AN INQUIRY INTO THE CIRCUMSTANCES
BY JOHN MILLAR, ESQ.
PROFESSOR OF LAW IN THE UNIVERSITY OF GLASGOW.
THE FOURTH EDITION, CORRECTED.
TO WHICH IS PREFIXED,
AN ACCOUNT OF THE LIFE AND WRITINGS OF THE AUTHOR,
BY JOHN CRAIG, ESQ.
EDINBURGH:
PRINTED FOR WILLIAM BLACKWOOD, SOUTH-BRIDGE STREET;
AND
LONGMAN, HURST, REES, & ORME, PATERNOSTER-ROW,
LONDON.
1806.
G. CAW, PRINTER, EDINBURGH.
TO
JOHN YOUNG, ESQUIRE,1 PROFESSOR OF GREEK IN THE UNIVERSITY OF GLASGOW.
MY DEAR SIR,
In presenting you with a Memoir on the Life of our late excellent Friend, Mr. Millar, I submit it to the person who, from long and familiar intercourse with him, will most readily perceive any misconceptions of his real character, or inaccuracies in the representation of his opinions.
I am fully aware of the difficulty of delineating a character such as Mr. Millar’s, and I am not insensible of the danger of failing in a species of composition in which some late writings have accustomed the Public to the union, in an uncommon degree, of Philosophy and Taste; but I could<iv> not be deterred by any selfish regard to my own reputation, from making that attempt, for which, in the opinion of our mutual friends, my intimacy with Mr. Millar, begun by our near connection, and continued by his kind indulgence, had afforded me peculiar advantages.
I am, with the greatest regard,
MY DEAR SIR,
Your most obedient Servant,
JOHN CRAIG.
GLASGOW, February, 1806. <v>
CONTENTS2
ACCOUNT OF THE LIFE AND WRITINGS OF THE AUTHOR
OF THE RANK AND CONDITION OF WOMEN IN DIFFERENT AGES.
SECT. I. The effects of poverty and barbarism, with respect to the condition of women
SECT. III. The refinement of the passions of sex, in the pastoral ages
OF THE JURISDICTION AND AUTHORITY OF A FATHER OVER HIS CHILDREN.
SECT. I. The power of a father in early ages
SECT. II. The influence of the improvement of arts upon the jurisdiction of the father
THE AUTHORITY OF A CHIEF OVER THE MEMBERS OF A TRIBE OR VILLAGE.
SECT. I. The origin of a chief, and the degrees of influence which he is enabled to acquire
SECT. II. The powers with which the chief of a rude tribe is commonly invested<vii>
SECT. I. The constitution of government arising from the union of different tribes or villages
SECT. II. The natural progress of government in a rude kingdom
SECT. I. Circumstances, in a polished nation, which tend to increase the power of the sovereign
SECT. II. Other circumstances, which contribute to advance the privileges of the people
SECT. III. Result of the opposition between these different principles<viii>