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576

X. AMERICAN STATE TRIALS.

and cross-examination meant only an indirect examination.

The

ignorant, who take things in the wrong sense, often show ill-homor,
and put themselves in an attitude to be cross, because they are to
be cross-examined. With the eandid and enlightened, it proves
often an agreeable mode of discussion, and is particularly so to
our profesion, when it gives us occasion to extract from those of
superior learning, knowledge, which we might not otherwise have

the means of sequiring.]

Hr. Sampson. What do you
think, docter, of the opinions of
Plato, touching the principles of
generation? Do you mean also
to ask mo Pythagoras’ opinion
on wild fowl? Far be it from
me, cir; that question might
kerve to puzzle 8 man who waa
im the dark—mine are meant to
elicit light from a eouree where
it abounds, I do not know, sit,
to what partienlar opinions you
allude. To hie triangle of gen-
eration, ag well as to the har-
monies and mysteries of the
Number Three. I have never de-
voted any attention to such mys-
teries. A triangle has three sides
and three angles, if yon ean find
out the mystery of that. Has
not a prism three sides and three
angles? It has. Could Plato
have meant that any thing re-
sembling a prism eould have an
influence in generation? You
seem, sir, to have thought enough
upon the subject to judge.
Sometimes the more we look the
Jess we see. Can you, upon any
principlee of plain or spheric
trigonometry, produce a triangle
which shall be flat on one side
and round on the otherf That,
perhaps, is an Irieh triaugle; if
so, you can produes it yourself.
Will you permit me now, sir, to
examine youa little? Ob, doctor,
you eanuot be serious—not sure-
ly in the face of the eourt?

The Mayor. Y think, Mr.
Sampson, after the manner in

which you have examined the
witness, be is entitled to what ho
desires.

‘Mr. Sampson. Alas, sir, I am
but a poor tradesman, laboring
at my voeation; if I let him wind
that long chain of esuses and ef-
fects round me, I shall be so en-
tangled I shall never be myself
again. It is play to him but
death to me, I pray the court
to let the shoemaker stick to his
last. —Doctor, are you familiar
with the opinions of Aristotle
upon matter and motion? Your
question, sir, is very general. I
shall be more particular. Do you
believe that matter ia the ea-
pacity of receiving form! I be-
lieve there is a first cause which
is the law to which all matter is’
subject. The first eause is too
far off for my span; let us keep
to one less remote. Is it not a
eorrollary from the opinion of
Aristotle, that the son should re-
semble hia father? I do uot see
that it is. I wish, doctor, I could
establish some difference between
you and those great fuminaries
of ancient times. The authority
of your opinion requires some
auch powerful counter poise.
‘Well, sir, propose your ques
tions.

Mr. Sampson, Sinee I eannot
press these great men of an-
tiquity into our service, I shall
endeavor to find something in
doctor Mitchill, to set off against
doctor Mitehill. The counsel on

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