2

Whilst the greatest effort has been made to ensure the quality of this text, due to the historical nature of this content, in some rare cases there may be minor issues with legibility. IN the preceding divisions of this work the ground has been suf ficiently cleared, to enable us to proceed, with considerable explicitness and satisfaction, to the practical detail: in other words, to attempt the tracing out that application of the laws of general justice, which may best conduce to the gradual improve ment of mankind. It has appeared, that an enquiry concerning the principles and conduct of social intercourse is the most important topic upon which the mind of man can be exercised;* that, upon these principles, well or ill conceived, and the manner in which they are administered, the vices and virtues of individuals depend;1'' that political institution, to be good, must have constant relation to the rules of immutable justice; I and that those rules, uniform in their nature, are equally applicable to the whole human race.