Here, too, the philosopher refers us again to the common discourse of men, as containing wiser observations on this subject, than their books. 'But much the best matter of all,' he says, 'for such a treatise, may be _derived from_ the more _prudent_ historians, and not so well from eulogies or panegyrics, which are usually written soon after the death of _an illustrious person_, but much rather from a whole body of history, as often as such a person appears, for such an _inwoven_ account gives a better description than _panegyrics_.... But we do not mean that such characters should be received in ethics, as perfect civil images.' They are to be subjected to an artistic process, which will bring out the radical principles in the dispositions and tempers of men in general, as the material of inexhaustible varieties of combination. He will have these historic portraits merely 'for outlines and first draughts of the images themselves, which, being variously compounded and mixed, afford all kinds of portraits, so that an _artificial and accurate dissection_ may be made of MEN'S MINDS AND NATURES, and the _secret disposition of each particular man laid open_, that from the knowledge of the _whole_, the PRECEPTS _concerning the_ ERRORS of THE MIND may be MORE RIGHTLY FORMED.' Who did that very thing? Who was it that stood on the spot and put that design into execution? But this is not all; this is only the beginning of the observation and study of _differences_. For he would have also included in it, 'those impressions of nature which are otherwise _imposed_ upon by the mind, by the SEX, AGE, COUNTRY, STATE OF HEALTH, MAKE OF BODY, as of beauty and deformity, and THE LIKE, which are inherent and not external:' and more, he will have included in it--in these _practical Ethics_ he will have included--'POINTS OF FORTUNE,' and the differences that they make; he will have _all the differences_ that this creature exhibits, under any conditions, put down; he will have his whole nature, so far as his history is able to show it, on his table; and not as it is exhibited accidentally, or spontaneously merely, but under the test of a studious inquiry, and essay; he will apply to it the trials and vexations of Art, and wring out its last confession. This is the practical doctrine of this species; this is what the author we have here in hand, calls the _science_ of it, or the beginning of its science. This is one of the _parts of science_ which he says is wanting. Let us follow his running glimpse of the points here, then, and see whether it is extant here, too, and whether there is anything to justify all this preparation in bringing it in, and all this exceeding marvelling at the want of it.