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The Constitution of a perfect commonwealth. Being the French constitution of 1793, amended, and rendered entirely conformable to the whole rights of man. The second edition, with a preface, shewing how to study politics. By T. Spence, author and publisher of that best repository of sound and standard politics, entitled Pigs' meat, and of several tracts on the imprescriptible rights of mankind

1798 Paratext Forms: Preface Paratext Functions: Hermeneutical English London

Contributions

Thomas Spence
author

Related resources

is paratext of
The Constitution of a perfect commonwealth. Being the French constitution of 1793, amended, and rendered entirely conformable to the whole rights of man. The second edition, with a preface, shewing how to study politics. By T. Spence, author and publisher of that best repository of sound and standard politics, entitled Pigs' meat, and of several tracts on the imprescriptible rights of mankind has paratext

Summary (extracted citations)

'A smattering of the Rights of Man has now pervaded all nations and rendered them very unhappy. The rich know not what to fear and the poor know not how far their rights extend or how far they are practicable. This is the time then for intelligent minds to employ themselves on this grand object. Imperfect systems will not now be able long to resist the reiterated attacks of truth. The dark ages will never more return; wherefore then should we prolong anarchy by childishly resisting the growing empire of reason'. (...) 'I say, are we at the price of our sacred rights and interests to do violence to truth in favour of canibals? Are we to determine right or wrong, that we and our children shall and ought to be less in the scale of animal beings than worms and caterpillars? Shall we say that Indians have an indisputable right to fish, hunt, graze, &c. and must civilized men be entirely disinherited of their natural property without an equivalant? Being so rich in a state of nature, do we shrink into abject servile poverty and forfeit our title to all abundance of natural goods the moment we join civilized society? Detested be the mode of education that would confine us to believe so! Sophists come forward! Speak out, and tell us how we are to study the chief of sciences, the science of the Bights of Man! Tell us how to think, ay, and likewise how to feel! Tell us whether we shall study as with the unprejudiced minds of untainted youth, or with the determined, mercenary, warped sophistry of our critical literati? Shall we, ye leaders of the blind, study with a Pitt out of office or with a Pitt in office? As nature is the same whatsoever minister shall reign, so are the truths deducible from nature. And whenever I study, let who will reign, it shall be to discover the truth, and the whole truth, so help me God! Wherefore having discharged my duty to mankind, in pointing out to the best of my apprehension, the only means by which they may be happy, I hold myself guiltless, and leave it to their choice to be free or enslaved; independent or influenced; to eat their own victuals or give them to the thankless'.

Notes

Egalitarian and humanitarian comments to introduce Spence 'Constitution of a perfect commonwealth', his amended version of the French Constitution of 1793.