338 ADVANCEMENT OV LEAtlNlNO. [BOOK Vllt» 



CHAPTER III. 



The Arts oi Empire oi State Policy omitted. Two Deficiencies alone 

 noticed. The Art ci Enlarging the Bounds ol Empire, and the 

 Knowledge of Universal Justice drawn from the Fountains of Law. 



We come now to the art of empire, or the doctrine of 

 governing a state, which includes economics, a» a city in- 

 cludes a family. But here, according to my former reso- 

 lution, I impose silence upon myself; how well qualified 

 soever I might seem to treat the subject, from the constant 

 course of life, studies, employs, and the public posts I have, 

 for a long series of years, sustained, even to the highest 

 in the kingdom, which, through his majesty's favour, and no 

 merit of my own, I held for four years. And this I speak 

 to posterity, not out of ostentation ; but because I judge it 

 may somewhat import the dignity of learning, to have a man. 

 born for letters rather than anything else, who should, by 

 a certain fatality, and against the bent of his genius, be com- 

 pelled into active life, and yet be raised, by a prudent king, 

 to the greatest posts of honour, trust, and civil employ. 

 And if I should hereafter have leisure to write upon govern- 

 ment, the work will probably either be posthumous or abor- 

 tive. But in the mean time, having now seated all the 

 sciences, each in its proper place, lest such a high chair as 

 that of government should remain absolutely vacant, we liere 

 observe, that two parts of civil doctrine, though belonging 

 not to the secrets of state, but of a more open and vulgar 

 nature, are deficient, and shall, therefore, in our manner, 

 give specimens for supplying them. 



The art of government includes the political offices ; viz., 

 1. the preservation ; 2. the happiness; and 3. the enlarge* 

 ment of a state. The two former have, in good measure, 

 been excellently treated by some ; ^ but there is nothing 

 extant upon the last ; which we, therefore, note as deficient, 

 and propose the following sketch, by way of example, for 

 supplying it, under the title of the Military Statesman, or the 

 Doctrine of extending the Bounds of Empire. 



* For an account of these authors, see Morhofs "PolyhiMt." torn. iii. 

 De Prudentiae Civilis Scriptoribus ; and " Stollii Introtluct. in Hist. Li« 

 terar." cap. v. De Prut'.entia Politica. 



