have been either created perfect, or have attained their utmost limit of improvement many ages ago) mankind have still to work out their final destiny by means of inuate faculties, which can be developed only by lessons

ing to obey them. Instead, however, of yielding with docility to this unavoidable discipline, and of using their reasoning powers to find the best practical means of alleviating the consequences of their frequent mistakes, our early progenitors were seduced by the love of ease or pleasure, either to wholly stifle those powers, or to misapply them in vain attempts to obtain, by the assistance of imaginary beings, that exemption from suffering, which could only ensue from the benevolent exercise of their own sagacity.

trust we shall treat him as neighbourly kindness dictates. Mr. Jones made some very gentle remarks on the pamphlet, out of pity for the physical and mental weakness of the writer. He next read a few paragraphs from the "Truth," which gave some account of the late dis-of experience, or by disasters which accrue from neglectcussion between Mr. Pailister and Mr. Jones, and as the account was no way in accordance with Truth, Mr. Jones had free scope to animadvert upon it; the audience very generally expressed their opinion of the Truth's report, and the disgust it excited in them. The next subject was the case of our Social Brother, now in affliction and sorrow in Lancaster Castle, Mr. George Connard. He read the case from the Lancaster Guardian, with the Editor's remarks, which are truly excellent, and much to the point. A feeling of horror run through the whole audience, and with the just remarks of Mr. Jones, melted many into tears of sympathy for Mr.Connard and family. No sooner had the primitive Tribes, in the way already At this moment Mr. G. F. M. rose, and proposed that explained, begun to conceive the idea that spiritual beings a subscription be raised for him; it was carried unani- existed of a nature superior to themselves, and on whose mously, and a collection was made, amounting to £4 12s. disposition they believed their own happiness or misery Now, what is the prominent point in the case of Mr. to depend, than a class of men sprung up who made it Connard? Why, that, because he cannot believe in their business to consult these imaginary powers, to profuture punishments, he may be doomed to suffer perpetual pitiate their favours, and to obtain their assistance in all imprisonment; and all this to satisfy a bad and harsh pressing emergencies. In every perilous adventure, and law, and the bad feeling of his prosecutor and persecutor, especially in war, the unusual courage with which this Jesse Ainsworth. This is a case that must be agitated supposed alliance inspired the credulous savage, astonished throughout all our branches; for it is a persecution against his adversaries, and made it a matter of necessity on their ourselves. It is the intention here to call a public meet-part to obtain similar aid. The courtesy of the class to ing on the subject, and to have petitions sent to both the which I have alluded readily supplied this want, and, as Houses of Parliament, to release the captive and martyr, the business became lucrative, the demand was soon exand to have the law abrogated, if possible; and, if not, tended to every condition of life; warriors, hunters, shepwhere is religious liberty? On next Sunday morning a herds, cultivators of vineyards, orchards, or gardens-even Clergyman will deliver a lecture at our Institution in the musician and mechanic, the poet and the player, had Salford, on the reasons which have induced him to change each his respective deity, whose favours might be obtainhis opinions, and embrace those of the "Rational Reli- ed through the usual agency, and for the usual fee. gion" I hope there will be a good attendance on the occasion. We added nine candidates yesterday; this makes sixty since the discussion.

JAS. LOWE.

ON THE EXISTENCE OF MORAL EVIL,
AND ON THE INFLUENCE OF THOSE
CIRCUMSTANCES WHICH ARE PLACED
WITHIN THE CONTROL OF SOCIETY.

ESSAY VI.

The poet Simonides having been requested to define his idea of God, demanded a day to consider the question; on the second appeal he doubled the time, and continued to do so on each renewed application. At last he confessed that "the more he considered the subject, the more difficult it appeared to be."

This infant-like reply has been deservedly extolled by many profound philosophers, and whoever sedately reflects on the apparent anomalies which contravene the wisdom displayed in nature, will be disposed to imitate the modesty of this great man. But, though we may search in vain to discover the attributes and designs of the SUPREME INTELLIGENCE-the destiny allotted to man may easily be inferred from the past history of our race, from which it is manifest that (while other creatures

