In studying their more suggestive passages, you would now and then feel surprise at the number and variety of important practical relations arising out of a single proposition. We are here merely stating our own early impressions of his power. What we always really felt was, that, great as was the excellence of these Lectures in a scientific or professional sense, there was something more excellent still in the element they contained of intellectual expansion and of moral improvement. We cannot indeed say that they had no faults; but we should be hard driven to point them out: and although we feel how short our attempt to give some idea of his mode of proceeding must fall of doing him justice, still, if there be any truth at all in our representation, it is quite clear that his negative excellences alone must have implied no ordinary powers. But we must conclude: "Quid multa? istum audiens equidem sic judicare soleo; quidquid aut addideris aut mutaveris aut detraxeris, vitiosius et deterius futurum." [Footnote 68: Professor Macartney had also formerly given the Anatomical Demonstrations.] CHAPTER XXIV. HOR. Is it a custom? HAMLET. Ay, marry, is't: But, to my mind, though I am native here And to the manner born, it is a custom More honoured in the breach than the observance. HAMLET, Act I, Sc. IV. If a moralist were to divide his catalogue of immoralities into such as were of general commission, and such as occurred in the conduct of the various trades and professions, we fear the latter division would suggest no flattering position to humanity. An elevation somewhat above gifted creatures it might be; but still we fear it would be at so low a level as to afford Man but a humiliating indication of the height from which he had fallen. He would, in too many instances, perhaps, find his real _claims_ to his high destiny about equal to the shadowy difference between a creature who fulfils _some_ only of his responsibilities, and one who has no responsibilities to fulfil. We should like to hear some grave philosopher discourse on Fashion: it is surely a curious thing, for there is a fashion in everything. It is very like habit; but it is not habit neither. Habit is a garment, which takes some time to fit easily, and is then not abandoned without difficulty. Fashion is a good fit _instanter_, but is thrown aside at once without the smallest trouble. The most grotesque or absurd custom which slowly-paced habit bores us with examining, is at once adopted by fashion with a characteristic assentation.