im deduced from ſimple reaſon, raiſes an outcry—the church or the ſtate is in danger, if faith in the wiſdom of antiquity is not implicit; and they who, rouſed by the ſight of human calamity, dare to attack human authority, are reviled as deſpiſers of God, and enemies of man. Theſe are bitter calumnies, yet they reached one of the beſt of men[1], whoſe aſhes ſtill preach peace, and whoſe memory demands a reſpectful pauſe, when ſubjects are diſcuſſed that lay ſo near his heart.
After attacking the ſacred majeſty of Kings, I ſhall ſcarcely excite ſurpriſe by adding my firm perſuaſion that every profeſſion, in which great ſubordination of rank conſtitutes its power, is highly injurious to morality.
A ſtanding army, for inſtance, is incompatible with freedom; becauſe ſubordination and rigour are the very ſinews of military diſcipline; and deſpotiſm is neceſſary to give vigour to enterprizes that one will directs. A ſpirit inſpired by romantic notions of honour, a kind of morality founded on the faſhion of the age, can only be felt by a few officers, whilſt the main body muſt be moved by command, like the waves of the ſea; for the ſtrong wind of authority puſhes the crowd of ſubalterns forward, they ſcarcely know or care why, with headlong fury.
Beſides, nothing can be ſo prejudicial to the morals of the inhabitants of country towns as the occaſional reſidence of a ſet of idle ſuperficial young men, whoſe only occupation is gallantry, and whoſe poliſhed manners render vice more dangerous, by concealing its deformity under gay ornamental
- ↑ Dr. Price.
