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"If nothing may be published but "what civil authority have previously

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approved, power muft always be the "ftandard of truth."

Would not one think that problem was thus folved at once? Is not this an alternative which even Dr. Johnfon's predilection for power would hardly admit ? Hold a little, till we have fhewn you the evils on the other fide.

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"If every dreamer of innovations may

propagate his projects, there can be no "fettlement; if every murmurer at go"vernment may diffufe difcontent, there 66 can be no peace if every sceptic in "theology may teach his follies, there "can be no religion."

Is it not better that power fhould be. the standard of truth, than that we should have no fettlement, no peace, no religion?

But, fays another writer, as honest a man, and at least as fair a reafoner, as Dr. Johnfon," If men were not to de"clare their opinions in fpight of estab"lishments either in church or ftate, "truth would foon be banished the "earth;" and to this agrees John Milton. What is then to be done?

Why, fays a moderator, punish the authors of these wicked publications; for Dr. Johnfon tells you, "It is yet al"lowed that every fociety may punish,

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though not prevent, the publication of

* Dedication of the Essay on Spirit.

" opinions

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We could mention very good fort of men, and no fools, who would not allow this to every fociety. But be this as it may, this allowance does not fatisfy our Biographer; for, fays he, "This punish"ment, though it may crush the author, "6 promotes the book; and it seems not more reasonable to leave the right of printing unrestrained, because writers 66 may be afterwards cenfured, than it "would be to fleep with our doors un"bolted, becaufe by our laws we can

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hang a thief." The conclufion is, hang every man who prints or publishes without a license.

Hardy

Hardy must be the man who can publifh this fophiftry with fo many contradictory facts staring him in the face. And diftreffing must be the dilemma which obliges Dr. Johnson to admit either that the minority have propagated no projects of innovation, diffused no discontents by murmuring at government; or that his friends the minifters of ftate have not been able to protect the fettlement, and keep the public peace. If there can be no religion upon the fuppofition that every sceptic may teach his follies, I am afraid the Doctor himself can have no religion; for fuch fceptics may and do teach their follies every day with all free

dom.

Perhaps

Perhaps times and feafons might be noted in fome old almanac when the good Doctor himfelf ftole fome trifles into the world through the prefs, which did not much favour the legal fettlement of the crown, or tend to abate the difcontents of the people.

Had the minifter of the day, who then flept with his doors unbolted, caught the thief with the dark-lanthorn in his pocket, and configned him over to the constable, the culprit undoubtedly would have availed himself of Milton's plea, and we should have heard with a vengeance of the wicked enmity of power to the cause of truth and loyalty. But penfions and preferments are wonderful enlighteners; and the free circu

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