nded on our own organization:

Preserve thyself; Instruct thyself; Moderate thyself; Live for thy
fellow citizens, that they may live for thee.

VOLNEY'S ANSWER TO DR. PRIESTLY.*

* In 1797, Dr. Priestly published a pamphlet, entitled,
"Observation on the increase of infidelity, with
animadversions upon the writings of several modern
unbelievers, and especially the Ruins of Mr. Volney." The
motto to this tract was:

"Minds of little penetration rest naturally on the surface of things.
They do not like to pierce deep into them, for fear of labor and
trouble; sometimes still more for fear of truth."

This Letter is an answer from Volney, taken from the Anti-Jacobin Review
of March and April, 1799.

SIR.--I received in due time your pamphlet on the increase of
infidelity, together with the note without date which accompanied it.*
My answer has been delayed by the incidents of business, and even by
ill health, which you will surely excuse: this delay has, besides, no
inconvenience in it. The question between us is not of a very urgent
nature: the world would not go on less well with or without my answer
as with or without your book. I might, indeed, have dispensed with
returning you any answer at all; and I should have been warranted in
so doing, by the manner in which you have stated the debate, and by the
opinion pretty generally received that, on certain occasions, and with
certain persons, the most noble reply is silence. You seem to have been
aware of this yourself, considering the extreme precautions you have
taken to deprive me of this resource; but as according to our French
customs, any answer is an act of civility, I am not willing to concede
the advantage of politeness--besides, although silence is sometimes
very significant, its eloquence is not understood by every one, and
the public which has not leisure to analyze disputes (often of little
interest) has a reasonable right to require at least some preliminary
explanations; reserving to itself, should the discussion degenerate into
the recriminative clamors of an irritated self-love, to allow the right
of silence to him in whom it becomes the virtue of moderation.

* Dr. Priestly sent his pamphlet to Volney, desiring his
answer to the strictures on his opinions in his Ruins of
Empires.

I have read, therefore, your animadversions on my Ruins, which you are
pleased to class among the writings of moder