PREFACE.

THE design and character of the following dissertation, is, collectively, a vindication, or a refutation, of conflicting principles and opinions, which severally exert a vast influence on the mass of society. To advocate one class of such principles and opinions, is, of necessity, to enter the lists against those which are opposed to them. The class of principles and opinions advocated, and which it is the object of the following pages to elucidate, need not be defined, since this is apparent from the title of the work; neither is apology requisite for such a course of theological, historical, and philosophical disquisition. The expositions herein given, pre-supposing an acquaintance with the correspondent subjects treated in "the Ruins,"

X

the writer's motives may be defined, as consisting in a predilection for the discovery and illustration of truth, and a firm and consistent adherence to it. The prominent character of the "Ruins," of which a vindication is herein attempted, being, as stated in its preface, the elucidation and dissemination of moral and "abstract truths;" an object which is unquestionably so far attained by M. Volney, in that work, as to reduce to a character of imbecility, all attempts to refute it, if not perhaps to render any attempt to vindicate it, a work of supererogation.

Having premised thus much, it is further to be mentioned, that this nominal vindication of the Ruins, has principally for its object, a refutation of the work which has provoked it, designated, "Remarks on Volney's Ruins"; a work in which the Author, Mr. Hails, has exhibited no small portion of acrimony and vindictive feeling; with a total absence of all charitable and philosophic disposition.

In the following pages, a prominent feature is that of extensive quotation. If apology be

required for adopting that course which appeared best calculated to vindicate truth against error, the apology for this peculiarity of the present work is, the indispensable necessity for adducing proofs, comprised in theological, historical, and philosophical citations, applicable to the subjects respectively discussed. And with reference to the lengthened quotations from the "New Researches", a work of M. Volney's, subsequent to "the Ruins", it may be observed, that this being in fact the only work extant, to which recourse could be had for our design; whilst it is left untouched, and not even named by our opponent, its validity, and admissibility as judicious and consistent authority, may be assumed as unimpeachable.

As respects the development, the illustration, and the advocacy of such subjects, we may say with Claudian :

Here is

Hic patet ingeniis campus.

find open in bust.

A CRITICAL

EXAMINATION AND REFUTATION

OF

“Remarks on Volney's Ruins;"

OR,

A SURVEY OF THE REVOLUTIONS OF EMPIRES.

CHAPTER I.

PRELIMINARY REMARKS; EXAMINATION OF MR. HAILS'S "INTRODUCTORY OBSERVATIONS;' AND REFUTATION

OF HIS HISTORICAL CITATIONS.

AN exposure of the palpable and unphilosophical inconsistencies, which characterize the "Remarks on Volney's Ruins," &c., is certainly not so difficult a task, as their Author admits he found the refutation of the "Ruins" to be.1 This however does not arise from a superior arrangement, or a more luminous and connected view of the subjects treated of, in the work before us, but principally because our opponent's arguments consist in gratuitous assertions; and because at the outset of his investigation, he assumes as

1 Preface to the Remarks.