The respect and homage addressed to the class, which conducted this manufactory of Gods, brought to their aid many ingenious persons, who preferred subsisting on the credulity of others, to the fatigues of labour or the dangers of war. By a judicious distribution of talent this respectable fraternity managed matters so well, that no condition of life was allowed to remain exempt from their godly interference! Some, under pretence of friendship, gained the confidence of influential parties, or became intimate with the private thoughts and secret designs of the domestic circle; some engaged in public affairs, or conducted political intrigues with neighbouring tribes; some held the office of messengers, or (as they were usually called) angels. These imparted the will of the Gods from one faction to another, and, on account of their divine mission, were treated with awful respect. Some took charge of public records; and as no other persons were able to understand them,-in such a way as served the interest of their own class: they also, from time to time, so revised the ancient annals, as to make them subservient to current occasions; some, in the character of bards, prophets, and preachers, sermonised the people in mysterious effusions, setting forth the wickedness of indulging any gratification which did not bring grist to their mill, the profanity of prying into sacred mysteries, and the unpardonable iniquity of contributing to the glory of any other God, than the one created by their own firm : others maintained an habitual intercourse with heaven, and by means of dreams, visions, omens, and revelations, kept the public mind in a state of perpetual alarm, fre

quently inflicting, as examples of the wrath of God, that struments of faction, for the sake of some selfish or sensual vengeance which they had concocted among themselves, gratification,-go on in your present course, and be either by the propagation of disease, the creation of arti- assured, that oppression will increase until it at length ficial famines, or by betraying the people into the hands

of their enemies.

Such was the commencement of those ancient systems of superstition called hierarchies and churches, by whose machinery the world was brought into mental slavery. The same event is described by Pope, in those immortal lines, so full of energy, sublimity, and truth.

"Who first taught souls enslav'd and realms undone,
Th' enormous faith of many, made for one;
That proud exception to all nature's laws,
T'invert he world, and counteract its CAUSE?
FORCE first made conquest, and that conquest-LAW,
Till superstition taught the tyrant awe;
Then shar'd the tyranny; then lent it aid!

And gods of CONQUERORS, slaves of SUBJECTS made.
She, midst the lightning's blaze and thunder's sound,
When rock'd the mountains, and when groan'd the ground,
She taught the weak to bend, the proud to pray,
To power unseen, and mightier far than they;
She from the rending earth and burs ing skies
Saw gods descend and fiends infernal ise,-
Gods partial, changeful, passionate, unjust,
Whose attributes were rage, revenge, and lust;
Such as the souls of cowards might conceive,
And form'd like tyrants, tyrants would believe.
Zeal then, not Charity, became the guide;
And hell was built on sprite, and heaven on pride.
Then sacred seem'd th' etherial vault no mo e;
Altars grew marble th n, and reeked with gore;
Then first the flamen tast d living food;
Next his grim idol, smear'd with human blood;
With heaven's own thunders shook the world below,
And play'd the God an engine on his foe.

arouse you from your dream! You will then, at least, understand that the injustice, fraud, and misery, which constantly attend every system of delusion, are infallible demonstrations of their falsehood and worthlessness, and are only so far to be regarded as agents in my service, as they serve to awaken your dormant powers. Exert then your own proper energies, and hope not, by repinings or by vain importunities, to reverse those eternal laws, which are appointed for your improvement in knowledge and your progression in happiness." X.

SOCIALISM AND "PHYSICAL FORCE."

The following is copied from a letter of the Birminghain Correspondent of the Morning Chronicle, Monday, July 22:

"The truth is that morality is at a very low ebb amongst the popu lation of Birmingham. I take one proof of this to be the success of the Socialists; those modern philosophers whose faith is in phrenology, and their theory, if not their practice, in the promiscuous intercourse of the sexes. Observing that the little shops in the town which sell Chartists papers, also sell Social publications, I was resolved to see if any connection existed between those bodies. The result of my investigation, confirmed by the concurrent testimony of clergymen of Opposite persuations is that many Chartists are Socialists, though there are many Socialists not Chartists."

