IV PREFACE. 



into the origin of parlements, the limita- 

 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 



