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CHAP. II. 



O/ Systems of Equality. Godwin. 



In reading Mr. Godwin's ingenious work on po- 

 litical justice, it is impossible not to be struck 

 with the spirit and energy of his style, the force 

 and precision of some of his reasonings, the ar- 

 dent tone of his thoughts, and particularly with 

 that impressive earnestness of manner which gives 

 an air of truth to the whole. At the same time it 

 must be confessed that he has not proceeded in 

 his inquiries with the caution that sound philoso- 

 phy requires ; his conclusions are often unwar- 

 ranted by his premises ; he fails sometimes in re- 

 moving objections which he himself brings for- 

 ward ; he relies too much on general and abstract 

 propositions, which will not admit of application ; 

 and his conjectures certainly far outstrip the mo- 

 desty of nature. The system of equality, which 

 Mr. Godwin proposes, is, on a first view of it, the 

 most beautiful and engaging of any that has yet 

 appeared. A melioration of society to be pro- 

 duced merely by reason and conviction gives more 

 promise of permanence than any change effected 

 and maintained by force. The unlimited exercise 

 of private judgment is a doctrine grand and cap- 

 tivating, and has a vast superiority over those 



