492 On the Foundation of Civil Government. 



wife. Hence, the happinefs of the community 

 {i.e. of the individuals who compofe it) is the 

 great end and objedl of civil fociety ; and the 

 regulations adopted, are or ought to be, no other 

 than the means to that end. 



IV. Farther, as no man can reafonably be 

 prefumed to have made a voluntary furrender 

 of any right previoufly enjoyed, or to have fub- 

 mitted voluntarily to any fubjedion, but in ex- 

 peftation that in the fum of happirfefs upon the 

 whole he would be no lofer by fo doing j it fol- 

 lows, that no right can be prefumed to be given 

 up, or any dominion delegated, but what is 

 abfolutely neceffary to attain the great objed of 

 civil fociety, viz. his own happinefs in common 

 with that of the other individuals who have 

 done the fame: otherwife we muft fuppofe a 

 voluntary conceflion of rights for the benefit of 

 others, and a voluntary fubjexflion to the will 

 of others without an expected equivalent in 

 return : which, except in the cafes of family 

 connexions, or obligations conferred, or pecu- 

 liar friendfliip, is abfurd. 



V. Alfo, wherever it can be made highly 

 probable that from the nature of civil fociety, 

 it cannot afford an equivalent for any particular 

 right fuppofed to be furrendered, we may fairly 

 conclude that fuch right never was or could 

 have been furrendered. Thus the right of a 

 man to the exclufive fociety of his wife, the 



right 



