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ftrong internal marks of the afFedion, which the wrkers bear to 

 the new philofophy, and the revolutionary fpi.it; marks, which 

 fo conftantly recur, that they cannot be wholly afcribed to acci- 

 dent. Every topic, which tends to make men diffatisfied with 

 the exifl.ng order of things, the reftraints of law, the coercion of 

 cml governments, the diftindion of ranks in fociety, the unequal 

 d.ftnbut,on of property, and with the difpenfations of Providence 

 nCdf. ,s urged in thefe produdlions.* Every motive is inculcated, 

 wh.ch may mduce men to be difcontented, with the government 

 lender uh.ch they live, or, indeed, with any government, and to 

 become aflive partizans of anarchy and diforder. The miferable 

 cond,t,on of the many, the luxury, the pride, and avarice of the 

 few, the mf Icnce of ofEce, the corruption of courts, the crimes 

 and v,ces of kings and fovereigns, the wickednefs and oppreffive 

 arts of thcr mmifters, are themes of conflant declamation, and 

 are pa.nted in the blackeft ftades of exaggeration. Many of thefe 

 thmgs we may potently beheve, but we hold it not honejly to have them 

 Jet down. The precepts of morality, the rules of decorum, efta- 

 bhfl.ed cuftoms, received opinions, and even the principles and 

 fanflions of religion are treated with contempt, and exploded as 

 vulgar errors, and prieftcraft, fitted only to impofe on weak un- 

 derfiandmgs, and overawe little minds. The dodtrine of abfolute 

 decrees and fatalifm, the irrefiflible power and unqueflionable do- 

 m.mon of pnffions are inculcated ; and their influence and fway 



held 



* See llie Robbers ^nd Minifur of Schiller paffim. 