From this it would appear that the clergy of the neighbourhood are endeavouring to connect the recent outrages in that town with the peaceable Socialists. Now, it happens that many pious and benevolent per- Besides this extract, there is in the paper referred to, sons are unable to reconcile the abject misery perpetuated an attack upon the chaste and excellent letter of Miss by this assumption of divine authority, with their own Reynolds, in the New Moral World, a week or two idea of that universal equality of enjoyment, which they back, which is characterised as "containing passages think ought to prevail under the administration of infinite compared with which there are some in Boccaccio wisdom and goodness. They do not reflect that this very purity itself, and may be classed as in some degree as suffering is one of the modifications of Divine discipline, scientific as that celebrated book for which the House by means of which, as already said, the human race is of Commons recently paid damages for libelling." destined to elaborate and develope its innate capacities. This, with the charge of "promiscuous intercourse," Nature, by thus proceeding, expostulates with such repin- may be passed over; as Miss Reynolds' letter speaks ing men, as if she had said, "My children, of what do for its own purity, and we have again and again you complain? Have I not placed you in a world re-emphatically disowned and refuted the licentious docplete with enjoyment? Have I not endowed you with trine imputed to us. With regard to "putting our sensation and reason, which, if used aright, would supply faith in phrenology," it can only be said, there may be you with all useful knowledge, and enable you to derive many Socialists who value it as a science, but I know advantage eren from suffering? Beings, organised and there are many who do not; and Mr. Murphy, the endowed exactly like yourselves,-not GIANTS-not pure Socialist of Birmingham, has, in his able essay, endeaintelligencies but children of your own race, mislead you voured to annihilate its pretensions to be classed among by deception, or oppress you by force! Has this fact the sciences. really become obvious to your understandings? Then your education is so far efficient and salutary; for if you do not desire to copy their example, the remedy for all your complaints lies within your reach. Listen no more to their impious pretences. Shake off the vile habits, by which they have brutified your minds, and the irrational prejudices by which they divide you into conflicting parties. Open the eyes of your understanding, and endeavour to become more wise and more just than they. The means are abundant;-the task will be easy and delightful. As soon as the delusion is over, the tyranny will expire of its own accord. But, if you repine, ouly because you are not in the place of the oppressor-if you prefer deception with sloth, to the vigorous exercise of thought and reflection-if you wish to remain supple in

But our connection, directly or indirectly, with the Chartists, and the late disturbances, is a new accusation; one which demands our disavowal, as those proceedings are as opposed to the spirit and principles of Socialism, as any course of conduct could be. Men sympathise with those who shed their blood for a principle, and bravely face danger for opinion, however mistaken they may be in using such means of forwarding them: men are inclined to look over the ebullition of feeling when a people rise and revenge themselves on their oppressors; but every honest man, and more especially every Socialist, must regard the recent Birmingham riot as a wanton and cowardly attack upon property, as a foolish attempt to destroy, caring not what; and dastardly because the prescuce of a

small force dispersed the mob in the midst of their applied, would have been sufficient to commence a state irrational doings. So far froin producing these out- of things in which fraud and want would for ever be breaks, Socialism shews them to be the consequences banished. of a state of society in which masses of men are badly But on high moral grounds we cannot consent to educated, hadly clothed, and badly ted, and whose become parties in aiding or abetting the doctrine of the traiuing is of just such a description that such irrational Bludgeon and pike. If the aristocracy have kept the conduct may be expected to follow. .

poor from their rights, the Socialist remembers they are Chartism and Socialisin are two distinct systems. ihe creatures of circumstances, and their artificial posiWhat, then, are the pro. fs of the Morning Chronicletion is not without its disadvantages to themselves ; that they are united ?-Ist. The shops that sell Chartist his principles tell him that to incite revenge against papers, also sell Social publications. Now, the learned those who, by the accident of their birth, bave been writer in the Chronicle would have also found in those trained to think their interest bound up with the degrashops the Penny Magazine and Chambers' Journal ; dation of the masses, would be indeed irrational; his and he might as well connect the conductors of those principles also tell him that punishment is not the journals with outrage and violence, as the Socialists. proper mode of appealing to a being like man, whose Newsvenders sell papers of all parties and opinions. actions, in order to be valuable and permanently so, 2nd. The testimony of the clergy. Any one who goes ought to flow from the motives of conviction and desire, to the clergy for correct information respecting us, goes and not from fear; and that to threaten or inflict vioto a source where he is not likely to meet it. The lence on any class of men, is to render them still more priesthood say our principles are vicious ; and, of obdurate at heart against those who so treat them. course, they would attach the vice engendered under their own system, to us, as a consequence of ours, if

It is not by exciting a bloody contest between the

different classes of society, by kindling to a demoniacal they conld.

