WRITINGS OF DR. SMITH.

XCI

raffi application of political theories, appears notonly from the general ftrain of his writings, butfrom fome incidental obfervations which he hasexprefsly made upon the fubje£l. " So unfor-tunate (fays he, in one passage ) are the e fie els of“ all the regulations of the mercantile fyftem, that“ they not only introduce very dangerous difor-“ ders into the ftate of the body politic, but dif-“ orders which it is often difficult to remedy with-" out occafioning, for a time atleaft, ftill greater“ diforders.— In what manner, therefore, the na-“ tural fyftem of perfeft liberty and juftice ought“ gradually to be reftored, we muss leave to the“ wifdam of future ftatefmen and legislators to“ determine.” In the laft edition of his Theoryof Moral Sentiments, he has introduced fome re-marks , which have an obvious reference to thefame important doctrine. The following passagefeems to refer more particularly to thofe derange-ments of the focial order which derived theirorigin from the feudal institutions:

" The man whole public spirit is prompted al-“ together by humanity and benevolence, will" refpeci the established powers and privileges“ even of individuals, and ftill more of the great“ orders and societies into which the ftate is divi-“ ded. Though he should consider fome of them“ as in fome measure abusive, he will content“ himfelf with moderating, what he often cannot