Characteristicks of Men, Manners, Opinions, Times

by Anthony Ashley Cooper (1671-1713)

Characteristicks

OF

Men, Manners, Opinions, Times.

In THREE VOLUMES.

By the Right Honourable
ANTHONY, Earl of Shaftesbury.

The Fifth Edition.

 

 

BIRMINGHAM:

Printed by John Baskerville
M.DCC.LXXIII.

VOL. I.

A Letter concerning Enthusiasm.

Sensus Communis; an Essay on the Freedom of Wit and Humour.

Soliloquy, or Advice to an Author.

VOL. II.

An Inquiry concerning Virtue and Merit.

The Moralists; a Philosophical Rhapsody.

VOL. III.

Miscellaneous Reflections on the said Treatises, and other critical Subjects.

A Notion of the Historical Draught, or Tablature of the Judgment of Hercules.

PREFACE.

IF the Author of these united Tracts had been any Friend to Prefaces, he wou'd probably have made his Entrance after that manner, in one or other of the Five Treatise formerly publish'd apart. But as to all Prefatory or Dedicatory Discourse, he has told us his Mind sufficiently, in that Treatise which he calls Soliloquy. Being satisfy'd however, that there are many Persons who esteem these Introductory Pieces as very essential in the Constitution of a Work; he has thought fit, in behalf of his honest Printer, to substitute these Lines under the Title of a Preface; and to declare, "That (according to his best Judgment and Authority) these Presents ought to pass, and be receiv'd, constru'd, and taken, as satisfactory in full, for all Preliminary Composition, Dedication, direct or indirect Application for Favour to the Publick, or to any private Patron, or Party whatsoever: Nothing to the contrary appearing to him, from the side of Truth, or Reason". Witness his Hand, this Fifth Day of December, 1710.

A.A.C.A.N.A.Æ.
C.M.D.C.L.X.X.J.