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the use of terms, the distinction of ideas, the logical dependence of arguments, rather than questions of fact or evidence, and that its character will be essentially critical, and even polemic."

But, although it may be true perhaps that this science "cannot yet be exhibited as a regular and perfect structure,” and although in its present state the mere removal of "the rubbish" would be a service of no mean importance, still it is hoped that something more than this is accomplished in the following performance.

Political Economy has been hitherto designated as the science which treats of the production and distribution of wealth, and it has been totally overlooked that this includes the demonstration of the right to wealth. It is here therefore, for the first time, treated as an investigation concerning the right to wealth, (or property ;) and this innovation, while it gives a more important and a more definite object to the science, presents it under a new and totally different aspect from that in which it has hitherto appeared, and causes it to assume an entirely new shape. Whether this be an improvement, or the contrary, it will be for the readers, and for those impartial persons who are acquainted with the subject, to decide.

ROSLIN, October, 1829.

To obviate an objection that may be taken to our Title, and to the way in which the word Natural is used in it, I adduce the following explanation of the meaning of that word, whence the sense will appear in which it is here employed :

"NATURAL may be opposed either to what is unusual, miraculous, or artificial. In the two former senses, justice and property are undoubtedly natural."-Hume; Inquiry concerning the Principles of Morals, Appendix 3,-note.

"If self-love, if benevolence be natural to man; if reason and forethought be also natural; then may the epithet be applied to justice, order, fidelity, property, society. Men's inclination, their necessities, lead them to combine; their understanding and experience tell them that this combination is impossible, where each governs himself by no rule, and pays no regard to the possessions of others: and from these passions and reflections conjoined, as soon as we observe like passions and reflections in others, the sentiment of justice, throughout all ages, has infallibly and certainly had place, to some degree or other, in every individual of the human species. In so sagacious an animal, what necessarily arises from the exertion of his intellectual faculties, may justly be esteemed natural."-Hume; Inquiry concerning the Principles of Morals, Appendix 3.

A sense of justice and property is found, as will be shown in the following work, even among savages; and shall we deny that to be natural to man which "has infallibly and certainly had place" in his bosom, and influenced his conduct " throughout all ages ?"

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