fears augment the tranfport. It infpires every nobler faculty of the foul. 'Tis fondness, 'tis friendship it makes the mifer generous, and renders the coward brave. Tis, finally, the higheft endowment of human nature.-For reafon does not fo far excel inftinct, as love refines on appetite.

Here he wept, and stopped again her tale of woe.

CHAP.

CHA P. XL.

ARTS AND SCIENCES.

HE old question, whether the

THE

Arts and Sciences have been beneficial or hurtful to mankind, has been long argued, pro and con, between philofophers and politicians, without having ever yet been ultimately refolved; and indeed, in the manner it has hitherto been difcuffed, it must neceffarily remain ftill problematical, to the end of the chapter; and for this true, though not obvious reason, that the difputants, on both fides, according to the principles they have each of them laid down, are equally in the right. But then

again, they are equally in the wrong, by urging their refpective arguments too far, and upon merely affumed premises, too.

Arts and Sciences are not only advantageous, but fome of them abfolutely neceffary, to men already formed into fociety; but they would be not only useless, but even irkfome, to perfons fubfifting still in a state of nature. For any knowledge, beyond what might be exercif upon the immediate objects of fenfe, or the neceffities of life, would but render an intelligent favage melancholy and unhappy.

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The preference of a Social State, before the wildnefs of a Foreft, cannot be

VOL. II.

D

doubted

doubted by any one who will not unphilofophically deny that our happiness muft rife, in proportion to the perfection of our nature; which is fooner and better cultivated in communities, than in the defert waste.

But Arts and Sciences are charged with introducing luxury into the world, which has been found prejudicial and deftructive, both to the health and morals of mankind. This I deny. The cause and effect are here confounded, together. Luxury is not the offspring, but the parent of them. They stand in the relation of patron and client, to each other; but luxury is the Mecenas.

Plu

Plutarch fays, "no perfon of reafon "can impute to the Sciences them"felves, the abuse that is too often "made of them; which is folely to "be charged to the depraved difpofi"tions of those who profane them." This remark is an anfwer to Rouffeau; and referring it to a higher fubject, re-. plies to Bolinbroke, and other infidels, alfo.

The queftion, therefore, I think, fhould not be, whether the Arts and Sciences have been an advantage, or difadvantage, to mankind; but which is preferable—a focial, or a savage ftate? And then I fancy the difpute would foon be at an end.