A View of the Moral State of Society, at the Close of the Eighteenth Century, Enlarged [From Reflections on the Political and Moral State of Society] and Continued (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1804 Excerpt: ...new philosophical system, to subject gratitude to ridicule, as a contemptible weakness, nay, even to expose it to detestation, as an actual vice. Thus would the regenerators of the human race dry up the very sources of that benevolence, which they pretend to idolize, as the sum and substance of all virtue--for to confer benefits, or to display kindness without a hope of a grateful return, is beyond any degree of perfection, which, under the new philosophy, the human character can be expected to at' tain.. i.;.' Together with humility and gratitude, the congenial virtue of fidelity is evidently on the decline. To this virtue the utmost consequence has ever been attached, and the want of it has been allowed to denote complete depravity. When incorruptible by wealth, and invincible by danger, it has been always deemed to shed a high lustre on the character in which it appeared; and, when displayed in the exalted form of loyalty, it has justly been considered as cementing all the ties of society. This splendid and valuable virtue, after being relaxed by the enervating softness of luxurious dissipation, is now held forth to scorn by that new school of morality, which, under the specious pretence of solicitude for general happiness and universal liberty, teaches its disciples to substitute vanity and egotism for every affection that can improve or adorn our nature. See the lessons of this school exemplified in the treatment ex E r perienced by Louis the Sixteenth, at the hands-of his subjects--who requited the numerous virtues of that Monarch, and the truly paternal anxiety displayed by him for the happiness of his people, by the grossest ingratitude and the basest treachery, by open rebellion, by captivity, --by regicide. Contrast this treatment with the well aut...