XX ACCOUNT OF THE LIFE AND-

renders us fufceptible of pkafure or of pain fromthe view of virtue or of vice, he gave die nameof the Moral Senfe. His reafonings upon .thisfubjeft are in the main acquiefced in, both byMr. Hume and Mr. Smith ; but they differ fromhim in one important particular, —Dr. Hutche-son plainly fuppofmg, that the moral fenfe is alimple principle of our conftitution, of which noaccount can be given; whereas the other twophilofophers have both attempted to analyze itinto other principles more general. Their fyftems,however, with refpebt to it are very different fromeach other. According to Mr. Hume, all the qua-lities which are denominated virtuous, are ufefuleither to ourfelves or to others, and the pleafurewhich we derive from the view of them is thepleafure of utility. Mr. Smith, without rejectingentirely Mr. Hume’s doblrine, propofes anotherof his own, far more comprehenhve, a doctrinewith which he thinks all the moil celebrated theo-ries of morality invented by his predeceffors coin-cide in part, and from fome partial view of whichhe apprehends that they have all proceeded.

Of this very ingenious and original theory, Ifliall endeavour to give a lliort abilradt. To tho r ewho are familiarly acquainted with it as it is 11atec*by its author, I am aware that the attempt mayappear fuperfluous; but I flatter myfelf that itwill not be wholly ufelefs to fuch as have not been