xi THE PRINCIPLES OF MORALS 233 



praise, the answer will certainly contain a large 

 reference to the utility of that virtue to society; 

 and as for justice, the very existence of the virtue 

 implies that of society; public utility is its sole 

 origin; and the measure of its usefulness is also 

 the standard of its merit. If every man possessed 

 everything he wanted, and no one had the power 

 to interfere with such possession; or if no man 

 desired that which could damage his fellow-man, 

 justice would have no part to play in the universe. 

 But as Hume observes: 



" In the present disposition of the human heart, it would 

 perhaps be difficult to find complete instances of such en- 

 larged affections ; but still we may observe that the case of 

 families approaches towards it : and the stronger the mu- 

 tual benevolence is among the individuals, the nearer it 

 approaches, till all distinction of property be in a great 

 measure lost and confounded among them. Between mar- 

 ried persons, the cement of friendship is by the laws sup- 

 posed so strong, as to abolish all division of possessions, and 

 has often, in reality, the force assigned to it.* And it is 

 observable that, during the ardour of new enthusiasms, 

 when every principle is inflamed into extravagance, the com- 

 munity of goods has frequently been attempted ; and noth- 

 ing but experience of its inconveniences, from the returning 

 or disguised selfishness of men, could make the imprudent 

 fanatics adopt anew the ideas of justice and separate prop- 

 erty. So true is it that this virtue derives its existence en- 

 tirely from its necessary use to the intercourse and social 

 state of mankind." * (IV. p. 256). 



* Family affection in the eighteenth century may have 

 been stronger than in the nineteenth ; but Hume's bachelor 

 inexperience can surely alone explain his strange account of 

 the suppositions of the marriage law of that day, and their 

 effects. The law certainly abolished all division of posses- 

 sions, but it did so by making the husband sole proprietor. 



