A Search into the Nature of Society. By B. De anders. The FIFTH EDITION. To which is added, A VINDICATION of the BOOK LONDON: Printed for J. TONSON, at Shakespear's-Head, MDCCXXVIII. THE PREFACE. AWS and Government are to the Political Bodies of Civil Societies, what the Vital Spirits and Life it self are to the Natural Bodies of Animated Creatures ; and as those that study the Anatomy of Dead Carkaffes may fee, that the chief Organs and niceft Springs more immediately required to continue the Motion of our Machine, are not hard Bones, ftrong Muscles and Nerves, nor the fmooth white Skin that fo beautifully covers them, but small trifling Films and little Pipes that are either over-look'd, or elfe feem inconfiderable to Vulgar Eyes; fo they that examine into the Nature of Man, abstract from Art and Education, may obferve, that what renders him a Sociable Animal, confifts not in his defire of Company, good Nature, Pity, Affability, and other Graces of a fair Outfide; but that his vileft and most hateful Qualities are the most neceffary Accomplishments to fit him for the largeft, and, according to the World, the happiest and most flourishing Societies. The following Fable, in which what I have said is set forth at large, was printed above eight Years ago * in a Six Penny Pamphlet, call'd, the Grumbling Hive; or Knaves turn'd Honeft; and being foon after Pyrated, cry'd about the Streets in a Half Penny Sheet. Since the first publishing of it I have met with several that either wilfully or ignorantly mistaking the Defign, would have it, that the *This was wrote in 1714. Scope Scope of it was a Satyr upon Virtue and Morality, and the whole wrote for the Encouragement of Vice. This made me refolve, whenever it should be reprinted, fome way or other to inform the Reader of the real Intent this little Poem was wrote with. I do not dignify these few loofe Lines with the Name of Poem, that I would have the Reader expect any Poetry in them, but barely because they are Rhime, and I am in reality puzled what Name to give them; for they are neither Heroick nor Pastoral, Satyr, Burlesque nor Heroi-comick, to be a Tale they want Probability, and the whole is rather too long for a Fable. All I can fay of them is, that they are a Story told in Dogrel, which without the leaft design of being Witty, I have endeavour'd to do in as easy and familiar a manner as I was able: The Reader fhall be welcome to call them what he pleases. 'Twas faid of Montagne, that he was pretty well vers'd in the Defects of Mankind, A 3 |