142 on Siuari^selements, -^"g- *• 



among tlie lower ranks of society j or ever be led to ima- 

 gine that ignorance can be the parent of peace or of happi- 

 nefs. And as I have said so niuch upon the influence of the 

 prefs on the melioration of mankind, I cannot do better 

 than support this well grounded opinion, by giving a spe- 

 cimen of Dr Stuart's book, in his reflections on this for- 

 tunate invention. 



" Of the progrefs which may yet be made in the different ' 

 branches of moral and political philosophy, we may form 

 some idea, from what has already happened in physics 

 since the time that lord Bacon united, in one useful di- 

 rection, the labours of those who cultivate that science. 

 At the period v>hen he wrote, physics was certainly in a 

 more hopelefs state than that of moral and political philoso- 

 phy in the present age. A perpetual succef^ion of chime- 

 rical theories had, till then, amused the world j and thepre^ 

 vailing opinion was, that the case would continue to be 

 the same for ever. WL,y then fliould we despair of the 

 competency of the human faculties to establifli a solid and 

 permanent system, upon other subjects, which are of still 

 mere serious impoitance ? Physics, it is true, is free from 

 many difficulties which obstruct our progrefs in moral and 

 political inquiries ; but perhaps this advantage may be more 

 than counterbalanced by the tendency they have to engage 

 amore universal and a more earnest attention, in conse- 

 quence of their coming home more immediately to our 

 " businefs and our bosoms I*" When these sciences, too, begin 

 to be prosecuted on a regular and systematical plan, their im- 

 provement will go on with an accelerated velocity ; not only 

 as the number oi speculative minds wilt be everyday increa- 

 sed by tne diffusion of knowledge, but as an acquaintance 

 with the just rules of inquiry will more and more place 

 important discoveries within the reach of ordinary under- 

 standings. " ouch rules (says lord Bacon,) do in some 

 sort, cqaal mens vvitsj a.id have no great advar.iage or 

 pre-eminence to tl.e perfect and excellent motions of the 



