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erience much misery。 The Essays； of which these pages constitute the Fourth； have been written to show that the true origin of that misery may be traced to the ignorance of those who have formerly ruled； and of those whom they governed； to make that ignorance known and evident to all； and to sketch the outlines of a practical Plan of Government； founded altogether on a preventive system； and derived from principles directly opposed to the errors of our forefathers。 And should the outlines which have been sketched be formed into a legislative system； and adhered to without deviation； the most important benefits may be anticipated； both to the subjects of these realms and to the human race。 Your Royal Highness and those who direct the policy of other nations have been taught that you have duties to execute； but which； with the highest ability and best intentions； under the prevailing systems of error； cannot be performed。 Hence the dissatisfaction of those for whose benefit Governments were or ought to have been first established； and the perplexity and danger of those who govern。 And it is concluded with a confidence equal to certainty itself； that the principles unfolded in these Essays are competent to develop a practice which； without much apparent change； or any public disorder； shall progressively remove the difficulties of those who in future may rule； and the discontent of those who may be governed。 The language now addressed to Your Royal Highness is the result of a patient and extensive experience of human nature； of human nature； not indeed as it is explained in legendary tales of old； but as it now may be read in the living subject in the words and actions of those among whom we exist。 It is true that many myriads of human beings have been conscientiously deceived； and； it may be said； it is most probable that another may be now added to the number： it is equally true； however； that similar language has been applied to many； and might have been applied to all who have been the instruments of beneficial improvements。 It may be said that the principles herein advocated； may nevertheless； like the former millions which have misled mankind； originate in error； in the wild and perverted fancy of a well…meaning enthusiasm。 They have； however； not only been submitted to several of the most intelligent and acute minds of the present day； and who； although urged to the task； have candidly declared they could find no fallacy in the inductions； but they are such as few； if any； will venture to deny； or scruple to declare that they already admit。 And if these principles shall demonstrate themselves to be in unison with every existing fact which can now be examined and compared； they will ere long prove themselves to be of a permanent and substantial value beyond any of the discoveries which have previously been made。 Great； however； as the advantages may prove； the introduction of principles and practices so new； without being well understood； may create a momentary ferment。 To prevent the possibility of any such evil； the leaders of all the sects and parties in the state are invited to canvass these principles； and to endeavour to prove error in them； or evil in the consequences which might follow from their admission into practice。 The encouragement of such fair discussion and examination of these principles is all that is now solicited from Your Royal Highness。 And should that discussion and examination prove them to be erroneous； they will then be； as they ought to be for the public good； universally condemned。 On the contrary； should they bear the test of that investigation to which they are now earnestly submitted； and be found； without a single exception； uniformly consistent with all the known facts of the creation； and consequently true； then； under the auspices of Your Royal Highness's Administration； will mankind naturally look for the establishment of a practical System of Government which can introduce and perpetuate such important public advantages。 That these principles； if true； may give birth to the measures which they immediately recommend； and that Your Royal Highness and the Subjects of these Realms； and the Rulers and Subjects of all other Realms； may in the present age enjoy the advantages of them in practice； is the sincere wish of Your Royal Highness's faithful Servant； THE AUTHOR
FIRST ESSAY
Any general character； from the best to the worst； from the most ignorant to the most enlightened； may be given to any community； even to the world at large； by the application of proper means； which means are to a great extent at the command and under the control of those who have influence in the affairs of men。
According to the last returns under the Population Act； the poor and working classes of Great Britain and Ireland have been found to exceed fifteen millions of persons； or nearly three…fourths of the population of the British Islands。 The characters of these persons are now permitted to be very generally formed without proper guidance or direction； and； in many cases； under circumstances which directly impel them to a course of extreme vice and misery； thus rendering them the worst and most dangerous subjects in the empire； while the far greater part of the remainder of the community are educated upon the most mistaken principles of human nature； such； indeed； as cannot fail to produce a general conduct throughout society； totally unworthy of the character of rational beings。 The first thus unhappily situated are the poor and the uneducated profligate among the working classes； who are now trained to commit crimes； for the commission of which they are afterwards punished。 The second is the remaining mass of the population； who are now instructed to believe； or at least to acknowledge； that certain principles are unerringly true； and to act as though they were grossly false； thus filling the world with folly and inconsistency； and making society； throughout all its ramifications； a scene of insincerity and counteraction。 In this state the world has continued to the present time； its evils have been and are continually increasing； they cry aloud for efficient corrective measures； which if we longer delay； general disorder must ensue。 'But；' say those who have not deeply investigated the subject； 'attempts to apply remedies have been often made； yet all of them have failed。 The evil is now of a magnitude not to be controlled； the torrent is already too strong to be stemmed； and we can only wait with fear or calm resignation to see it carry destruction in its course； by confounding all distinctions of right and wrong。' Such is the language now held； and such are the general feelings on this most important subject。 These； however； if longer suffered to continue； must lead to the most lamentable consequences。 Rather than pursue such a course； the character of legislators would be infinitely raised； if； forgetting the petty and humiliating contentions of sects and parties； they would thoroughly investigate the subject； and endeavour to arrest and overcome these mighty evils。 The ch