Α FRAGMENT OF A COMMENT ON L. BOLINGBROKE'S ESSAYS. I MUST confess myself to be one of those who brought with me to the perusal of the late published volumes of Lord Bolingbroke, a very high prejudice to the doctrines said to have been established in them; but at the same time, can as truly assert, that I had the highest, and strongest prepossession in favour of the abilities of the author. Such, indeed, was this prepossession, that it might, I think, be a sufficient warrant of a man's candour against any prejudice whatever : and it is in the true spirit of this candour, that I declare, upon the perusal, I have found my prepossessions greatly abated, and my prejudices not in the least removed. Could it therefore be supposed, that all mankind were alike able to try the cause of truth, and to form their judgment on the weight of argument and evidence. only, I think there could be no danger in leaving the decision of this matter upon his lordship's own reasoning, without any attempt to answer him. But when we consider how very weak the abilities of mankind in general are, in disquisitions of this nature; how much weaker they are rendered for this purpose by want of due attention; and, lastly, how apt they are to carry any little partiality which they have pre-conceived before the examination of a cause, up to the final decision of it in their minds, it may possibly be very dangerous to the society to suffer such pernicious doctrines to stand unobjected to, with so great a name at their head. Many, I am convinced, will think the authority of this name alone sufficient to establish their own belief upon, without any farther inquiry at all. Many others will imagine very little inquiry necessary, and, tho' they did not entirely acquiesce in taking his word, will be easily cajoled with his reasons, which, however little they may have of substance, have much of the specious ornaments of wit and language, with all the allurements of novelty both of style and manner; and, finally, with an appearance, at least, of reading, very singular and extensive. From which last particular may arise a third sort very worthy of receiving some assistance on this occasion; such, I mean, as have not the least inclination to his lordship's doctrines, nor would, indeed, assent to them on the authority of any man breathing, who may yet have wanted leisure or opportunity sufficient to provide themselves with a proper fund of knowledge, to give a ready answer to various assertions which will occur in the works now under consideration, and which, tho' they have the worst of tendencies, have in reality themselves no better support (and not always so good a one) than some very weak and slender hypotheses and are at other times built on the revival of old chimerical principles, which have been confuted and exploded long ago. Now, to all these different constitutions, we shall endeavour to apply our several antidotes. And here, luckily for us, we are provided with an argument which |