‘and had he the noble qualities aſcribed to him by idle ſtory-tellers, he would never have ſuffered a raſcal to moleſt us at the expence of his own reputation. But, poor ideal ſpirit! how could he ſave his honour?—And had it not been for the generous aſſiſtance of my Lord Giantdale, the audacious villain might have executed his deſign againſt us, without lett or impediment.’ The maſter of the houſe had hitherto taken but an inconſiderable ſhare in theſe philoſophical debates: he now engaged in the converſation, and obſerved, that the Counteſs had entirely depopulated the world of ſpirits;—‘The whole creation of fancy has vaniſhed before your arguments, like a miſt from before the riſing ſun. You have in particular ably ſhewn the non-exiſtence of the ancient inhabitant of theſe regions, and his advocate, the privy counſellor, has been quite ſilenced. Yet I think a few objections might be urged againſt your laſt obſervation. How if the fa-
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