THE PRINCIPLES O F NATURAL LA W By J. J. BURLAMAQUI, Tranflated into ENGLISH by Mr. NUGENT. The THIRD EDITION, revised and corrected, DUBLIN: Printed for J. SHEPPARD, in SKINNER Row, and ΤΟ Dr. MEAD. SIR, *** Ointrude in this manner upon Tyour time, fo usefully employed in the duties of your profeflion, would expose me in fome measure to blame, were it upon a lefs important occafion than that of recommending the following work to your generous protection. The dignity of the fubject, which, handled by other pens, has been thought worthy of being infcribed to the most illuftrious perfonages of the laft and prefent age, will plead, I hope, fome excufe for an addrefs, which is defigned not fo much to interrupt your occupations, as to avail itself of the fanction of your name in introduc ing this work to the public. And indeed a nobler a nobler fubject I could not select for the favour of your acceptance, than that which fo nearly relates to the moral duties of life, and the foundation of human contentment and happiness; a fubject moreover illuftrated by one of the ablest masters of the prefent age, whofe extraordinary ability and fkill in curing the diforders of the mind, may be compared very aptly to yours in removing thofe of the body. One of the principal encouragements I had to this addrefs, is the near relation between the following work, and those elevated sentiments with which you have been always infpired. Such an admirable fyftem of moral precepts, fuch noble maxims of true Chriftian policy, and fuch excellent rules for the government of our lives, cannot but be acceptable to a gentleman, who, in the whole tenor of his conduct, has been an illustrious. example of those rules and maxims which are here moft judiciously established. A very good opportunity this of entering upon the encomium, of thofe virtues which have fo eminently diftinguished you at the head of your profeffion, but the little value any commendations of mine would have, the apprehenfion I fhould be under of being fufpected of adulation, and the danger Ishould incur of offending your modefty, oblige me to wave any attempt of this nature. However, I cannot help taking notice of that true magnificence with which you have at all times contributed to the advancement of learning, and whereby you have juftly acquired the title of patron and protector of letters. In fact, the extenfive bleffings that fortune has bestowed upon you, have been employed not as inftruments of private luxury, but as means of promoting thofe arts, which have received an additional luftre, fince they have fhone fo confpicuously in your perfon.. Your friendship and correfpondence have been courted by the greatest men of the prefent age; and your houfe, like that of Atticus, has been open to the learned of all orders and ranks, who unanimously respect you, not only as a fupreme judge of learning and wit, but, moreover, as an arbiter elegantiarum, and mafter of finished urbanity. Your collection of valuable curiofities and books, wherein you have rivalled the magnificence of fovereigns, is the admiration and talk of all Europe, and will be a lafting_monument of your love of literature. The polite reception you have always given to the learned of foreign nations has rendered your name fo refpectable abroad, that you are never mentioned but with expreffions denoting the high idea they entertain of your fingular munificence. These, Sir, are not particular fentiments of mine; they are the fentiments of the public, whofe |