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of the law； for these are necessarily trained to endeavour to make wrong appear right； or to involve both in a maze of intricacies； and to legalize injustice。 Nor to mere political leaders or their partisans； for they are embarrassed by the trammels of party； which mislead their judgement； and often constrain them to sacrifice the real well…being of the community and of themselves； to an apparent but most mistaken self…interest。 Nor to those termed heroes and conquerors； or to their followers； for their minds have been trained to consider the infliction of human misery； and the commission of military murders； a glorious duty； almost beyond reward。 Nor yet to the fashionable or splendid in their appearance； for these are from infancy trained to deceive and to be deceived； to accept shadows for substances； and to live a life of insincerity； and of consequent discontent and misery。 Still less are they to be exclusively submitted to the official expounders and defenders of the various opposing religious systems throughout the world； for many of these are actively engaged in propagating imaginary notions； which cannot fail to vitiate the rational powers of man； and to perpetuate his misery。 These principles； therefore； and the practical systems which they recommend； are not to be submitted to the judgement of those who have been trained under； and continue in； any of these unhappy combinations of circumstances。 But they are to be submitted to the dispassionate and patient investigation and decision of those individuals of every rank and class and denomination of society； who have become in some degree conscious of the errors in which they exist； who have felt the thick mental darkness by which they are surrounded； who are ardently desirous of discovering and following truth wherever it may lead； and who can perceive the inseparable connection which exists between individual and general； between private and public good！ It has been said； and it is now repeated； that these principles； thus combined； will prove themselves unerringly true against the most insidious or open attack； and； ere long； they will； by their irresistible truth； pervade society to the utmost bounds of the earth； for 'silence will not retard their progress； and opposition will give increased celerity to their movements'。 When they shall have dissipated in some degree； as they speedily will dissipate； the thick darkness in which the human mind has been and is still enveloped； the endless beneficial consequences which must follow the general introduction of them into practice may then be explained in greater detail； and urged upon minds to which they will then appear less questionable。 In the meantime we shall proceed to state； in a Fourth Essay； of what improvements the present state of the British population is susceptible in practice。
FOURTH ESSAY
The Principles of the Former Essays applied to Government It is beyond all comparison better to prevent than to punish crime。 A system of government therefore which shall prevent ignorance； and consequently crime； will be infinitely superior to one； which； by encouraging the first； creates a necessity for the last； and afterwards inflicts punishment on both。
The end of government is to make the governed and the governors happy。 That government； then； is the best； which in practice produces the greatest happiness to the greatest number； including those who govern； and those who obey。 In a former Essay we said； and it admits of practical demonstration； that by adopting the proper means； man may by degrees be trained to live in any part of the world without poverty； without crime； and without punishment； for all these are the effects of error in the various systems of training and governing error proceeding from very gross ignorance of human nature。 It is of primary importance to make this ignorance manifest； and to show what are the means which are endowed with that transcendent efficacy。 We have also said that man may be trained to acquire any sentiments and habits； or any character； and no one now； possessing pretensions to the knowledge of human nature； will deny that the government of any independent community may form the individuals of that community into the best； or into the worst characters。 If there be one duty therefore more imperative than another； on the government of every country； it is； that it should adopt； without delay； the proper means to form those sentiments and habits in the people； which shall give the most permanent and substantial advantages to the individuals and to the community。 Survey the acquirements of the earliest ages； trace the progress of those acquirements； through all the subsequent periods； to the present hour； and say if there be anything of real value in them； except that which contributes in practice to increase the happiness of the world。 And yet； with all the parade of learning contained in the myriads of volumes which have been written； and which still daily pour from the press； the knowledge of the first step of the progress which leads to human happiness remains yet unknown or disregarded by the mass of mankind。 The important knowledge to which we allude is； 'That the old collectively may train the young collectively； to be ignorant and miserable； or to be intelligent and happy； And； on investigation； this will be found to be one of those simple yet grand laws of the universe； which experience discovers and confirms； and which； as soon as men become familiar with it； will no longer admit of denial or dispute。 Fortunate will be that government which shall first acquire this knowledge in theory； and adopt it in practice。 To obtain its introduction into our own country first； a mode of procedure is now submitted to the immediate governing powers of the British Empire； and it is so submitted； with an ardent desire that it may undergo the most full and ample discussion； that if it shall； as on investigation it will； be found to be the only consistent and therefore rational； system of conducting human beings； it may be temperately and progressively introduced； instead of those defective national practices by which the state is now governed。 We therefore proceed to explain how this principle may now be introduced into practice； without injury to any part of society。 For it； is the time and manner of introducing this principle and its consequent practice； which alone constitute any difficulty。 This will appear evident when it is considered that although； from a plain statement of the most simple facts； the truth of the principle cannot fail to prove so obvious that no one will ever attempt openly to attack it； and although its adoption into practice will speedily accumulate benefits of which the world can now form no adequate conception； yet both theory and practice are to be introduced into a society trained and matured under principles that have impressed upon the individuals who compose it the most opposite habits and sentiments： which have been so entwined from infancy in their bodily and mental growth； that the simplicity and irresistible power of truth alone can disentangle them and expose their fallac