height the passions of men, that will bring them nearer It may be that the more intelligent of the Chartists, to that state which Socialism seeks, when the reign of when argning upon the matter, are many of them harmony shall be established. It is not by firing the compelled to admit the superiority of Socialism; and heart with revenge, and filling the breast with fury, so are many Tories, Whigs, and Radicals, but they all that men will be fitted to form a society in which love contend our plans are not practicable, and so they will be the binding principle. It is not by the raging remain as firmly convinced as ever that theirs are the of discord, by the prevalence of anarchy, by making only systems worth trying for. I have been in the confusion worse confounded, that we can hope to habit of reading all the reports of Chartist meetings, establish a community of peace, order, and happiness. but do not remember that any of their orators defend No. If with barbarous violence the wbole of the upper Social plans or principles, or point them out in their classes eould be swept away; the feelings engendered speeches as the remedy for the evils of society. All in the conflict; the state of things induced by the deadly that they seem to exert themselves for is, some ill. struggle of a country divided in war against itself, defined notion of getting “a fair day's wages for a fuir would render the victory useless. day's work,'' – how under a system of wages

and competition this is to be effected by a political change,

The London and Westminster Review of December, they cannot shew. In the Net Moral World they 1838, p. 232, when speaking of the physical force men, have continually been told that their Charter will not makes the following excellent remarks :remove the evils under which they labour, because “ The men who adopt these courses do not know that all governthose evils are more the result of social than political m nt ultimately rests on opinion ; which ritles are not pre-eminently error: at last congress an address was sent to them to obtain is still a government resting upon a compromise. This is all

fitted for acting upon. All that even a triumphant insurrection can the purport that they were pursuing what would be a any government can be, which is not a government of absolute coercion. disappointment. There is not a work issued from the The average opinion of the period of calm which must follow the Socialists in which a passage can be found recom- popular outburst will be the sovereign ruler of the people after, as it mending violence to accomplish our ends. Mr. Owen, by blood, does not change this average ; on the contrary, all the des

was before it. The progress, if it may be cilled so, which is purchase] our founder, has, on every opportunity, declared that feated party are attached to their prejudices or principles by tenfold the revolution society is to undergo for the better, must ties of pride and sympathy, by all the feelings which rise up strong be a moral one. Yet, in the face of all this, we are mdes; but reason, iraiments, and facts, they do act by changing the

and resistless when they stand beside the graves of fallen comtold that Socialism is conuected with Chartism and general average of opinion, on which all government of a pre-eminent Physical Force.

character must of necessity rest, and they link men to the new cause There are many reasons why Socialists shonld repu-would willingly and gloriously die. The men who think their cause

by convictions for which they, like the best of the working classes, diate physical violence to aid them in the progress. will not advance rapidly if they direct their whole energies to vanEven on the face of the question it might be seen that quish opinion by opinion, forget that there are acting with them causes if our numbers are too small to enable us to establish stronger than all men and all parties, the laws in obedience to which

European civilization proceeds." communities, an attack upon society would certainly be unsuccessful. And if we were sufficiently numerous

It is by placing reason against opinion, by striving to accomplish the destruction of the present fabric of with the force of argument and the power of kindness things by the rude hand of brutal violence, then such a and charity alone, that Socialists can introduce the cause wonld be unnecessary; then we should have change that will increase the happiness of all: and sufficient means at our controul to effect our objects these influences we will use until success shall crown with

peace and order. Look at the vast sums which our efforts, and we see the commencement of a happier have been spent in strikes and other foolish political era for the human race. contests, by working men ; this, if it had been properly

H. JEFFERY.

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:

TO CORRESPONDENTS.

REPORTS RECEIVED BY CENTRAL BOARD.-Of the ASSOCIATION as follows:-Reading, Finsbury, Leicester, Newcastle, Darlington. and Wigan.

In the Press, and shortly will be published, THE RIGHTS of LIBERTY and NECESSITY, by THOMAS HOBBES, of Malmsebury. Reprinted from an old and scarce Edition, printed in 1645.

Published by A. Heywood, Manchester; Hobson, Star Office, Leeds; Cleave, Shoe Lane, Fleet-street; Hetherington, 126, OF THE COMMUNITY SOCIETY:-Leicester, Bilston, Finsbury, Hud-Strand; Watson, City Road, Finsbury; Guest, Birmingham; dersfield. St wart, Liverpool; and all Venders.

PHRENOLOGY.

