OF THE HISTORY OF MA N. IN TWO VOLUMES. VOLUME I. EDINBURGH: Printed for W. CREECH, Edinburgh; and for MDCCLXXIV. T PREFACE. HE following work is the fubftance of various fpeculations, that occasionally amused the author, and enlivened his leifure-hours. It is not intended for the learned; they are above it: nor for the vulgar; they are below it. It is intended for men, who, equally removed from the corruption of opulence, and from the depreffion of bodily labour, are bent on useful knowledge; who, even in the delirium of youth, feel the dawn of patriotism, and who in riper years enjoy its meridian warmth. To fuch men this work is dedicated; and that they may profit by it, is the author's ardent wish, and probably will be while any spirit remains in him to form a wish. May not he hope, that this work, child of his gray hairs, will furvive, and bear teftimony for him to good men, that even a laborious calling, which left him not many leifure-hours, never banished from his mind, that he would little deferve to be of the human fpecies, were he indifferent about his fellow creatures: Homo fum: humani nihil a me alienum puto. VOL. I. b Moft |