We are not repelled much by his eagerness to refute and maltreat his opponent.

That was not alien from the usages of the time, and Warburton at least had no right to complain of such a style of controversy.

But there is no width and elevation of view.

The writer does not carry the discussion up to a higher level, and dominate his adversary from a superior standpoint.

Controversy is always ephemeral and vulgar, unless it can rise to the discussion and establishment of facts and principles valuable for themselves, independently of the particular point at issue.