trate, as guardian of the community, has no authority to restrain
him, however he might do it from kindness as a parent.--Though, indeed,
upon more consideration, I think he may; as it is probable, that he who
is chopping off his own fingers, may soon proceed to chop off those of
other people. If I think it right to steal Mr. Dilly's plate, I am a bad
man; but he can say nothing to me. If I make an open declaration that
I think so, he will keep me out of his house. If I put forth my hand, I
shall be sent to Newgate. This is the gradation of thinking, preaching,
and acting: if a man thinks erroneously, he may keep his thoughts to
himself, and nobody will trouble him; if he preaches erroneous doctrine,
society may expel him; if he acts in consequence of it, the law takes
place, and he is hanged.' MAYO. 'But, Sir, ought not Christians to have
liberty of conscience?' JOHNSON. 'I have already told you so, Sir. You
are coming back to where you were.' BOSWELL. 'Dr. Mayo is always taking
a return post-chaise, and going the stage over again. He has it at
half price.' JOHNSON. 'Dr. Mayo, like other champions for unlimited
toleration, has got a set of words. Sir, it is no matter, politically,
whether the magistrate be right or wrong. Suppose a club were to
be formed, to drink confusion to King George the Third, and a happy
restoration to Charles the Third, this would be very bad with respect
to the State; but every member of that club must either conform to its
rules, or be turned out of it. Old Baxter, I remember, maintains, that
the magistrate should "tolerate all things that are tolerable." This is
no good definition of toleration upon any principle; but it shows that
he thought some things were not tolerable.' TOPLADY. 'Sir, you have
untwisted this difficult subject with great dexterity.'

During this argument, Goldsmith sat in restless agitation, from a wish
to get in and SHINE. Finding himself excluded, he had taken his hat
to go away, but remained for some time with it in his hand, like a
gamester, who at the close of a long night, lingers for a little while,
to see if he can have a favourable opening to finish with success. Once
when he was beginning to speak, he found himself overpowered by the loud
voice of Johnson, who was at the opposite end of the table, and did not
perceive Goldsmith's attempt. Thus disappointed of his wish to obtain
the attention of the company, Goldsmith in a passion threw down his hat,
looking angr