which is worth our attention, or decides any thing in the prefent queftion. Were the felfish and vicious principles of human nature fo much predominant above the social and virtuous, as is afferted by fome philofophers, we ought undoubtedly to entertain a contemptible notion of human nature. There is much of a difpute of words in all this controverfy. When a man denies the fincerity of all public fpirit or affection to a country and community, I am at a lofs what to think of him. Perhaps he never felt distinct a manner as to

this paffion in fo clear and remove all his doubts concerning its force and reality, But when he proceeds afterwards to reject all private friendship; if no interest or felf-love intermixes itself, I am then confident he abuses terms, and confounds the ideas of things; fince it is impossible for any one to be fo selfish, or rather fo ftupid, as not to make a difference betwixt one man and another, and give fome preference to qualities, which engage his approbation and efteem. Is he also, say I, as infenfible to anger as he pretends to be to friendship? And does injury and wrong no more affect him than kindness or benefits? Impoffible: He does not know himself: He has forgot the movements of his mind; or rather he makes ufe of a different language from the rest of his countrymen, and calls not things by their proper names. What fay you of natural affection? (I fubjoin) Is that alfo a fpecies of feltlove? Yes: All is felf-love. Your children are lov'd only because they are yours: Your friend for a like reafon And your country engages you only fo far as it has a connexion with yourfelf: Were the idea

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of felf remov'd, nothing would affect you: You would be altogether inactive and infenfible: Or if you ever gave yourself any movement, it would only be from vanity, and a defire of fame and reputation to this fame felf. I am willing, reply I, to receive your interpretation of human actions, provided you admit the facts. That fpecies of felf-love, which displays itself in kindness to others, you must allow to have great influence, and even greater, on many occafions, than that which remains in its original fhape and form. For how few are there, who, having a family, children, and relations, do not fpend more on the maintenance and education of these than on their own pleafures? This, indeed, you justly observe, may proceed from their felf love, fince the profperity of their family and friends is one, or the chief of their pleasures, as well as their chief honour. Be you alfo one of thefe felfish men, and you are fure of every one's good opinion and good will; or not to fhock your nice ears with thefe expreffions, the felf-love of every one, and mine amongst the rest, will then incline us to ferve you, and fpeak well of you.

In my opinion, there are two things which have led aftray thofe philofophers, who have infifted fo much on the felfifhnefs of man. In the first place, they found, that every act of virtue or friendship was attended with a fecret pleasure: From whence they concluded, that friendship and virtue could not be difinterested. But the fallacy of this is obvious. The virtuous fentiment or paffion produces the plea

fure, and does not arife from it. I feel a pleasure in doing good to my friend, because I love him; bat do not love him for the fake of that pleasure.

In the fecond place, it has always been found, that the virtuous are far from being indifferent to praise; and therefore they have been reprefented as a fet of vain-glorious men, who had nothing in view but the applaufes of others. But this alfo is a fallacy. "Tis very unjuft in the world, when they find any tincture of vanity in a laudable action, to depreciate it upon that account, or afcribe it entirely to that motive. The cafe is not the fame with vanity, as with other paffions. Where avarice or revenge enters into any feemingly virtuous action, 'tis dificult for us to de tern ine how far it enters, and 'tis natural to suppose it the fole actuating principle. But vanity is fo nearly ally'd to virtue, and to love the fame of laudable actions approaches so near the love of laudable actions for their own fake, that these paffions are more capable of mixture, than any other kinds of affection; and 'tis almost impoffible to have the latter without fome degree of the former. Accordingly we find, that this paffion for glory is always warp'd and vary'd according to the particular tafte or sentiment of the mind on which it falls. Nero had the fame vanity in driving a chariot, that Trajan had in governing the empire with justice and ability. To love the glory of virtuous actions is a fure proof of the love of virtuous actions.

ESSAY

ESSAY

XV.

Of LIBERTY and DESPOTISM.

THO

HOSE who employ their pens on political fubjects, free from party-rage, and party-prejudices, cultivate a fcience, which, of all others, contributes most both to public utility, and to the private fatisfaction of those who addict themselves to the study of it. I am apt, however, to entertain a fufpicion, that the world is ftill too young to fix many general truths in politics, which will remain true to the latest pofterity. We have not as yet had experience of above three thoufand years; fo that not only the art of reasoning is still defective in this fcience, as well as in all others, but we even want fufficient materials upon which we can reason. "Tis not fully known, of what degrees of refinement, either in virtue or vice, human nature is fufceptible; nor what may be expected of mankind from any great revolution in their education, cuftoms, or principles. Machiavel was certainly a great genius; but having confin'd his study to the furious and tyrannical governments of ancient times, or to the little diforderly principalities of Italy, his reafonings, efpecially upon monarchical government, have been found extremely

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tremely defective; and there fcarce is any maxim in his prince, which fubfequent experience has not entirely refuted. A weak prince, fays he, is incapable of receiving good counfel; for if he confult with feveral, he will not be able to choose among their different counfels. If he abandon himself to one, that minifter may, perhaps, have capacity; but he will not be long a minifter: He will be fure to difpoffefs his master, and place himself and his own family upon the throne. I mention this, among innumerable inftances, of the errors of that politician, proceeding, in a great meafure, from his having liv'd in too early an age of the world, to be a good judge of political truth. Almoft all the princes of Europe are at prefent govern'd by their ministers, and have been fo for near two centuries; and yet no fuch event has ever happen'd, or can poffibly happen. Sejanus might project dethroning the Cafars; but Fleury, tho' ever fo vicious, could not, while in his fenfes, entertain the leaft hopes of difpoffeffing the Bourbons.

TRADE was never efteem'd an affair of state, 'till the last century; and there fcarcely is any ancient writer on politics, who has made mention of it. Even the Italians have kept a profound filence with regard to it; though it has now excited the chief attention, as well of minifters of state, as of fpeculative reafoners. The great opulence, grandeur, and military atchievements of the two maritime

Xenophon mentions it; but with a doubt if it be of any advantage to a state. Εἶδε καὶ ἐμπορία οφελεῖ τι πόλιν, δες. Xen. Hiero. Plate totally excludes it from his imaginary republic. De legibus lib. 4.

powers,