A PHRENOLOGICAL CHART,

REMITTANCES TO THE CENTRAL BOARD.-The following have been received :—£7 8s. 6d. from Dundee; £2 9s. 5}d. from T. M., London; £5 9s. 4d. from W. H., Sunderland; £3 15s. 8d. from Newcastle, including 2s. from Darlington for Missionary's Removal Fund; £1 6s. from Darlington; £12 128. 8d. from Huddersfield; £16 Os. 1d. from Bradford; £3 10s. 5d. from JUST PUBLISHED, THIRD EDITION, PRICE SIXPENCE Bilston; £8 11s. 6d. from Bolton; £3 98. 9d. from Reading; £23 18. 14d. from Leicester; £1 13s. 6d. from Wigan. PLATO'S REPUBLIC.-A Correspondent enquires whether there is extant any English translation, and if so, who is the translator, and who the publisher of this work. Perhaps some of our readers can answer the questions. Our correspondent also wishes to obtain, THE CITY OF THE SUN," by Campanella, and as he believes the Book is scarce, he would be glad to know where a Copy may be Also, JUST PUBLISHED, PRICE FIVE SHILLINGS each, obtained.

Socius.-Shall have an early insertion. It will gratify the writer to
learn that the subject has recently had much attention paid to it, and
that a organized plan for providing schools for the children of
Socialists and others, desirous of giving a sound education to their
offspring, has been adopted at Liverpool. We trust shortly to be
able to publish the regulations of this society, and to see them adopted
in pratice by the whole association.
THE PERSON who writes respecting the subscriptions for the SOLDIER
SOCIALISTS, is informed that we do not know anything respecting
the subscripton further than has already appeared in this paper.
Any communications on the subject should be addressed to Henry
Travis Esq., 30, Bennetts Hill, Birmingham. We believe, however,
that the sum collected is far below the amount imagined by our
correspondent.

EBEN-Accepted, shall appear at the earliest opportunity.

WE REGRET that a “Visionary" cannot appear this week, he shall have an early insertion.

Many of our friends who get their papers through Mr. Cleave, of Londo, were disappointed in getting No. 38; a qnuntity of that No. is now in Mr. Cleare's hands: those who require it to complete sets may procure it.

Many articles of "PROGRESS," and other subjects have been postponed on account of the proceedings at Manchester. We were solicited to print a Supplement to avoid this inconvenience, but were unable to comply, as our new presses are only as yet in the course of erection. ALL LETTERS AND PARCELS to be sent free of cost.

JUST PUBLISHED, by the Universal Community Society of
Rational Religionists, and may be had of all the Agents of
THE NEW MORAL WORLD,

THE PORTRAIT OF MR. OWEN.

MR.

PAINTED BY BROOKE AND ENGRAVED BY RYALL.

R. OWEN has expressed his Opinion that this is the best Portrait of him ever published; and, in Testimony of his Approbation, affixed his Autograph, a Fac-simile of which is engraved under the Portrait.

Impressions of the Size of THE NEW MORAL WORLD, for binding with it, &c., Price 6d., are now ready for Delivery; others, on

F the Propensities, Moral Sentiments, and Intellectual Faculties
of the Human Mind; illustrated by Two Coloured Phrenological
Heads.
BY E. T. CRAIG.

A MEDALLION BUST

AND A DIVISIONAL BUST AND KEY,

BY THE SAME.

The BUSTS are divided, coloured, and labelled, and exhibit the Phrenological arrangement of the propensities, sentiments, and localities of the various classes of the organs, and form an easy intellectual faculties in groups, and are well adapted for illustrating the Introduction to the Science of Phrenology. The Key may be had on a Card, Price Threepence.

Manchester; J. HOBSON, Leeds; and sold by all Booksellers.
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EDUCATION.

THE MORAL AND INTELLECTUAL

CHARACTROGRAPH

FOR USE IN SHOOLS AND PRIVATE FAMILIES,
BY E. T. CRAIG.

This Apparatus entirely supersedes the necessity for corporeal correction, or rewards and punishments, and powerfully stimulates the pupil to moral and intellectual exertion and rectitude of conduct, by appealing to those faculties of the mind which are the best instruments, in the hands of a judicious teacher, for the rational development of the superior faculties. One peculiar feature of its influences is that of inducing pupils to take an interest in registering their own conduct, thereby creating the invaluable habit of self-examination and forethought.

Several CHARACTROGRAPHS are now in use in large and respectable Schools and Private Families; and the Author feels so fully impressed with the utility of the instrument in the hands of a judicions Parent or enlightened Teacher, that he earnestly recommends it to the attention of both.

One large enough for a School, containing forty pupils, £2.
London: J. SOUTER, School Library, 131, Fleet-Street.

JUST PUBLISHED, PRICE 6d.

larger Paper, especially for framing, at is.; and others on India, SOCIALISM at 1s. 6d. will be ready very shortly.

