to it, represents only the extent of our ignorance, either of the causes which will influence some future event, or of the actual facts of some

past event, affirmed or surmised to have taken place. Our ignorance leads us to think of facts as being in themselves, more or less certain: but this is a mere prejudice of the understanding. Historical affirmations are either true or false, absolutely; yet, when not incontestably established, it is usual to speak of them in some such terms as these.—We say, for example—It is probable that the temple of Belus was founded on the site of the tower of Babel.-It is highly probable that Plato had perused some parts of the Hebrew Scriptures.-There is a slight probability in the conjecture that the Egyptian pyramids were built by the enslaved Israelites.—It is in the highest degree probable, that the planets are inhabited. Or we speak of events now occurring at a distance, in a similar manner; and say-It is probable that my friend has already left his home, and is on his way to pay me a visit.—Or of future events in the same terms—It is probable that a communication may one day be opened through the Isthmus of Suez, between the Mediterranean Sea and the Red Sea. Now all these propositions, whether they relate to the past or the future, are absolutely true, or absolutely false.-Degrees of probability belong altogether to the degree, or extent, of our knowledge of the facts (in past events) or of the causes, that are to influence what is yet future.