is which it has grown up to (rather, into which it has passed),--from no inferior stock could it have issued. It is the Fallen Spirit, triumphant in misdeeds, which was formerly a blessed Angel. If then (to return to ourselves) there be such strong obstacles in the way of our drawing benefit either from the maxims of policy or the principles of justice: what hope remains that the British Nation should repair, by its future conduct, the injury which has been done?--We cannot advance a step towards a rational answer to this question--without previously adverting to the original sources of our miscarriages; which are these:--First; a want, in the minds of the members of government and public functionaries, of knowledge indispensible for this service; and, secondly, a want of power, in the same persons acting in their corporate capacities, to give effect to the knowledge which individually they possess.--Of the latter source of weakness,--this inability as caused by decay in the machine of government, and by illegitimate forces which are checking and controuling its constitutional motions,--I have not spoken, nor shall I now speak: for I have judged it best to suspend my task for a while: and this subject, being in its nature delicate, ought not to be lightly or transiently touched. Besides, no _immediate_ effect can be expected from the soundest and most unexceptionable doctrines which might be laid down for the correcting of this evil.--The former source of weakness,--namely, the want of appropriate and indispensible knowledge,--has, in the past investigation, been reached, and shall be further laid open; not without a hope of some result of _immediate_ good by a direct application to the mind; and in full confidence that the best and surest way to render operative that knowledge which is already possessed--is to increase the stock of knowledge.