of one species of virtues; while another has as universally endeavoured to introduce into their precepts that sort of accuracy of which only some of them are susceptible. The first have wrote like critics, the second like gram|marians.
I. The first, among whom we may count all the antient moralists, have contented them|selves with describing in a general manner the different vices and virtues, and with point|ing out the deformity and misery of the one disposition as well as the propriety and hap|piness of the other, but have not affected to lay down many precise rules that are to hold good unexceptionably in all particular cases. They have only endeavoured to ascertain, as far as language is capable of ascertaining, first, wherein consists the sentiment of the heart, upon which each particular virtue is found|ed, what sort of internal feeling or emotion it is which constitutes the essence of friend|ship, of humanity, of generosity, of justice, of magnanimity, and of all the other virtues as well as of the vices which are opposed to them: and, secondly, What is the general way of acting, the ordinary tone and tenor of conduct to which each of those sentiments would direct us, or how it is that a friendly,
