PERPEPYBR OWN DIX III 
“ fpeétat; qui optime nérunt, quid ferat focietas humana, 
quid falus populi, quid zquitas naturalis, quid gentium mo- 
res, quid rerumpublicarum forme diverfe : ideoque poflint 
de legibus, ex principiis et praceptis tam zquitatis naturalis, 
quam politices decernere. Quamobrem id nunc agatur, ut 
fontes juftitie et utilitatis publice petantur, et in fingulis 
juris partibus character quidam et idea jufti exhibeatur, ad 
quam particularium regnorum et rerumpublicarum leges 
probare, atque inde emendationem moliri, quifque, cui hoc 
cordi erit et cure, poflit.”” The enumeration contained in 
the foregoing paflage, of the different objects of law, coincides 
very nearly with that given by Mr Srru in the conclufion of 
his Theory of Moral Sentiments; and the precife aim of the 
political fpeculations which he then announced, and of which 
he afterwards publifhed fo valuable a part in his Wealth of Na- 
tions, was to afcertain the general principles of *juftice and of 
expediency, which ought to guide the inftitutions of legiflators 
on thefe important articles ;—in the words of Lord Bacon, to 
afcertain thofe /eges legum, ‘‘ ex quibus informatio peti poflit, 
“ quid in fingulis legibus bene aut perperam pofitum aut con- 
“ ftitutum fit.’? 
Tue branch of legiflation which MrSmiru has made choice of 
as the fubject of his work, naturally leads me to remark a very 
ftriking contraft between the fpirit of ancient and of modern 
policy in refpect to the wealth of nations*. The great object 
of the former was to counteract the love of money and a tafte 
for luxury, by pofitive inftitutions; and to maintain in the 
great body of the people, habits of frugality, and a feverity of 
manners. The decline of ftates is uniformly afcribed by the 
philofophers and hiftorians, both of Greece and Rome, to the 
influence of riches on national character; and the laws of Ly- 
curcus, which, during a courfe of ages, banifhed the precious 
metals: 
o 
n 
“cc 
* Science de la Legiflation, par le Chev. FILanGiErt, Liv. i. chap. 13. 
Account of 
Dr Smith, 
