of cuftom, there was a propriety in the character which custom had taught us to allot to each profeffion. We cannot complain, therefore, in this cafe, that the perversion of natural fentiment is very great. Though the manners of different nations require different degrees of the fame quality, in the character which they think worthy of esteem, yet the worst that can be faid to happen even here, is that the duties of one virtue are fometimes extended fo as to encroach a little upon the precincts of fome other. The ruftic hofpitality that is in fashion among the Poles encroaches, perhaps, a little upon ceconomy and good order; and the frugality that is esteemed in Holland, upon generofity and good-fellowship. The hardiness demanded of favages diminishes their humanity; and, perhaps, the delicate fenfibility required in civilized nations fometimes deftroys the mafculine firmnefs of the character. In general, the ftyle of manners which takes place in any nation, may commonly upon the whole be faid to be that which is moft fuitable to its fituation. Hardinefs is the character moft fuitable to the circumstances of a favage; fenfibility to thofe of one who lives in a very civilized fociety. Even here, therefore, we cannot complain that the moral fentiments of men are very grossly perverted.

It is not therefore in the general ftyle of conduct or behaviour that cuftom authorizes the wideft departure from what is the natural propriety of action. With regard to particular ufages its influence is often. much more destructive of good morals, and it is capable of establishing, as lawful and blameless, particular actions, which fhock the plaine principles of right and wrong.

Can

Can there be greater barbarity, for example, than to hurt an infant? Its helpleffnefs, its innocence, its amiableness, call forth the compaffion even of an enemy, and not to fpare that tender age is regarded as the most furious effort of an enraged and cruel conqueror. What then fhould we imagine must be the heart of a parent who could injure that weakness which even a furious enemy is afraid to violate? Yet the expofition, that is, the murder of newborn infants, was a practice allowed of in almost all the states of Greece, even among the polite and civilized Athenians; and whenever the circumftances of the parent rendered it inconvenient to bring up the child, to abandon it to hunger, or to wild beafts, was regarded without blame or cenfure. This practice had probably begun in times of the moft favage barbarity. The imaginations of men had been first made familiar with it in that earlieft period of fociety, and the uniform continuance of the cuftom had hindered them afterwards from perceiving its enormity. We find, at this day, that this practice prevails among all favage nations; and in that rudeft and lowest state of fociety it is undoubtedly more pardonable than in any other. The extreme indigence of a favage is often fuch that he himself is frequently exposed to the greateft extremity of hunger, he often dies of pure want, and it is frequently impoffible for him to fupport both himself and his child. We cannot wonder, therefore, that in this cafe he should abandon it. One who in flying from an enemy, whom it was impoffible to refift, fhould throw down his infant, because it retarded his flight, would furely be excufeable; fince, by attempting to fave it, he could only hope for the confolation of

dying

dying with it. That in this state of fociety, therefore, a parent should be allowed to judge whether he can bring up his child, ought not to furprise us fo greatly. In the latter ages of Greece, however, the fame thing was permitted from views of remote interest or conveniency, which could by no means excufe it. Uninterrupted cuftom had by this time fo thoroughly authorized the practice, that not only the loofe maxims of the world tolerated this barbarous prerogative, but even the doctrine of philofophers, which ought to have been more juft and accurate, was led away by the established custom, and upon this, as upon many other occafions, instead of cenfuring, fupported the horrible abufe, by farfetched confiderations of public utility. Ariftotle talks of it as of what the magiftrate ought upon many occafions to encourage. The humane Plato is of the fame opinion, and, with all that love of mankind which feems to animate all his writings, no where marks this practice with disapprobation. When custom can give sanction to fo dreadful a violation of humanity, we may well imagine that there is scarce any particular practice fo grofs which it cannot authorize. Such a thing, we hear men every day faying, is commonly done, and they seem to think this a fufficient apology for what, in itself, is the most unjust and unreasonable conduct.

There is an obvious reafon why custom fhould never pervert our fentiments with regard to the general style and character of conduct and behaviour, in the fame degree as with regard to the propriety or unlawfulness of particular usages. There

never can be any fuch cuftom. No fociety could fubfift a moment, in which the ufual ftrain of mens conduct and behaviour was of a piece with the horrible practice I just now mentioned.

PART

PART VI.

Of Systems of MORAL PHILOSOPHY.

CONSISTING OF FOUR SECTIONS.

SECTION I.

Of the questions which ought to be examined in at theory of moral fentiments.

IF we examine the most celebrated and remarka

ble of the different theories which have been given concerning the nature and origin of our moral fentiments, we hall find that almoft all of them coincide with fome part or other of that which I have been endeavouring to give an account of; and that if every thing which has already been faid be fully confidered, we fhall be at no lofs to explain what was the view or aspect of nature which led each particu lar author to form his particular fyftem. From fome one or other of thofe principles which I have been endeavouring to unfold, every fyftem of morality that ever had any reputation in the world. has, perhaps, ultimately been derived. As they are all of them, in this refpect, founded upon natural principles, they are all of them in fome measure in the right. But as many of them are derived from a parU 2

tial