It


the  reciprooal  oondemnatioa  of  each  other's
errors  which  appears  in  his  statement  en-
titles us,  on  these  points,  to  strike  out  the
suffrages  of  both  when  collecting  the  general
judgment  of  mankind.  If  we  bear  in  mind
that  the  question  relates  to  the  coincidence
of  all  men  in  considering  the  same  qualities
as  Tirtues,  and  not  to  the  preference  of  one
class  of  virtues  by  some^  and  of  a  different
class  by  others,  the  exceptions  from  the
agreement  of  mankind,  in  their  system  of
practicaWnorality,  will  be  reduced  to  abso-
lute insignificance;  ^d  we  shall  learn  to
Tiew  them  as  no  more  affecting  the  harmony
of  our  mora]  faculties,  than  the  resemblance
of  our  limbs  and  features  is  affected  by  mon-
strous conformations,  or  by  the  unfortunate
effects  of  accident  and  disease  in  a  very  few
individuals.*

It  is  very  remarkable,  however,  that
though  all  men  agree  that  there  are  acts
whicSi  ought  to  be  done,  and  acts  which
ought  not  to  be  done ;  though' the  far  greater
part  of  mankind  agree  in  their  Hst  of  virtues
and  duties,  of  vices  and  crimes ;  and  though
the  whole  race,  as  it  advances  in  other  im-
provements, is  as  evidently  tending  towards
the  moral  system  of  the  most  civilized  na-
tions, as  children  in  their  growth  tend  to  the
opinions,  as  much  as'  to  the  experience  and
strength,  of  adults  j  yet  there  are  no  questions
in  the  circle  of  mquiry  to  which  answers
more  various  have  oeen  given  than — How
men  have  thus  oome  to  agree  in  the  '  Rule
of  Life  V  Whence  arises  their  general  reve«
rence  for  it  ?  and,  What  is  meant  by  affirtn-
in^  that  it  ought  to  be  inviolably  observed  ?
It  IS  singular,  that  where  we  are  most  nearly
agreed  respecting  rules,  we  should  perhaps
most  widely  differ  as  to  the  causes  of  our
agreement,  and  as  to  the  reasons  which  justify
us  for  adhering  to  it.  The  discussion  ot  these
subjects  composes  what  is  usually  called
the  "Theory  of  Morals"  in  a  sense  not  in
ail  respects  coincident  with  what  is  usually
considered  as  theory  in  other  sciences.
