120 HIS TORT of the SOCIETf. 



Account of *■ alone, and not he, are to blame for what they have fuffered : 



Br Smith. .... . ' 



" and the principle continues to be inculcated with the fame 

 " zeal and the fame confidence as before." Thefe are the 

 words of the ingenious and eloquent author of the Eloge on 

 Colbert, which obtained the prize from the French Academy 

 in the year 1763 ; a performance which, although confined 

 and erroneous in its fpeculative views, abounds with juft 

 and important reflections of a practical nature. How far his 

 remarks apply to that particular clafs of politicians whom he 

 had evidently in his eye in the foregoing pafTage, I mall not 

 prefume to decide. 



It is hardly neceflary for me to add to thefe obfervations, 

 that they do not detract in the leaft from the value of thofe 

 .political theories which attempt to delineate the principles of a 

 perfect legiflation. Such theories (as I have elfewhere obferved *) 

 ought to be confidered merely as defcriptions of the ultimate ob- 

 jects at which the ftatefman ought to aim. The tranquillity of 

 his adminiflration, and the immediate fuccefs of his meafures, de- 

 pend on his good fenfe and his practical fkill . and his theoretical 

 principles only enable him to direct his meafures fteadily and 

 wifely, to promote the improvement and happinefs of mankind, 

 and prevent him from being ever led aftray from thefe important 

 ends, by more limited views of temporary expedience. " In 

 all cafes (fays Mr Hume) it muft be advantageous to know 

 what is mod perfect in the kind, that we may be able to 

 bring any real conftitution or form of government as near it 

 as pofhble, by fuch gentle alterations and innovations as may 

 not give too great difturbance to fociety." 

 The limits of this Memoir make it impoflible for me to exa- 

 mine particularly the merit of Mr Smith's work in point of 

 ■originality. That his doctrine concerning the freedom of trade 



and 



* Elements of the Philofophy of the Human Mind, p. 261 = 



At 



a 



