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TRANSLATOR'S PREFACE.

pearance; because only inferior geniuses suffer themselves to be confined by these moral stays; whereas those that are endowed with superior gifts, either do not long continue in those societies, are spoiled, degenerate, are misguided, or rule over the rest at the expense of their fellow associates; because unknown Superiors frequently direct the whole institution by secret machinations; and it is beneath the dignity of an intelligent man to work after a plan which he cannot overlook, and for whose importance and goodness he has no other security but the authority of people whom he does not know, to whom he engages himself without their entering into reciprocal obligations, without knowing where to apply to if he finds himself disappointed in his expectations. They are dangerous and hurtful to the public, because perverse heads and rogues take advantage of the darkness in which he is enfolded, usurp the supreme power, and abuse the other members for the attain-ment