i EARLY LIFE 17 



He is not only a wicked minister in himself, but has re- 

 moved every security provided against wicked ministers for 

 the future. 



" On the other hand, the partisans of the minister make 

 his panegyric rise as high as the accusation against him, 

 and celebrate his wise, steady, and moderate conduct in 

 every part of his administration. The honour and interest 

 of the nation supported abroad, public credit maintained 

 at home, persecution restrained, faction subdued: the 

 merit of all these blessings is ascribed solely to the minis- 

 ter. At the same time, he crowns all his other merits by a 

 religious care of the best government in the world, which 

 he has preserved in all its parts, and has transmitted en- 

 tire, to be the happiness and security of the latest posteri- 

 ty." (III. 26.) 



Hume sagely remarks that the panegyric and 

 the accusation can not both be true; and, that what 

 truth there may be in either, rather tends to show 

 that our much-vaunted constitution does not fulfil 

 its chief object, which is to provide a remedy 

 against maladministration. And if it does not 

 " we are rather beholden to any minister who undermines 

 it and affords us the opportunity of erecting a better in its 

 place." (HI. 28.) 



The fifth Essay discusses the " Origin of 

 Government ": 



" Man, born in a family, is compelled to maintain so- 

 ciety from necessity, from natural inclination, and from 

 habit. The same creature, in his farther progress, is en- 

 gaged to establish political society, in order to administer 

 justice, without which there can be no peace among them, 

 nor safety, nor mutual intercourse. We are therefore to 

 look upon all the vast apparatus of our government, as 

 having ultimately no other object or purpose but the dis- 



