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ARBUCKLE AND THE MOLESWORTH-SHAFTESBUKT SCHOOL. 211 THE MODIFICATION OF ESTHETIC ETHICS IN RELATION TO THE THEORY OF GOVERNMENT AND POLITICAL ECONOMY. Arbuckle's aesthetic morals scarcely bear the strain of the explanation of every-day problems ; and yet he is above all things a practical writer. Consequently, when he faces the theory of government and economics, he falls back upon Shaftesbury's Benevolence, which he interprets, as Hutcheson did though not by the same formula as "the greatest happiness of the greatest number ". With regard to the theory of the State, Arbuckle was a thorough Whig, and he endeavours to show the eudaemonistic results at-, tending the recognition of the liberty of the subject ; indeed, he devotes considerable space to arguments in favour of its extension. As in Moral Philosophy, so in relation to Political Econ- omy, Arbuckle's position is of interest, through extrinsic circumstances. The French Physiocrats have claimed Adam Smith as a disciple, yet it can be shown that Smith received the impetus that resulted in the Wealth of Nations from Hutcheson at Glasgow. 1 Now the earliest work of Hutcheson's that contained economical matter was the System of Moral Philosophy, which was probably written between 1733 and 1737, though it was not published until 1755. When the close relationship of Hutcheson and Arbuckle at Dublin is remembered, the isolated expressions of the latter upon economical questions, published as early as 1725 (just thirty years before Hutcheson's System) in the Dublin Journal, are worthy of mention. It will be remembered that Molesworth Arbuckle's patron had been a minister at the Danish Court, and therefore it is not surprising that, in Political Economy, Arbuckle should follow Sir William Temple, who had dis- charged similar duties in Holland. Like Temple, Arbuckle is an adherent of the mercantile system, though to a less extent, for he had the important advantage of being able to see both sides of the balance of exports and imports through his residence in Ireland, which, he says, is to be looked upon " as a colony of England ", 2 Therefore, from the mercan- tile point of view, he has to show how the balance of trade is to be in favour of Ireland, without prejudice to the prosperity of England. But, while the balance of trade is to consist either of specie, " or what will turn to it in the 1 Cf. Life of Adam Smith, by John Rae, p. 15. 2 Hibernicus's Letters, i., p. 297.