44 LIBERT* OP REASONING 



freedom, and the right of imparting to others the 

 whole procefs of reflection we have gone through on 

 interefting fubjecls, as we arrive at this or that refill t, 

 belongs to the unalienable rights of mankind. The 

 general welfare of fociety is infeparably united with 

 the prefervation of this palladium; for the natural 

 confequence of its lofs would be the lofs of all freedom 

 of conference and of all civil liberty, with the return 

 of that dreadful darknefs, ilavery, and confufion, 

 which mark the period between Theodohrts and Fre- 

 deric IXL If it be true, that our century may juftly 

 boafi: of feme confiderable advantages over all the 

 preceding, we are principally indebted for them to the 

 liberty of thinking ; and to the liberty of the prefs for 

 the propagation of the fciences and the diffuflon of the 

 philofophical fpirit, together with the more general pub- 

 lication of thofe truths whereon the welfare of fociety 

 depends. Some panegyrifts of our times may perhaps 

 be too fanguine in their opinions of thefe advantages ; 

 but, if they are not incomparably greater, more ex- 

 tenlive and more beneficial in their effects, whence 

 comes it, but becaufe the prerogatives of reafon are 

 ftill very far from being acknowledged in all the coun- 

 tries of our quarter of the globe ; and that even there, 

 where the greateft light is found, it meets with fo 

 itrong and obftinate an oppofition, from prejudice, 

 pailion, and the private interefb of prevailing parties, 

 ranks, orders, and clafTes of men ? 



It cannot be too often repeated : nothing that men 

 have ever publicly fpoken, written and done, can pre- 

 tend to a privilege \ againft the cool examination and 

 deciiions of reafon. No monarch is fo great, and no, 



high- 



