The Friend

give to every one the power of working out, under any circumftances, the conclufions of truth for himself. The game from time to time started and run down may be rich and curious; but ftill at the end of the day it is the chase itself, the quickened eye, the lengthened breath, the firmer nerve, that must ever be the huntsman's best reward.

The Friend is divided into two main fections; the first comprising a discussion of the principles of political knowledge; the second treating of the grounds of morals and religion, and revealing the systematic discipline of mind requifite for a true understanding of the fame. To these is prefixed. a general introduction, for the greater part devoted to a statement of the duty of communicating the truth, and of the conditions under which it may be communicated safely; and three several collections of essays, in some degree miscellaneous and called Landing-Places — interpofed in different places for amusement, retrospect, and preparation -complete the work.

THE

TABLE OF CONTENTS.

HE following fynoptical view of the plan and contents of The Friend may prove useful to those who read the work for the first time in the present edition.

GENERAL INTRODUCTION.

VOL. I. ESSAYS I-xvI. pp. 1-162.
Effay

Particular

Introduction.

Essays I—IV. pp. 1-36.

Duty of the communication of truth, and the conditions under which it may be safely communicated. Effays V-XIII.

PP. 37-125.

I. Design of the work.

II. Ditto continued: neceffity of attention and thought, and diftinc

tion between them.

III. Style: author's hopes and expecta

tions.

IV. Defence against charges of arrogance and prefumption.

V. Inexpediency of pious frauds: indifference of truth and falfehood denied objection from the impoffibility of conveying an adequate notion answered.

VI. Conditions, under which right, though inadequate, notions may be taught.

VII.

VIII.

{

Application of those conditions to publications by the prefs;1. as between an individual and his own confcience. X. Ditto.-2.as between the publisher

IX.

and the state: free prefs.

XI. Law of libel: its anomalies and peculiar difficulties.

XII. Defpotifm and infecurity without. a free prefs: Charlemagne and Buonaparte.

XIII. Only folution of the difficulties of the law of libel compatible with a free press: toleration and tole

rance.

GENERAL INTRODUCTION.

XIV. Clearnefs of conceptions in the un-

derstanding effential to purity in
the will: duty of communicating

knowledge.

XV. Right ufe of metaphyfic reasoning:

principles founded in reason the

fole root of prudence: distinctive

powers of the human mind.

XVI. Supremacy of the reafon: power

given by acting on principle:
falfehood and unworthiness of

modern principles in taste, mo-

rals, and religion.

FIRST LANDING-PLACE.

VOL. I. ESSAYS I—v. pp. 165-212.

I. Voltaire and Erafmus: Rouffeau and

Luther.

II. Luther's visions in the Warteburg.

Theory of Ap-(III. Theory to explain Luther's visions :

paritions.

Effay III.

pp. 187-191.

Review of
the work and
profpect.
Effay IV.

Pp. 192-200.

On the Reafon

and the

Understanding.
Effay V.

PP. 201-212.

apostrophe on Thomas Wedg-
wood.

IV. Purpose of the Landing-Places :
fummary of the preceding effays:
ufe of the term reafon."

V. Do. continued: the reafon and the

understanding distinguished: their
mutual and necessary relation :
eduction of the confcience.

FIRST SECTION.

On the Principles of Political Knowledge.

VOL. I. ESSAYS I-IV. pp. 215-270.

VOL. II. ESSAYS I—XII. pp. 1—196.
Effay

Three systems
of political
justice, or
Three theories

on the origin of
Government.
Vol. I.
Effays I-IV.
pp. 215-270.
Vol. II.
Effay I.
PP. 1-26.

Perfonal retrofpect. Effay II.

Pp. 27-33.

Political
Reform.

Effays III-V.
PP. 34-83.

I. Syftem of Hobbes: fear and the force of custom: confutation. II. Do. continued: spirit of law: use of the phrase, original contract.' III. Syftem of expedience and prudence -adopted: fyftem of the pure reafon motives for expofing its falfehood.

IV. Statement of the system : Rouffeau's 'Social Contract,' and Paine's "Rights of Man:' French phyfiocratic philofophers: Cartwright: confutation.

I. Cartwright: party-fpirit: Jacobins and Anti-Jacobins: injudicious treatment of the former by the latter.

II. The author never a Jacobin: pantifocracy: peace of Amiens, its character and good effects.

III. Vulgar errors respecting taxes and taxation: true principles: national debt.

IV.

Claffes of political reformers: elec-
tive franchise.
Catechifm preparatory to examina-
tion of the principles of the Eng-
lish Government: letter of Deca-
tur's, and anecdotes illuftrative of
principles

FIRST SECTION.

Effay

xiii

VI. Review of circumstances which led
to the peace of Amiens, and
recommencement of the war, ef-
pecially with regard to the occu-
pation of Malta, — introductory
to, and as commentary on, the
fubject of international law.
Interpofed in vindication of free-
dom of thought, and of the duty
of fearching out, and abiding by,
the truth: reafon and faith: ex-
tracts from Taylor and Bedell.
IX. Law of nations: cosmopolitism and
nationality.