SCO ANNUAL REGISTER, 1794. 



grce to dcvelope the eccentric cha- 

 racter of the n-,an, we shall detail 

 them at full length. 



Political parties, it is well re- 

 membered, ran high much abotit 

 this time, and much ink wr.s shed 

 upon both sides of the questioni 

 In this struggle it was suggested by- 

 one of the heads of oppofition, that 

 the translation of a rrcnch hook 

 called "The Origin of Despotism," 

 would not only sell well, but be of 

 use to the party. A bcoksellcr,sincc 

 dead, was spoke to for the purpose 

 of procuring a translator, and as 

 Hifienian's knowledge of Fiench 

 tvas unquestionable, he was fixed 

 upon to be the man. The book 

 was accordingly put into his hands, 

 and in the usual time was finished 

 and prepared for publication. 



And here it may not be improper 

 to remark, on the very material dif- 

 ference there appears to he in the 

 flavour and strenglhofpelitical wri- 

 ting then and at this present time. 

 " The Origin of Despotism" was 

 written, as the author declares in 

 bis last section, as a kind of irtro- 

 v'uction to " Montesquieu's Spirit 

 of Laws," and the design of the 

 book is as follows; 



The author first condemns the 

 Jifierent opinions hitherto enter- 

 tained on the origin of despotism, 

 «iid thinks he has discovered its 

 .true source^ " The Origin of Des- 

 .potism," says he, *' appears to me 

 to have established itseh" upon the 

 earth, neither through consent nor 

 l^y force, hut was the dire effect, 

 and alm.of r. natural conccquence of 

 that kind of governmeiit which men 

 had forged lor themselves in very 

 remote ages, when they took for a 

 model the government of the uni- 

 .ferse, as it is reigned over by the 

 iiupreme Being. Magnificent but 



fatal project ! which has plunged 

 all the nations into idolatry and 

 thraldom, because a nuiltitude of 

 suppositions that were then expe^ 

 dicnt to be m.ade, have been since 

 adopted as certain principles, and 

 that mankind, then losing sight of 

 what ought to have been the true 

 principles of their conduct here 

 below, went in quest of superna- 

 tural ones, which not being fitted 

 for this earth, not only deceived 

 but rendered them unhappy." He 

 then attempts to shew the progress 

 of these principles from theocracy 

 to despotism, and concludes with 

 some general observations on a mo- 

 narchical goverr.mcKt. 



In short, the whole of tin's book 

 appears to us to be a meremetaphy-' 

 sical inquiry, too refined to be taken 

 up on any active principle, and too 

 general to calumniate or disturb 

 any particular government ; and 

 yet this book in the year ITG-t was, 

 upon a consultation of some avowed 

 eminent politicians of that day, 

 thought too dangerous to publish ; 

 and Xiotwithstanding the title-page 

 was cautiously worked off, as if it 

 had been printed at Amsterdam, it 

 was agreed that the publication 

 should be laid aside. 



Comparing this with many of the 

 political writings of the present 

 day, we shall make no comiment. 

 The real friends of the liberty of 

 the press know and feel the difier- 

 ence. 



But to return, the delay of pub* 

 lication was for tome time unknown 

 to Hiffernan, when accidentally 

 passing the bookseller's shop, he in- 

 quired the cause. The bookseller 

 informed him., and in the course 

 of conversation on that subject pro- 

 posed to sell bim the copies at six 

 months credit, at the trde price. 



'.Hiflernan 



