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riety of fentiments might depend. And tho' they have fometimes carry'd the matter too far, by their paffion for fome one general principle; it must, however, be confeft, that they are excufable, in expect. ing to find some general principles, into which all the vices and virtues were juftly to be refolv'd. The like has been the endeavour of critics, logicians, and even politicians: Nor have their attempts been altogether unfuccessful; tho' perhaps longer time, greater accuracy, and more ardent application may bring thefe fciences ftill' nearer their perfection. To throw up at once all pretenfions of this kind may justly be efteem'd more rafh, precipitate, and dogmatical, than even the boldest and most affirmative philofophy, which has ever attempted to impose its crude dictates and principles on mankind.

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WHAT tho' thefe reafonings concerning human nature feem abftract, and of difficult comprehenfion? This affords no prefumption of their falfhood. the contrary, it feems impoffible, that what has hitherto efcap'd fo many wife and profound philofophers can be very obvious and easy. And whatever pains these researches may coft us, we may think ourfelves fufficiently rewarded, not only in point of profit but of pleasure, if, by that means, we can make any addition to our stock of knowlege, in fubjects of fuch unfpeakable importance.

BUT

BUT as, after all, the abilractnefs of theie fpeculations is no recommendation, but rather a ditadvantage to them, and as this difficulty may perhaps be furmounted by care and art, and the avoiding all unnecessary detail, we have, in the following effays, attempted to throw fome light upon fubjects, from which uncertainty has hitherto deter'd the wife, and obfcurity the ignorant. Happy, if we can unite the boundaries of the different fpecies of philofophy, by reconciling profound enquiry with clearness, and truth with novelty! And ftill more happy, if, rea foning in this easy manner, we can undermine the foundations of an abftrufe philofophy, which feems to have ferv'd hitherto only as a fhelter to fuperfti tion and a cover to abfurdity and error !

ESSAY

most striking observations and inftances from com. mon life; place oppofite characters in a proper contraft; and alluring us into the paths of virtue, by the views of glory and happiness, direct our fteps in these paths, by the foundeft precepts and moft illuftrious examples. They make us feel the difference betwixt vice and virtue; they excite and regulate our fentiments; and fo they can but bend our hearts to the love of probity and true honour, they think, that they have fully attained the end of all their labours.

THE other fpecies of philofophers treat man rather as a reasonable than an active being, and endeavour to form his understanding more than cultivate his manners. They regard mankind as a fubject of fpeculation; and with a narrow scrutiny examine human nature, in order to find those principles, which regulate our understandings, excite our fenti. ments, and make us approve or blame any particular ●bject, action, of behaviour. They think it a reproach to all literature, that philofophy should not yet have fixt, beyond controverfy, the foundation of morals, reasoning, and "criticifm; and fhould for ever talk of truth and falfhood, vice and virtue, beauty and deformity, without being able to determine the fource of these distinctions. While they attempt this arduous talk, they are deter'd by no

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difficulties; but proceeding from particular inftances to general principles, they ftill push on their enquiries to principles more general, and reft not fatisfy'd till they arrive at those original principles, by which, in every science, all human curiosity must be bounded. Tho' their speculations feem abstract and even unintelligible to common readers, they please themselves with the approbation of the learned and the wife : and think themselves fufficiently compenfated for the labours of their whole lives, if they can discover fome hidden truths, which may contribute to the inftruction of pofterity.

"Tis certain, that the easy and obvious philosophy will always, with the generality of mankind, have the preference to the accurate and abstruse; and by many will be recommended, not only as more agree able, but more useful than the other. It enters more into common life; moulds the heart and affections ; and, by touching those principles, which actuate men, reforms their conduct, and brings them nearer that model of perfection, which it describes. On the contrary, the abftrufe philofophy, being founded on a turn of mind, which cannot enter into bufinel and action, vanishes when the philosopher leaves the shade and comes into open day; nor cañ its precepts and principles easily retain any influence over our conduct and behaviour. The feelings of our fentiments

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the agitations of our paffions, the vehemence of our affections, diffipate all its conclufions, and reduce the profound philofopher to a mere plebeian.

THIS alfo must be confefs'd, that the moft durable, as well as jufteft fame has been acquir'd by the eafy philofophy, and that abftract reafoners deem hitherto to have enjoy'd only a momentary reputation, from the caprice or ignorance of their own age, but have not been able to fupport their renown with more equitable pofterity. "Tis eafy for a profound philofopher to commit a mistake in his fubtile reasonings and one mistake is the neceffary parent of another, while he pushes on his confequences; and is not deter'd from embracing any conclufion, by its unusual appearance, or its contradiction to popular opinion. But a philofopher, who proposes only to represent the common sense of mankind in more beautiful and more engaging colours, if by accident le commits 2 mistake, goes no farther; but renewing his appeal to common fenfe, and the natural fentiments of the mind, returns into the right path, and fecures him felf from any dangerous illufions. The fame of Cicero flourishes at prefent; but that of Ariftotle is ut terly decay'd. La Bruyere pafles the feas, and fill maintains his reputation: But the glory of Male. branche is confin'd to his own nation and to his own 会

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