10 PREFACE.' 



produced, to guard against ; nor am I appre- 

 hensive that prejudice has misled me, in rela- 

 ting any of those matters. But it is not improb- 

 able that I have not had compleat information in 

 some particulars, respecting those complicated 

 controversies ; and may have mistaken the views 

 of parties, in some of their leading transactions^* 

 If this should be found to be the case, it will 

 give me great pleasure to receive such further 

 information, a§ shall enable me to correct any 

 mistakes. Those who point out to us our errors, 

 perform the same friendly office, as those who 

 help us to new truths. 



The most important of all our philosophical 

 speculations, are those which relate to the histo- 

 ry of man. In most of the productions of na- 

 ture, the subject is fixed, and may always be 

 found and viewed in the same situation. And 

 hence a steady course of observation, serves to 

 discover and ascertain the laws by which they 

 are governed, and the situation they will assume 

 in other periods of time. It is probable the ac- 

 tions and affairs of men are subject to as regu- 

 lar and uniform laws, as other events : And that 

 the same state of society will produce the same 

 forms of government, the same manners, cus- 

 toms, habits, and pursuits, among different na- 

 tions, in whatever part of the earth they may re- 

 side. Monarchy, freedom, superstition, truth 

 and all the general causes which actuate man- 

 kind, seem every where to bear the same aspect, 

 to operate with the same kind of influence, and 

 to produce similar effects ; differing not in their 

 nature and tendency, but onl}'- in the circum- 

 stances and degrees, in which they influence dif- 



