APPENDIX. ~ oer. 
the merit of direéting the attention of philofophers to a view of 
human nature which had formerly, in a great meafure, efcaped 
their notice. Of the great proportion of juft and found rea- 
foning which the theory involves, its ftriking plaufibility is a 
fufficient proof; for as the author himfelf has remarked, no 
fyftem im morals can well gain our affent, if it does not bor- 
der, in fome refpe&ts, upon the truth. “ A fyftem of natural 
philofophy, (he obferves), may appear very plaufible, and be 
for a long time very generally received in the world, and yet 
have no foundation in nature; but the author who fhould 
aflign' as the caufe of any natural fentiment, fome principle 
which neither had any connection with it, nor refembled any 
other principle which had fome fuch connection, would ap- 
pear abfurd and ridiculous to the moft injudicious and un- 
experienced, reader.’’ The merit, however, of Mr Smiru’s 
performance does not reft here. No work, undoubtedly, can 
be mentioned, ancient or modern, which exhibits fo complete a 
view of thofe facts with refpec to our moral perceptions, which 
it is one great obje&t of this branch of {cience to refer to their 
general laws; and upon this account, it well deferves the care- 
ful ftudy of all whofe tafte leads them to profecute fimilar en- 
quiries: Thefe facts are indeed frequently exprefled in a lan- 
guage which involves the author’s peculiar theories: But they 
are always prefented in the moft happy and beautiful lights ; 
and it is eafy for an attentive reader, by {tripping them of hy- 
pothetical terms, to {tate them to himfelf with that logical pre- 
cifion, which, in fuch very difficult difquifitions, can alone con- 
dué us with certainty to the truth. 
Ir is proper to obferve farther, that with the theoretical doc- 
trines of the book, there are every where interwoven, with fin- 
gular tafte and addrefs, the pureft and moft elevated maxims 
concerning the practical conduét of life; and that it abounds 
throughout with interefting and inftrudtive delineations of cha- 
racters and manners. A confiderable part of it too is employe 
(L 2) in 
Lal 
. 
a 
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” 
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se 
Account of 
Dr Smith, 
