which succeeded, had exhausted the portion of credulity which belonged to their age; that now nothing was left to a writer but that species of the marvellous, which might still be produced, and with as great an effect as ever, though in another way; that is, the marvellous in life, in manners, in characters, and in extraordinary situations, giving rise to new and unlooked-for strokes in politics and morals. I believe, that were Rousseau alive, and in one of his lucid intervals, he would be shocked at the practical phrenzy of his scholars, who in their paradoxes are servile imitators; and even in their incredulity discover an implicit faith.
Men who undertake considerable things, even in a regular way, ought to give us ground to pre|sume ability. But the physician of the state, who, not satisfied with the cure of distempers, under|takes to regenerate constitutions, ought to shew uncommon powers. Some very unusual appear|ances of wisdom ought to display themselves on the face of the designs of those who appeal to no prac|tice, and who copy after no model. Has any such been manifested? I shall take a view (it shall for the subject be a very short one) of what the assem|bly has done, with regard, first, to the constitution of the legislature; in the next place, to that of the ex|ecutive power; then to that of the judicature; af|terwards to the model of the army; and con|clude with the system of finance, to see whether we can discover in any part of their schemes the portentous ability, which may justify these bold undertakers in the superiority which they assume over mankind.
