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that the strength of the State is really the welfare of all, and not that of a single person. Happy Constitution! which they did not suddenly obtain : it has cost rivers of blood; but they have not purchased it too dear. May luxury, that pest so fatal to the manly and patriotic virtues, that minister of corruption so dangerous to liberty, never overthrow a monument that does so much honour to human nature, a monument capable of teaching kings how glorious it is to rule over a free people!": VATTEL'S Law of Nations, Book I. chap. 2.

Every good government must consist of an union or association of the wise and good to resist the designs of the ignorant and the wicked; and they must be supported by power and strength, to carry into effect the decisions of wisdom and jus→ tice: but miserable and dreadful must be the consequences, if those who possess the muscular strength of a people are led, by the artifices of designing men, to resist a government cemented by the wisdom and experience of ages.

How unqualified those are to form a correct judgment of the complicated affairs of every go vernment whose thoughts must be confined to employments of manual labour, has been admirably described by an author whom divines do not with certainty rank amongst the Inspired Writers; but

his

his book contains an infinite fund of wisdom, beautifully expressed;-I mean Jesus the son of Sirach, the author of Ecclesiasticus. Nothing in the whole of the Old Testament can be found more just and satisfactory than the following extract:

The wisdom of a learned man cometh by opportunity of leisure; and he that hath little business shall become wise.

How can he get wisdom that holdeth the plough, and that glorieth in the goad; that driveth oxen, and is occupied in their labours, and whose talk is of bullocks? He giveth his mind to make furrows; and is diligent to give the kine fodder.

So every carpenter and work-master, that laboureth night and day: and they that cut and grave seals, and are diligent to make great variety, and give themselves to counterfeit imagery, and watch to finish a work.

The smith also sitting by the anvil, and considering the iron work, the vapour of the fire wasteth his flesh, and he fighteth with the heat of the furnace the noise of the hammer and the anvil is ever in his ears, and his eyes look still upon the pattern of the thing that he maketh; he setteth his mind to finish his work, and watcheth to polish it perfectly.

So doth the potter sitting at his work, and turning the wheel about with his feet, who is alway carefully set at his work; and maketh all his work by number.

He

He fashioneth the clay with his arm, and boweth down his strength before his feet; he applieth himself to lead it over; and he is diligent to make clean the furnace.

All these trust to their hands and every one is wise in his work.

Without these cannot a city be inhabited: and they shall not dwell where they will, nor go up and down.

They shall not be sought for in public counsel, nor sit high in the congregation: they shall not sit on the judges' seat, nor understand the sentence of judgment: they cannot declare justice and judgment, and they shall not be found where parables are spoken. But they will maintain the state of the world, and all their desire is in the work of their craft.-ECCLESIASTICUS, XXXviii. 24—34.

K

ERRATA.

P. 30, line 8, after prisoners add witnesses.

In page 70, the lowest paragraph ought to have been placed at the end of the Note.

SUMMARY OF CONTENTS.

DISSERTATION-first published in 1792, p. 1.

A monstrous doctrine had been advanced, that the House of Lords was not bound by the Rules of Evidence observed by other Courts, 2.

Mr. Christian was attacked in the House of Commons by the Right Hon. Edmund Burke, for having advanced this. This error of Mr. Burke, Mr. Christian attempted to refute by the Dissertation, 5.

The study of Mr. Burke's Works recommended to all Students, 6.

The observance of Forms essential to the administration of justice. The opinions of Lawyers supported, 8.

Magna Charta, 9.

Rights of Man a mischievous expression, 10.

Vir bonus est quis ?—explained, 13.

Sound policy explained; and exemplified by marriage brokage, purchase of places, gratuitous promises, &c. 14. The principle of Moral Justice not understood, even by good scholars, 18.

The difference of the Korân and the New Testament, 19.

The principle and object of the Laws of Evidence, 20.

One witness sufficient to the conviction of criminals, 21. Better that five guilty persons escape, than one innocent person should die,'-how far true, 21.

Two witnesses necessary in High Treason, 22.

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