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Article MEMOIRS OF THE LATE DR. PAUL HIFFERNAN. ← Page 7 of 8 →
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Memoirs Of The Late Dr. Paul Hiffernan.
was written , as the Author declares in his last section , as a kind of introduction to " Montesquieu's S pirit of Laws , " and the design of the book is as follows : b The Author first condemns the different opinions hitherto entertained on the origin of despotism , and thinks he has discovered its true source . "The Origin of Despotism , " says he , " appears to me to have established itself
upon earth , neither throuo-h consent nor by force , but was the dire effect , and almost natural consequence of that kind of Government which men had forged for themselves in very , remote ages , when they took for a model the government of the universe , as it is reigned over b y the Supreme Being . —Magnificentbut fatalproject ! which has lunged all the nations into idolatry and thraldom
p ,-because a multitude of suppositions that were then expedient to be made , have been since adopted as certain principles , and that mankind then losing sight of what ought to have been the true principles of their conduct here below , went in quest of supernatural ones , which , not being fitted for this earth , not only deceived but rendered them unhappy . " He then attempts to shew the progress of these principles from to
Theocracy Despotism , and concludes with some general observations on a Monarchical Government . - " In short , the whole of this book appears to us to be a mere metaphysical enquiry , too refined to be taken up on any active principle , and too general to calumniate or disturb any particular Government ; and yet this book in the 176 4 consultation of
year was , upon a some avowed eminent politicians of that day , thought too dangerous to . publish ; and notwithstanding the title-page was cautiously worked off as if it had been printed at Amsterdam , it was agreed that the publication should be laid aside .
Comparing this with many of the political writings of the present day , we shall make no comment . The real friends of the liberty of the press know and feel the difference . ¦ But to return , the delay of publication was for some time unknown toHifternan , when accidentall y passing the bookseller ' s shop , he eac - quired the cause . The bookseller informed him , and in the course conversation that
o , on subject proposed to sell him the copies at six months credit , at the trade price . HifFernan at once closed with the proposal , as it offered a cheap and ready manner of laying his friends and acquaintances under fresh contributions . The account was instantly made out , a note of hand drawn , and every thin ? ready to " accomplish the bargain but the Doctor ' s signature . It will be here
_ necessary to state , that iAvas amongst the peculiarities of this very eccentric man , never to acquaint his most intimate friend wuh the place of his lod ging . Whatever could be the motive , whether pride or whim , kt him be drunk or sober , the secret , we believe , never once escaped him . In signing Jiis name , ' theretore , to this note , the bookseller , very naturally , desired hW to put down his place of abode . " 1 am to lie heard of at the Bedford Coftee-house , " ^ replied the Doctor . — " But , Sir , " says the Book- ' sener , < a cottechouse is too loose a place to make a note trans-i
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Memoirs Of The Late Dr. Paul Hiffernan.
was written , as the Author declares in his last section , as a kind of introduction to " Montesquieu's S pirit of Laws , " and the design of the book is as follows : b The Author first condemns the different opinions hitherto entertained on the origin of despotism , and thinks he has discovered its true source . "The Origin of Despotism , " says he , " appears to me to have established itself
upon earth , neither throuo-h consent nor by force , but was the dire effect , and almost natural consequence of that kind of Government which men had forged for themselves in very , remote ages , when they took for a model the government of the universe , as it is reigned over b y the Supreme Being . —Magnificentbut fatalproject ! which has lunged all the nations into idolatry and thraldom
p ,-because a multitude of suppositions that were then expedient to be made , have been since adopted as certain principles , and that mankind then losing sight of what ought to have been the true principles of their conduct here below , went in quest of supernatural ones , which , not being fitted for this earth , not only deceived but rendered them unhappy . " He then attempts to shew the progress of these principles from to
Theocracy Despotism , and concludes with some general observations on a Monarchical Government . - " In short , the whole of this book appears to us to be a mere metaphysical enquiry , too refined to be taken up on any active principle , and too general to calumniate or disturb any particular Government ; and yet this book in the 176 4 consultation of
year was , upon a some avowed eminent politicians of that day , thought too dangerous to . publish ; and notwithstanding the title-page was cautiously worked off as if it had been printed at Amsterdam , it was agreed that the publication should be laid aside .
Comparing this with many of the political writings of the present day , we shall make no comment . The real friends of the liberty of the press know and feel the difference . ¦ But to return , the delay of publication was for some time unknown toHifternan , when accidentall y passing the bookseller ' s shop , he eac - quired the cause . The bookseller informed him , and in the course conversation that
o , on subject proposed to sell him the copies at six months credit , at the trade price . HifFernan at once closed with the proposal , as it offered a cheap and ready manner of laying his friends and acquaintances under fresh contributions . The account was instantly made out , a note of hand drawn , and every thin ? ready to " accomplish the bargain but the Doctor ' s signature . It will be here
_ necessary to state , that iAvas amongst the peculiarities of this very eccentric man , never to acquaint his most intimate friend wuh the place of his lod ging . Whatever could be the motive , whether pride or whim , kt him be drunk or sober , the secret , we believe , never once escaped him . In signing Jiis name , ' theretore , to this note , the bookseller , very naturally , desired hW to put down his place of abode . " 1 am to lie heard of at the Bedford Coftee-house , " ^ replied the Doctor . — " But , Sir , " says the Book- ' sener , < a cottechouse is too loose a place to make a note trans-i