Orders from the Branches and the Trade to be sent to the Secretary, at 30, Bennett's Hill, Birmingham; or the Publisher of the New Moral World.

EXAMINED,

BY C. S. EYRE.

www

THE

OR GAZETTE OF THE
UNIVERSAL COMMUNITY SOCIETY OF RATIONAL RELIGIONISTS.

Enrolled under Acts of Parliament, 10 Geo. IV. c. 56, and 4 and 5 Will. IV. c. 40.

“THE CHARACTER OF MAN IS FORMED FOR HIM AND NOT BY HIM."-ROBERT OWEN.

OF PROPERTY.

The first opinion defines this Right to be “a right to use and abuse.”

It concedes to the individual this right in the most exclusive manner, (Translated from “ La Phalange,” for the " New Moral World." and applies it in a legal and absolute sense to all those objects which

may, at any given time, be in his possession. Its advocates cannot If a person, possessing integrity of character and ordinary strength understand any such inconvenient questions as would demand the of mind, were to begin to study those departments of knowledge origin and the proof of this Right, but are very willing to regard as which are pompously styled moral, political, and philosophical sciences, criminal those who should endcavour to penetrate the sanctum sanctorum together with the science of human rights ; nothing is more natural

of their opinion. to suppose than that such an individual would be struck dumb with The second opinion is held by those who, revolting against the consurprise. When we call to mind the obscurities, the contradictions, sequences of the above opinion, and ashamed of the social injustice the logomachies of all sorts which have been heaped up (pell mell) on

which is so distinguishing a feature in the actnal distribution of prothe objects of these pretended sciences, we can hardly resist the im- perty, refuse to acknowledge to the individual the right of property, pression that the human faculties were given for the express purpose but would invest it exclusively as an appannage of the State. of writing and saying every false and ridiculous assertion that it was Others, again, not able to adopt either the one or the other of these possible to write or to say on these subjects during many thousands extreme opinions make a third, by mixing, in due proportions, the two of

years. If truth has thus been so deliberately prohibited, it is no former opinions. They express this mixture by the vague assertion hard matter to prove that the philosophers, the civilians, and the poli- that “ Property is an Individual Right, but a right which ought to be ticians have taken care to exert themselves in the laudable endeavour controlled and modified by Society." of expatriating truth, for it would puzzle one very much to prove that The simultaneous existence of these three opinions proves that none they ever allowed a single morsel of this contraband commodity to of them are just, and that there is confusion and obscurity in the ideas ; pass unchecked. Aided by such efficient protection, it is no wonder for truth and science will not accommodate itself to three different that error has thriven so fast, and attained such vast and even mag- versions of the same fact. Moreover, when each of these opinions is nificent developements.

examined, we find that they spring from an illogical confusion between Important and fundamental questions, especially those on which the obscure idea of the Right of Property, and the notions engendered there has been the most discussion and the most voluminous com- under the influences of the actual fact, or law of property ; between mentaries written, are precisely those questions which are still wrapped the Right of Property, or that which ought to be (de jure,) with that in the thickest obscurity. If 10,000 volumes have been written for which property is (de facto.) Thus neither of these opinions flow the express purpose of explaining and developing a question you may from a scientific view of the question, for neither of them agree with be quite certain that that question is far more obscure and puzzling that fundamental principle to which an intelligent mind cannot obthan any other question which has only had the benefit of 5000 ject. volumes to explain and simplify it. The question of property which

The question of right therefore, is quite independent of the question we are now to examine, furnishes a good proof of the truth of these of fact, and to attain the truth we must first develope the nature of remarks This question is of prime importance ; it lays at the foun- right without interfering with the actual fict, as experienced in society. dation of our Social Economy; and as it is the very basement on When the Right of Property has been well defined, we must endeawhich our legislation is founded, if we show that this question has vour to realise this theoretical right in the actual workings of society ; never yet been properly understood, it follows very clearly and logically remembering that while the fact is invariable in its nature—the right that all the systems of legislation since the time that man began to is eternal and immutable ; let us therefore proceed to establish the legislate, have been built upon a false foundation, and are, therefore, theory of the Right of Property. themselves false.

The word RIGHT is applied to two subjects, which are very comIt will not require more than an ordinary quantity of good sense to monly confounded, and which it is necessary carefully to distinguish resolve this great and important question. The opinions current in ere we proceed. Sometimes it means the natural right; that is, the society on the Right of Property may be reduced to three.

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