Account of 

 Br Smith. 



118 HISTORT of the SOCIETY'. 



ferent nature, and to which the anfwer muft vary, in different 

 countries, according to the different circumftances of the cafe. 

 In a fpeculative work, fuch as Mr Smit 's, the confideration 

 of this queftion did not fall properly under his general plan j 

 but that he was abundantly aware of the danger to be appre- 

 hended from a rath application of political theories, appears, 

 not only from the general (train of his writings, but from fome 

 incidental obfervations which he has exprefsly made upon the 

 fubjecT:. " So unfortunate (fays he, in one paffage) are the 

 " effects of all the regulations of the mercantile fyftem, that 

 " they not only introduce very dangerous diforders into the 

 " ftate of the body politic, but diforders which it is often dif- 

 '* ficult to remedy, without occafioning, for a time at leaft, 

 " Mill greater diforders. — In what manner, therefore, the na- 

 " tural fyftem of perfect liberty and juftice ought gradually to 

 " be reitored, we mud leave to the wifdom of future ftatefmen 

 il and legislators to determine." In the lalt edition of his 

 Theory of Moral Sentiments, he has introduced fome remarks, 

 which have an obvious reference to the fame important doc- 

 trine. The following paffage feems to refer more particularly 

 to thofe derangements of the focial order which derived their 

 origin from the feudal inftitutions. 



" The man whofe public fpirit is prompted altogether by 

 " humanity and benevolence, will refpect the eftablUhed powers 

 " and privileges even of individuals, and (till more of the 

 " great orders and focieties into which the ftate is divided. 

 " Though he ihould confider fome of them as in fome meafure 

 " abufive, he will content himfelf with moderating,what he often 

 " cannot annihilate without great violence. When he cannot 

 " conquer the rooted prejudices of the people by reafon and 

 " perfuafion,. he will not attempt to fubdue them by force ; 

 " but will religioufly obferve what, by Cfcero, is juftly called 

 the divine maxim of Plato, never to ule violence to his 



country 



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