120 AISTORY of the SOCIETY. 
Account of * alone, and not he, are to blame for what they have fuffered 3 
a. “ and the principle continues to be inculcated with the fame 
“ zeal and the fame confidence as before.” Thefe are the 
words of the ingenious and eloquent author of the Eloge on 
CoLBERT, which obtained the prize from the French Academy 
in the year 1763; a performance which, although confined 
and erroneous in its’ fpeculative views, abounds with juft 
and important reflections of a practical nature. How far his 
remarks apply to that particular clafs of politicians whom he 
had evidently in his eye in the foregoing paflage, I fhall not 
prefume to decide. 
Ir is hardly neceflary for me to add to thefe obfervations, 
that they do not detract in the leaft from the value of thofe 
political theories which attempt to delineate the principles of a 
perfect legiflation. Such theories (as I have elfewhere obferved *) 
cought to be confidered merely as defcriptions of the u/timate ob- 
jects at which the {tatefman ought toaim. The tranquillity of 
his adminiftration, and the immediate fuccefs of his meafures, de- 
pend on his good fenfe and his practical fill ; and his theoretical 
principles only enable him to direct his meafures fteadily and 
wifely, to promote the improvement and happinefs of mankind, 
and prevent him from being ever led aftray from thefe important 
ends, by more limited views of temporary expedience. “ In 
“ all cafes (fays Mr Hume) it muft be advantageous to. know 
4¢ what is moft perfect in the kind, that we may be able to 
“« bring any real conftitution or form of government as near it 
as poflible, by fuch gentle alterations and innovations as may 
not give too great difturbance to fociety.” 
Tue limits of this Memoir make it impoflible for me to exa- 
mine particularly the merit of Mr Smiru’s work in point of 
originality. ‘That his do¢trine concerning the freedom of trade 
ca 
_ 
a 
n~ 
and 
* Elements of the Philofophy of the Heman Mind, p. 261: 
