[21] “Omnes omnium charitates patria una complectitur.”—­Cic.

[22] A few lines in Persius contain a good summary of all the objects of moral investigation, and hint the result of our inquiry:  There human will has no place.

Quid sumus? et quidnam victuri gignimur? ordo Quis datus? et metae quis mollis flexus, et unde?  Quis modus argento?  Quid fas optare?  Quid asper Utile nummus habet? Patriae charisque propinquis Quantum elargiri debet?  Quem te Deus esse Jussit? et humana qua parte locatus es in re?

[23] It is no small loss to the world, that the whole of this enlightened and philosophic sermon, preached to two hundred thousand national guards assembled at Blackheath (a number probably equal to the sublime and majestic Federation of the 14th of July, 1790, in the Champ de Mars) is not preserved.  A short abstract is, however, to be found in Walsingham.  I have added it here for the edification of the modern Whigs, who may possibly except this precious little fragment from their general contempt of ancient learning.

“Ut sua doctrina plures inficeret, ad le Blackheth (ubi ducenta millia hominum communium fuere simul congregata) hujuscemodi sermonem est exorsus.

    “Whan Adam dalfe and Eve span,
     Who was than a gentleman?

Continuansque sermonem inceptum, nitebatur per verba proverbii, quod pro themate sumpserat, introducere et probare, ab initio omnes pares creatos a natura, servitutem per injustam oppressionem nequam hominum introductam contra Dei voluntatem, quia si Deo placuisset servos creasse, utique in principio mundi constituisset, quis servus, quisve dominus futurus fuisset.  Considerarent igitur jam tempus a Deo datum eis, in quo (deposito servitutis jugo diutius) possent, si vellent, libertate diu concupita gaudere.  Quapropter monuit ut essent viri cordati, et amore boni patrisfamilias excolentis agrum suum, et extirpantis ac resecantis noxia gramina quae fruges solent opprimere, et ipsi in praesenti facere festinarent.  Primo majores regni dominos occidendo.  Deinde juridicos, justiciarios, et juratores patriae perimendo. Postremo quoscunque scirent in posterum communitati nocivos tollerent de terra sua, sic demum et pacem sibimet parerent et securitatem in futurum. Si sublatis majoribus esset inter eos aequa libertas, eadem nobilitas, par dignitas, similisque potestas.”

Here is displayed at once the whole of the grand arcanum pretended to be found out by the National Assembly, for securing future happiness, peace, and tranquillity.  There seems, however, to be some doubt whether this venerable protomartyr of philosophy was inclined to carry his own declaration of the rights of men more rigidly into practice than the National Assembly themselves.  He was, like them, only preaching licentiousness to the populace to obtain power for himself, if we may believe what is subjoined by the historian.