4 of the Whig Examiner)has defined Nonsense, (as Cowley does wit) by negatives.Nonsense, says he, is that which is neither true nor false. These two great properties of nonsense: which are always essential to it, give it such a peculiar advantage over allother writings that it is incapable of being either answered or contradicted. It stands upon it's own basis like a rock of adamant, secured by its natural situation against all conquests or attacks. There is no one place about it weaker than another, to favour an enemy in his approaches. The major and the minor are of equal strength. It's questions admit ofno reply, and it's assertions are not to be invalidated. A man may as well hope to distinguish  colours in the midst ofdarkness, as to find out what to approve or disapprove in nonsense. You may as well assault an enemy that is buried in intrenchments. If it affirms anything you cannot lay hold of it: or if it denies you cannot confute it. In a word there are greater depths and obscurities, greater intricacies and perplexities. in an elobrate and well written piece of nonsense, than in the most abstruse and profound tract of school divinity",Addison.