The Works of Edmund Burke (Volume 1) (Paperback)

Book may have numerous typos, missing text, images, or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1803. Excerpt: ... A VINDICATION -- NATURAL SOCIETY: OR, A VIEW OF THE MISERIES AND EVILS ARISING TO MANKINP FROM EVERY SPECIES OF ARTIFICIAL SOCIETY. IN A LETTER TO LORD****. BY A LATE NOBLE WRITER. Vol. I. B Preface. BEFORE the philofophical works of Lord BoLingbroke had appeared, great things were expe&ed from the leifure of a man, who from the fplendid fcene of a&ion, in which his talents had enabled him to make fo confpicuous a figure, had retired to employ thofe talents in the inveftigation of truth. Philofophy began to congratulate herfelf upon fuch a profelyte from the world of bufinefs, and hoped to have extended her power under the aufpices of fuch a leader. In the midst of these pleasing expectations, the works themfelves at laft appeared in full body, and with great pomp. Thofe who fearched in them for new difcoveries in the myfteries of nature; thofe who expected fomething which might explain or direct the operations of the mind; thofe who hoped to fee morality illuftrated and enforced; thofe who looked' for new helps to fociety and government; thofe who defired to fee the characters and paffions of mankind delineated; in fhort, all who confider fuch .things as philofophy, and require fome of them at least, in every philofophical work, all thefe were certainly difappointed; they found the landmarks of fcience precifely in their former places: B 2 and and they thought they received but a poor recompence for this difappointment, in feeing every mode of religion attacked in a lively manner, and the foundation of every virtue, and of all government, fapped with great art and much ingenuity. What advantage do we derive from fuch writings? What delight can a man find in employing a capacity which might be ufefully exerted for the noblest purpofes, in a fort of fullen labour, in which, ...