IV PREFACE. 



into the origin of parlements, the hmita- 

 tion of the royal prerogative, and the gra- 

 dual deviation from the feodal to the pre- 

 sent system of government. 



The observation is certainly just, and 

 the application appears too obvious to be 

 pointed out ; yet the generality of man- 

 kind can rest contented with ignorance of 

 their native soil, while a passion for no- 

 velty attracts them to a superficial exami- 

 nation of the wonders of Mexico, or Ja- 

 pan; but these should be told, that such a 

 passion is a sure criterion of a weak judge- 

 ment: utility, truth, and certainty, should 

 alone be the point at which science should 

 aim ; and what knowlege can be more 

 useful than of those objects with which 

 we are most intimately connected ? and 

 where can we reason with greater cer- 

 tainty on such points, than in our own 

 country, where a constant recourse may 

 be had to the specimen of what we have 

 under consideration? But these, and many 

 other arguments for examining into the 

 productions of our own island, may here 



