A Collection of Papers on Political, Literary and Moral Subjects (Classic Reprint)

Excerpt from A Collection of Papers on Political, Literary and Moral SubjectsThese questions are extremely interesting, as they respect every thing which concerns the happiness of men in the great societies of Europe and America government, liberty, arts, science, agriculture, commerce, morality, religion.It would be an evidence of daring presumption to attempt to Open the volume Of divine determinations on these momentous questions. But it is highly proper, at all times, to exercise our reason, in exam ining the connection between causes and their effects; and in predict ing, with modesty, the probable consequences of known events.It is conceived to be the duty of the historian and the statesman, not merely to collect accounts Of battles, the slaughter of the human race, the sacking of cities, the seizure and confiscation of shipping, and other bloody and barbarous deeds, the work of savage man toward his fel low men; but to discover, if possible, the causes of great changes in the affairs of men; the springs of those important movements, which vary the aspect of government, the features of nations, and the very character of man.The present efforts of the French nation, in resisting the forces of the combined powers, astonish even reflecting men. They far exceed\ every thing exhibited during the energetic reigns of Francis I. And Louis XIV. TO ascertain the true principles from which have sprung the union and the vigor which have marked this amazing revolution, is a work of no small labor, and may be of great public utility.About the PublisherForgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.comThis book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.