F. Yes. Such music as the whistling of the wind before a tempest. You very well know what these gentlemen think of it. You cannot have forgotten Sir, Whenever I hear of the word RIGHTS, I have learned to consider it as preparatory to some desolating doctrine. It seems to me, to be productive of some wide spreading ruin, of some wasting desolation."-Canning's Speech. And do you not remember the enthusiasm with which these sentiments were applauded by the House, and the splendid rewards which immediately followed this declaration? For no other earthly merit in the speaker that Edipus himself could have discovered. H. It is never to be forgotten. Pity their ignorance. Punish their wickedness. F. H. We shall never, I believe, differ much in our actions, wishes or opinions. I too say with you-Punish the wickedness of those mercenaries who utter such atrocities: and do you, with me, pity the ignorance and folly of those regular governments who reward them: and who do not see that a claim of RIGHTS by their people, so far from treason or sedition, is the strongest avowal they can make of their subjection: and that nothing can more evidently shew the natural disposition of mankind to rational obedience, than their invariable use of this word RIght, and their perpetual application of it to all which they desire, and to every thing which they deem excellent. F. I see the wickedness more plainly than the folly; the consequence staring one in the face: for, certainly, if men can claim no RIGHTS, they cannot justly complain of any WRONGS. H. Most assuredly. But your last is almost an identical proposition; and you are not accustomed to make such. What do you mean by the words RIGHT and WRONG? F. What do I mean by those words? What every person means by them. And what is that? H. F. Nay, you know that as well as I do. H. Yes. But not better: and therefore not at all. F. other Must we always be seeking after the meaning of words? H. Of important words we must, if we wish to avoid important error. The meaning of these words especially is of the greatest consequence to mankind; and seems to have been strangely neglected by those who have made the most use of them. F. The meaning of the word RIGHT?-Why-It is used so variously, as substantive, adjective, and adverb; and has such apparently different significations (I think they reckon between thirty and forty), that I should hardly F. Yes. Such music as the whistling of the wind before a tempest. You very well know what these gentlemen think of it. You cannot have forgotten "Sir, Whenever I hear of the word RIGHTS, I have learned to consider it as preparatory to some desolating doctrine. It seems to me, to be productive of some wide spreading ruin, of some wasting desolation."-Canning's Speech. And do you not remember the enthusiasm with which these sentiments were applauded by the House, and the splendid rewards which immediately followed this decla ration? For no other earthly merit in the speaker tha Edipus himself could have discovered. H. It is never to be forgotten. Pity their ignorance. Punish their wickedness. F. H. We shall never, I believe, differ much in our action wishes or opinions. I too say with you-Punish the wic edness of those mercenaries who utter such atrocitie and do you, with me, pity the ignorance and folly those regular governments who reward them and w do not see that a claim of RIGHTS by their people, so f from treason or sedition, is the strongest avowal they c make of their subjection: and that nothing can more e dently shew the natural disposition of mankind to ratio obedience, than their invariable use of this word RIG and their perpetual application of it to all which th desire, and to every thing which they deem excellent F. I set the wickedness more plany tier the falls TLINGS. Most assuredly. position; and you are 27 erati Mat That do you mear in imagine any one single explanation of the term would be applicable to all its uses. We say-A man's RIGHT. A RIGHT Conduct. A RIGHT reckoning. The RIGHT road. To do RIGHT. To be in the RIGHT. To have the RIGHT on one's side. The RIGHT hand. RIGHT itself is an abstract idea: and, not referring to any sensible objects, the terms which are the representatives of abstract ideas are sometimes very difficult to define or explain. H. Oh! Then you are for returning again to your convenient abstract ideas; and so getting rid of the question. F. No. I think it worth consideration. Let us see how Johnson handles it. He did not indeed acknowledge any RIGHTS of the people; but he was very clear concerning Ghosts and Witches, all the mysteries of divinity, and the sacred, indefeasible, inherent, hereditary RIGHTS of Monarchy. Let us see how he explains the term. RIGHT- RIGHT- No. He gives no explanation * :-Except of RIGHT hand. * Johnson is as bold and profuse in assertion, as he is shy and |