* e : 
10 Enquirer, 
its comforts, and that freedom of aftion, 
which even a favage muft prize—and we 
cannot be infenfible of the fuperior advan- 
tages which fome flates of fociety offer in 
thefevelpe és, over others. It it impoffi- 
¢ for any one ferioufly to fuppofe, that 
ce American or Enelith farmer, furround- 
ed with plenty, which no one can hinder 
him from enjoying, and refting in full peace 
and tranquillity under the protection of 
ti: ong and equal laws, is not an happier 
being than the Sea ee of the Turkifh 
dominions, who is forced to hide the little 
wealth he potleffes, left it fhould be forci- 
bly taken trom him; and fears a brutal and 
infolent foe in the perfon of every. one 
ftronger or better armed than himfelf. 
The difference here is nothing lefs than 
fanciful—it bears upon the folid comfort 
of every day, and comes home to the feel- 
ings of every human creature. 
"y ‘The happinefs of man, as far as it ap- 
plies to the whole fpecies, will proba bly. 
never admit ofa high or complex eftimate. 
enfual gratifications, and the ordinary 
pleafures of focial and domeftic life, may 
be reckoned to ee almoft. the whe! 
of it. As alfeady obferved, the wants of 
manki ig are too ied to allow to the ma- 
jority leifure enough for intellectual pur- 
fuits; nor are the es arifing from 
that fource, fo Krone and conftant in their 
attraction; as thofe from the two former. 
i have, therefore, ne idea of a higher de- 
igs of bes So inefs, attainable by a commu- 
nity, than that proceeding from abundance 
of the necefiarie s a moit obvious’ conve- 
niences of like, fairly fhared, and tempe- 
ae ufed; from peace, fecurity, freedom 
of aétion, and mutual kindneis and good | j 
ofaces. To thefe may be added, immu- 
nity from. thofe fuperftitious terrors, and 
felf-tormenting practices, which have at= 
tended fo many forms cf falfe religion.’ 
Now let us enquire how far the increafe 
of knowledge accruing from experience, 
is likely to further thefe defirable objects 
among the great family of mankind. 
Not much need be {aid concerning the 
improvements in the common arts ot dae 
in thisview. Being almoftallof them the 
olispring of necefiity , they can fearcely do 
more than keep pace with the demands of 
that necefiity. Such is the na :tura! increafe 
of the human fpecies when not checked by 
unfavourable circumfances, that there will 
be perpetual cccafion for the full 7. 
ment of the human abilities to prevent the 
fhare of good things already pofleiled by 
each © “individual from being ga 
‘The oops 1] provement of agricul ture 
can only give wholefome and palatable icod 
el | oan 
hae AGS 
No. XVI: 
ee fame extent of land: the like may be 
- faid of all other branches of economics and 
manufactures, at leaft in every country 
where already enough has been difcovered 
to make life comfortable. Moft countries 
in Europe might probably mamtain 2 
much larger population | than they poffefs ; 
but what Jone the fum of population to do. 
with the happinefs of the individuals whicl 
compofe it? This has long ago in China 
and Japan reached its maximum, and in 
confequences has pufhed the more effential 
arts of life to a degree of perfeétion much 
beyond what we fee among ourfelves; but 
it ae to have been very far from me-= 
liorating the condition of the fpecies. 
A much more promifing confequence of 
increafed knowledge, is the improvement 
to be expected from it in government, le-= 
giflation, and all the contrivances by which 
a community are fecured in the enjoyment 
of thofe advantages which nature and in- 
duftry beftow. Here feems, indeed, to be 
a wide and almoft boundlefs field for me- 
: — ion; for old as the world is, how 
ery few examples has it yet feen of civik 
wale itutions, purely and fairly framed with 
a view to the produdtion of the greateft 
poflible good! How difficult it would be 
to name a fingle one in which partial inte- 
refts have not, in many important points, 
taken the lead of general interefts! But, 
in order to know what improvements ma 
be expected in this matter, it will be ne- 
eflary to confider what errors have been 
owing to ignorance, and what to dil inten 
tion. The former may perhaps admit-2 
cures the latter hardly can, unlefs the mas 
ority become fo enlightened concerning 
ee interefts, and oe wile, fteady, and 
unanimous in the purfuit of them, as to 
overcome all that refiftance which the pof- 
fefiors of undue advantages will always 
make to a change unfavourable to them- 
felves. 
That ignorance on the part of rulers, in 
the true principles of legiflation, polices 
and the other branches of government, has 
been, and is, the caulfe of much evil to 
nations, cannot be doubted. And as ik 
muf be, upon the whole, the intereft of 
rulers to fee their fubje&ts flourifhing and 
happy enough to be kept in, good humour, 
there feems no reafon te doubt, that in pro- 
portion as prejudices and falfe econcep- 
tions give way to the gradual progrefs of 
truth, mapy improvements will be made 
in thefe patsiculete which will materially 
betier the ftate of mankind. I make no 
queition but much has been done during 
the.courfe of the prefent century, to a 
tac 
/ 
urs, 
t Jane 
to sreater numbers than are now fed from 
y 
