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nydus/Hume's Political DiscoursesPublic

This volume presents David Hume’s 1752 work, *Political Discourses*, which outlines his foundational principles of political economy. The text includes an autobiographical sketch by the author and an account of his death written by Adam Smith.

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Table of Contents

OF SOME REMARKABLE CUSTOMS.

invented, we continue a practice seemingly the most absurd and unaccountable. Authority, in times of full internal peace and concord, is armed against law. A continued and open usurpation of the crown is permitted amidst the greatest jealousy and watchfulness in the people; nay, proceeding from those very principles, liberty, in a country of the highest liberty, is left entirely to its own defence without any countenance or protection; the wild state of nature is renewed in one of the most civilized societies of mankind; and great violences and disorders among the people, the most human and the best-natured, are committed with impunity; while the one party pleads obedience to the supreme magistrate, the other the sanction of fundamental laws.

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