Extract from "An Account of the Life and Writings of Dr. Adam Smith, by Dugald Stewart, F.R.S. Edinburgh." "No work, (says Mr. Stewart, speaking of Dr. S's Moral Sentiments) can be mentioned, ancient or modern, which exhibits so complete a view of those facts, with respect to our moral perception, which it is one great object of this branch of science to refer to their general laws; and upon this account, it well deserves the careful study of all whose taste leads them to prosecute similar inquiries. These facts are indeed frequently expressed in a language which involves the author's peculiar theories; but they are always presented in the most happy and beautiful light; and it is easy for an attentive reader, by stripping them of hypothetical terms, to state them to himself with that logical precision, which, in such very difficult disquisitions, can alone conduct us with certainty to the truth. "It is proper to observe farther, that, with the theoretical doctrines of the book, there are every where interwoven, with singular taste and address, the purest and most elevated maxims concerning the practical conduct of life; and that it abounds throughout with interesting and instructive delineations of characters and manners. A considerable part of it too is employed in collateral inquiries, which, upon every hypothesis that can be formed concerning the foundation of morals, are of equal importance. Of this kind is the speculation with respect to the influence of fortune on our moral sentiments; and another speculation no less valuable, with respect to the influence of custom and fashion on the same part of our constitution. "When the subject of this work leads the author to address the imagination and the heart: the variety and felicity of his illustrations---the richness and fluency of his eloquence---and the skill with which he wins the attention and commands the passions of his readers, leave him, among our English moralists, without a rival.” 25 Chap. III. Of the manner in which we judge of the propriety or impropriety of the affections of other men, by their concord or SECTION II. CHAP. I. That though our sympathy with sorrow is generally a more lively sensation than our sympathy with joy, it commonly falls much more short of the violence of what is naturally felt Chap. III. Of the corruption of our moral sentiments, which is occasioned by this disposition to admire the rich and the great, and to despise or neglect persons of poor and mean con- Chap. I. That whatever appears to be the proper object of grati- tude, appears to deserve reward; and that, in the same manner, Chap. II. Of the proper objects of gratitude and resentment, 108 Chap. III. That where there is no approbation of the conduct of the person who confers the benefit, there is little sympathy with the gratitude of him who receives it: and that, on the con- trary, where there is no disapprobation of the motives of the SECTION II. Chap. II. Of the extent of this influence of Fortune, Chap. III. Of the final cause of this Irregularity of Sentiments, 172 Chap. I. Of the principle of Self-approbation and of Self-disap- Chap. II. Of the love of Praise, and of that of Praise-worthiness; and of the dread of Blame, and of that of Blame-worthiness, 184 Chap. III. Of the Influence and Authority of Conscience, 213 Chap. IV. Of the nature of Self-deceit, and of the Origin and Chap. V. Of the Influence and Authority of the general Rules of Morality, and that they are justly regarded as the laws of the Chap. VI. In what cases the Sense of Duty ought to be the sole 273 OF THE EFFECT OF UTILITY UPON THE SENTIMENT OF Chap. I. Of the beauty which the appearance of Utility bestows upon all the productions of Art, and of the extensive influence Chap. II. Of the beauty which the appearance of Utility bestows upon the characters and actions of men; and how far the per- ception of this beauty may be regarded as one of the original |