a state or disposition of the mind, wherein we put a value upon, or become pleased with, some person or thing. Morality is divided on the principle of approbation, or the motive which determines us to approve and disapprove. The Epicureans will have it to be only self-interest: according to them, that which determines any agent to approve his own action, is its apparent tendency to his private happiness; and even the approbation of another's action flows from no other cause but an opinion of its tendency to the happiness of the approver, either immediately or remotely. Others resolve approbation into a moral sense, or a principle of benevolence, by which we are determined to approve every kind of action either in ourselves or others, and all publicly useful actions, which we imagine to flow from such affection, without any view therein to our own private happiness.

is more particularly used, in speaking of recommendations of books, given by persons qualified or authorized to judge of them. Those appointed to grant licenses and imprimaturs, frequently express their approbation of books. Books were formerly subjected to a licensor in England, (see 13th Car. II. c. 33.), which act is long since expired; and being incompatible with the noble principles of the Revolution, has never since been, and it is hoped never will be, revived.