most aukward and clumsy contrivance. What institution of government could tend so much to promote the happiness of mankind as the general prevalence of wisdom and virtue? All government is but an imperfect remedy for the deficiency of these. Whatever beauty, therefore, can belong to civil government up|on account of its utility, must in a far supe|rior degree belong to these. On the contrary, what civil policy can be so ruinous and de|structive as the vices of men. The fatal effects of bad government arise from no|thing, but that it does not sufficiently guard against the mischiefs which human wicked|ness gives occasion to.
This beauty and deformity which charac|ters appear to derive from their usefulness or inconveniency, are apt to strike, in a pecu|liar manner, those who consider in an abstract and philosophical light, the actions and con|duct of mankind. When a philosopher goes to examine why humanity is approved of, or cruelty condemned, he does▪ not always form to himself in a very clear and distinct manner, the conception of any one particular action either of cruelty or of humanity, but is com|monly contented with the vague and inde|terminate idea which the general names of
