An essay on the history of civil society / [Adam Ferguson].

Adam Ferguson

Date:: 1789

Credit: An essay on the history of civil society / [Adam Ferguson]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

417/438 page 407

$complaints. They even fometimes acknowledge, that if a fufec.effion of good princes could be found, defpotical government is bed calculated for the happinefs of mankind. While they reafon thus, they cannot blame a fovereign who, in the confidence that he is to employ his power for good purpofes, endeavours to'extend its limits; and in his own apprehenfion, drives only to fliake off the reffraints which (land in the way of reafon , and which prevent the effect of his friendly intentions. Thus prepared for ufurpation, let him, at the head of a free date, employ the force with which he is armed, to crufh the feeds of apparent dif- order in every corner of his dominions, let him effectually curb the fpirit of diffenfion and variance among his people ; let him remove the inter- ruptions to government, aridng from the refrac- tory humours and the private intereds of his fubjects ; let him colledt the force of the date againd its enemies, by availing himfelf of all it can furnifh in the way of taxation and perfonal fervice: it is extremely probable, that, even under the direction of willies for the good of mankind, he may break through every barrier were they to ftir, the building muff fall: but the good order of men in fociety , is their being placed where they are pro- perly qualified to act. The firft is a fabric made of dead and inanimate parts, the fecond is made of living and active members. When we feek in fociety for the order of mere inaction and tranquillity, we forget the nature of our fub- ject, and find the order of flaves, not that of freemen*$

An essay on the history of civil society / [Adam Ferguson].

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