4. Progrefs of States from fmall to great, and 5. Great and fmall States compared, 6. War and Peace compared, 7. Rife and Fall of Patriotism, 8. Finances, 12. Origin and Progrefs of American Nations, 64 6. Reflections on the Utility of Logic, and Page 151 157 173 180 196 205 Appendix, 2. Government of Royal Boroughs in Scotland, 212 221 226 PREFACE. THE following work is the substance of various fpeculations, that occafionally amufed the author, and enlivened his leifurehours. It is not intended for the learned; they are above it: nor for the vulgar; they are below it. It is intended for men, who, equally removed from the corruption of opulence, and from the depreffion of bodily labour, are bent on ufeful knowledge; who, even in the delirium of youth, feel the dawn of patriotism, and who, in riper years, enjoy its meridian warmth. To fuch men this work is dedicated; and that they may profit by it, is the author's ardent wish, and probably will be while any spirit remains in him to form a with. May not he hope, that this work, child of his grey hairs, will furvive, and bear teftimony for him to good men, that even a laborious calling, which left him not many leifurehours, never banished from his mind, that he would little deserve to be of the human fpecies, were he indifferent about his fellowcreatures: Homo fum: humani nihil a me alienum puto. Most of the fubjects handled in the following fheets admit but of probable reasoning; which is not a little flippery, as, with refpect to many reasonings of that kind, it is difficult to pronounce, what degree of conviction they ought to produce. It is eafy to form plauf ible arguments; but to form fuch as will stand the teft of time, is not always eafy. I could amufe the reader with numerous examples of conjectural arguments, which, fair at a diftant. view, vanish like a cloud on a near approach. In the first sketch of this book, not to go farther, he will find recorded more than one example. The dread of being mifled by fuch arguments filled the author with anxiety; and, after his utmost attention, he can but faintly hope, that he has not often wandered far from truth. Above thirty years ago he began to collect materials for a natural history of man; and, in the vigour of youth, did not think the undertaking too bold, even for a fingle hand. He has discovered of late, that his utmost abilities are scarce fufficient for executing a few imperfe&t sketches. Edinburgh, Feb. 23. 1774. |