These sympathies, thus called into existence, have been useful in the preservation of a national virtue.

For any thing we know, they may have contributed greatly to form a counteracting balance against the malignant spirit, generated by our almost incessant wars during this period, so as to have preserved us from barbarism.
It has been useful also in the discrimination of moral character.

In private life it has enabled us to distinguish the virtuous from the more vicious part of the community[A].

It has shown the general philanthropist.
It has unmasked the vicious in spite of his pretension to virtue.

It has afforded us the same knowledge in public life.