$74 
and political wifdom has hitherto been 
flow, becaufe it has been retarded by 
many ad-entitious circumitances. The 
rich and powertul, miftaking their own 
true intereft, and too often indifferent to 
thar of fociety, have ftrenvouily oppofed 
innovation : the governors and the go- 
Verned in a ij have been fuppoted 
to have feparate interefis > power has 
been confounded with right: erroneous 
notions have prevaildd concerning per- 
perfonal manners have 
been guided by the deluding meteor of 
fathion, rather than by the fteady light of 
reafon; and religion itfelt, which ought 
to have been infeparably leagued with 
morality, having been affociated with fu- 
peritition, and haying entered into an 
unnatural alliance with arbitrary power, 
has often occafioned the very muifchiefs 
whichs&it was intended to remove. 
From thefe and other fimilar caufes, 
it mutt be confeffed, that mankind have, 
in faét, made much lefs progrefs in 
praétical wifdom, than might have been 
expected ; and, to own the truth, atcer all 
that experience and infiruction have 
‘hitherto been able to effeét, human na- 
ture, in this important refpect, is fill in 
a ftate of childhood, the dupe of pattion 
and fancy, rather than the pupil of rea- 
fon and truth. But it is impoffible that 
-4t thou'd always remain in this flate ; its 
progrefs te manhood, though flow, is, 
neverthelefs, certain. Its minority, what- 
ever be its duration, will at length be ter- 
_minated ; and mankind, attaining their ma- 
turity, will « put away childith things.” 
This progreis is the gradual, but fure 
work of experience. All the mifconcep- 
tions which at prefent feduce mankind, 
and are the fcurce of their follies and mi- 
feries, experience may, and, in due courfe 
of time, mz? correét. By means of the 
numerous opportunities which the art of 
printing affords for circulating know- 
ledge of every kind, this great operation 
will be materially expedited. Every clafs 
of men will be inftruéted in that kind 
of knowledge which 1s fuited to their 
place in fociety. Thofe who are by pro- 
iea¢ 
fefon popular inftruétors, will learn to 
direct their principal attention to the 
great object of teaching the people how 
to become ufeful citizens and happy men. 
The education of youth, inftead of being 
conduéted upon antiquated principles and 
for the purpofe of offentation, will be 
adapted to the particular deftination of 
each clafs of pupils, and to the great end 
of public good. By thefe means, all 
orders of men wih become acquainted 
The Enquirer. 
No. X. 
with the principles ‘of individual happi- 
nefs, and of public profperity. Every hu- 
man being, weil inftructed in his nature, 
rights, and duties, will feel his confe- 
quence in the fcale of exifience. and will 
Hil up his place in focial life with an in- 
dependent {pirit. Policy will be univer- 
faily underftood to be the art by which 
a people, voluntarily affcciated, govern 
themfelves ; morality, to be the art of 
uniting perfonal and focial happinefs; 
-and religion, to be the mot fublime 
Men will ne 
longer’ doubt, whether felf-love and fo- 
principle of rignt conduct. 
ciai, be the fame, or be liable to make 
thofe erroneous calculations,» which at 
prefent tempt them to purfue their 
own happineis at the expence of others. 
Every fituation in fociety will. have its 
proper offices and occupations, and will 
at once aford individual happinefs, and 
contribute tothe general good. In fine, 
Liberty, with all ics attendant bledfings, 
[ Dec, Y 
2 
ES 
- 
will be univerfally enjoyed ; Induftry will : 
every where crown her fons with plenty; 
Virtue wili reward all her vetaries with 
health and peace ; and mankind will be- 
come one family, governed by one mind, 
and enjoy all the felicity of which human 
nature is capable. : 
In this manner I confider the world as 
perpetually improving, and mankind in 
continued progrefs towards perteétion : 
and with this perfuafion, I regard the 
condition of human beings as a part 
of that great plan. of Providence, im 
which Univerfal Love ; 
From feeming evil ftill educes good, 
And better thence again, and better ftill 
In INFINITE PROGRESSION! 

Fo the Editor of the Monthly Magazzne, 
SIR; 
At a time when the high price of 
provifions has become the fubjeét of 
univerfal complaint throughout England, 
it may not be uninterefting to tranfcribe 
the rates at which certain commodities 
were fold at Elgin, in North Britain, in 
the month of March, 1796. ‘The com- 
munication was. made by a refpectable 
‘inhabitant, to his fon, in London. Your's, 
Dec. 8,1796. A ConsTanT READER. 
Fine Flour, 2s. 6d. per peck, of $lbs. weight. 
Gatmeal, 1s. 3d. per ditto, of g ditto. 
The price of both thefe articles has fallen 
fince, as has alfo that of our guartern loaf. 
Veal, 4d. to 43d. per Ib. 
Beef, 34d. te 43d. per ditto. 
Mutton, 3d. to 4d. per ditto. P 
Greens in great abundance, and very reafonable. 
Vay 
