XXXX ACCOUNT OF THE.LIFE AND

warm the imaginations of any but of the fpecula-tive few; and in proportion as they are adopted,they confolidate the political fabric, and enlargethe bafts upon which it refts.

To direft the policy of nations with refpecl toone moil important clafs of its laws, thofe whichform its fyftem of political oeconomy, is the greataim of Mr. Smith’s Inquiry': And he has unques-tionably had the merit of prefenting to the world,the moft comprehenlive and perfect work that hasyet appeared, on the general principles of anybranch of legillation. The example which he hasfet will be followed, it is to be hoped, in due time,by other writers, for whom the internal policy ofHates furnillies many other fubje&s of difculfionno lefs curious and interefting ; and may acceleratethe progrefs of that Science which Lord Baconhas fo well deferibed in the following paffage:

“ Finis & fcopus quern leges intueri, atque ad“ quem juffiones oC fanflionesfuas dirigere debent,<£ non alius ell, quam ut cives feliciter degant;“ id fiet, fi pietate & religione rec^e inftituti; mo-“ ribus honefti; armis adverfus ’"holies externos“ tuti; legum auxilio adverfus feditiones & priva-“ tas injurias muniti; imperio & magiftratibus“ obfequentes; copiis .& opibus locupletes &££ florentes fuerint.—Certe cognitio ifta ad-viros ci-“ viles proprie fpeflat; qui optime norunt, quidC( ferat focietas humana, quid falus populi, quid

asquitas