THE INTRODUCTION. 



FROM time to time, in all ages, men inspired, or gifted 

 with a superior degree of intellectual power, have appeared 

 upon the stage of life, in order (by enlightening others) to 

 fulfil the designs of Omnipotence, in uniting the world in 

 a state of civilized society .- 



Patriarchs, or heads of families, at first directed or 

 governed those who were immediately dependent upon 

 them: these in time increased, and became dans; these 

 again, by their quarrels, and their wars, were induced to 

 elect chieftains or kings over a number of united clans, 

 from which were formed the various nations and king- 

 doms of the earth. In this early stage of the world, 

 when men were ignorant and uncivilized, the chase and 



VOL iv. b 



