XIII

ACCOUNT OF THE LIFE AND

found reafoning which the theory involves, itsftriking plaufibility is a fufficient proof; for as theauthor hi-mfelf has remarked, no fyftem in moralscan well gain our alfent, if it does not border, infome refpeds, upon the truth. “ A fyftem of na-“ tural philofophy, ( he obferves,) may appear££ very plauhble, and be for a long time very ge-“ nerally received in the world, and yet have no££ foundation in nature; butthe author who fhould“ afhgnasthe caufeofany natural fentiment, fome££ principle which neither had any connexion with££ it, nor refembled any other principle which had“ fome connexion , ” would appear abfurd and ri-diculous to the molt injudicious and unexperien-ced reader.” The merit, however , of Mr* Smith’sperformance does not relt here. No work, un-doubtedly, can be mentioned, ancient or modern ,which exhibits fo complete a view of thofe fadswith refped to our moral perceptions, which itis one great objed of this branch of fcience to. re-fer to their general laws; and upon this account,it well deleaves the careful fhidy of all whofe tafleleads them to profecute fimilar inquiries.. Thefefids are indeed frequently exprelfed in a languagewhich involves the author’s peculiar theoriesButthey are always prefen ted in the molt happy andbeautiful lights; and it is eafy for an attentive rea-der, by ftripping them of hypothetical terms, toftate them to himfelf with that logical precifion,