E S S A Y S

ESSAYS, MORAL and POLITICAL.
The Fourth Edition correcte LIBRARY

with Additions.
LONDON:
Printed for A. MILLAR, in the Strand;

A N D

A KINCAID and A. DONALDson, in Edinburgh.

MDCCLIII.

CONTENT S.

Page.

ESSAYS.

I. Of the Delicacy of Taste and Paffion.

1

II. Of the Liberty of the Press.

7

III. Of Impudence and Modesty.

14

IV. That Politics may be reduc'd ta a Science.

20

IX. Whether the British Government inclines more to

Absolute Monarchy, or to a Republic.

71

- XIV. Of the Dignity of Human Nature.

120

Xy. Of Liberty and Despotism.

128

A 2

XVI. Of

XVI. Of Eloquence.

140

XVII. Of the Rise and Progress of the Arts and

Sciences.

159

XXIII. Of Simplicity and Refinement in writing. 279

277

À XXIV. Of National Characters.

XXV. Of the Original Contract.

301

XXVI. Of Paflive Obedience.

327

ERRA T A.
Page 6, Line 2, read fit to supply
Page 174, Line 10 of the Note for fouereign read foreign
Page 300, Line 6, for bid read fand,

ESSAY

[1]

E S S AY I.

Of the DELICACY of TASTE

and PASSION..

S

OME People are subject to a certain delicacy

of passion, which makes them extremely fen

fible to all the accidents of life, and gives them a lively joy upon every prosperous event, as well as

a piercing grief, when they meet with croffes and adversity. Favours and good offices easily engage their friendship ; while the smalleit injury provokes their resentment. Any honour or inark of distinction elevates them above measure ; but they are as sensibly touch'd with contempt. People of this character have, no doubt, much more lively enjoyinents, as well as more pungent forrows, than men of cool and sedate tempers : But, I believe, when every thing is balanc'd, there is no one, who would not rather chuse to be of the latter character, were he entirely master of his own dispo. fition. Good or ill fortune is very little at our own disposal : And when a person, that has this sensibi. lity of temper, meets with any misfortune, his forrow or resentment takes intire poffeffion of him, and deprives him of all relish in the common ocVOL. I.

B