204 HUME. 



us. The two together amount to plain and practical 

 atheism, as far as such a belief is compatible with 

 sanity of mind. 



Of the * Political Discourses' it would be difficult 

 to speak in terms of too great commendation. They 

 combine almost every excellence which can belong to 

 such a performance. The reasoning is clear, and unin- 

 cumbered with more words or more illustrations than 

 are necessary for bringing out the doctrine. The 

 learning is extensive, accurate, and profound, not only 

 as to systems of philosophy, but as to history, whether 

 modern or ancient. The subjects are most happily 

 chosen ; the language is elegant, precise, and vigo- 

 rous ; and so admirably are the topics selected, that 

 there is as little of dryness in these fine essays as if 

 the subject were not scientific ; and we rise from their 

 perusal scarce able to believe that it is a work of phi- 

 losophy we have been reading, having all the while 

 thought it a book of curiosity and entertainment. 

 The great merit, however, of these discourses, is their 

 originality, and the new system of politics and politi- 

 cal economy which they unfold. Mr. Hume is, beyond 

 all doubt, the author of the modern doctrines which 

 now rule the world of science, which are to a great 

 extent the guide of practical statesmen, and are only 

 prevented from being applied in their fullest extent to 

 the affairs of nations, by the clashing interests and the 

 ignorant prejudices of certain powerful classes ; for no 

 one deserving the name of legislator pretends to doubt 

 the soundness of the theory, although many hold that 

 the errors of our predecessors require a slow recourse to 

 right principle in conducting the practical business of 



