Outlines of an Historical View of the Progress of the Human Mind

The rapid Progress of the Mind to perfection
has been the common Place Topick of Declamation
for half a Century. But I can see no other
end they have in view as their ultimate Object
than to bring Men back to the State of Mind
so frankly avowed by Tacitus and Quintilian Roman historians and rhetoricians:
absolute doubt whether Chance or Fate
governs the World. But it will be found that
Men must be governed as well as cultivated.
without Government there is not a more Savage
Beast of the Forest.

The Philosophers of France were too rash and hasty.
They were as artful as Selfish and as hypocritical as
Priests and Politicians of Babilon, Persia, Egypt,
India, Greece, Rome, Turkey, Germany, Wales,
Scotland, Ireland, France, Spain, Italy or England.
They understood not what they were about. They
miscalculated Their Forces and Resources: and
were consequently overwhelmed in destruction
with all their Theories.

The Precipitation and Temerity of Philosophers, has
I fear, retarded the Progress of Improvement and
Amelioration in the Condition of Mankind, for at
least an hundred Years.

The public Mind was improving in Knowledge and the
public Heart in Humanity, Equity and Benevolence: The rem-
-nants of Feudality, the Inquisition, the Rack, the Cruelty
of Punishments, Negro Slavery were giving way &c. But the
Philosophers must arrive at Perfection per saltum by a leap.
Ten times more furious than Jacks in the Tale of a
Tub a satirical work by Jonathan Swift they rent and tore the whole Garment to Pieces
and left not one thread in it. They have even
restored? a respect? for Bigotry and given? a pretext?
even? for the Inquisition. What an enemy? of
Humanity? and Liberty? ...?