are called, permitted no doubt for wise purposes, would but slightly affect the sum of human happi

ness.

(b) WHEN poverty is thought contemptible by a nation, wealth is become with that nation more estimable than religion and virtue. A truly wretched state !

By poverty is not barely meant a destitution of the necessaries or conveniences of life, but also a condition, in which the enjoyments attached to it are thought mean and contemptible by the rich.

THIS disposition is as replete with evils, as the box of Pandora is said to have been.

IMAGINARY or artificial wants are insatiable.* A rage for being distinguished by vain expence breaks out; and so contagious is the taint of bad

Plutarch tells us, that the friend of Scopas a rich Thessalian asked him for a piece of furniture, which he judged to be wholly useless to the possessor, as being quite superfluous. "Thou art mistaken, my friend," answered Scopas; "the supreme happiness of our lives consists in those things which thou cailest superfluous, not in those which thou callest necessaries."

example, that, notwithstanding the plausible calculations of the sordid profits to be drawn from indulged excesses, it is very desirable, that it may be maturely considered, whether the mischief may be so far checked by laws, as to allow time for giving a better direction to manners.

INDUSTRY and frugality are national benefits. A taste for ostentatious living often leads to overtrading, speculating, gaming, fraudulent dealing, bankruptcy, and wide-spreading destruction to multitudes of innocent families. Venality too frequently follows loss of character and property. Thus the number of worthless and dangerous citizens is increased, and every eminent free state that has existed has felt the deep wounds inflicted by such paricidal hands. "Hence," says lord chancellor Bacon, " arose that observation of Lucan concerning the condition of the Roman empire a little before the civil war

"Hinc usura vorax, rapidumque in tempore fœnus, "Hinc concussa fides, et multis utile bellum

"That very thing," multis utile bellum † is a certain indication of a state's being disposed to tumults and convulsions."

+"War useful to many."

THERE is another class of citizens, that has been found too redundant in every free state. They are men so composed of meanness and pride, that basely contented if they can at once be slaves and tyrants, they will give their own servitude as the price for purchasing domination over others

"Dominationis in alios servitium suum mercedem

dant"

Sallust.

BUT to this catalogue of evils still remains to be added, that fatal one produced also by luxury-an effeminacy growing from habitual indulgences, that renders a people unable to bear the fatigues of

war.

IN armies of such men there is always a want of proper alertness. The neighbourhood of an enemy cannot rouse them to any spirit of enterprize. A reluctance against exertion of mind or body prevails. Their hearts are languishing after gen. tler occupations; and these they imitate as well as they can in camp.

Ar last, when compelled to engage, they are thinking of many things besides fighting, and if they run away to avoid wounds that might injure their features, they have a celebrated example in the Roman beaus at Pharsalia, for saving their faces by losing their liberty.

(i) "Now let me appeal to your lordships, as to men of enlarged and liberal minds, who have been led by your office and rank to the study of history, Can you find in the long succession of ages, in the whole extent of human affairs, a single instance, where distant provinces have been preserved in so flourishing a state, and kept at the same time in such due subjection to the mother country? My lords, there is no instance; the case never existed before. It is perhaps the most singular phenomenon in all civil history, and the cause of it well deserves your serious consideration. The true cause is, that a mother country never existed before, who placed her natives and her colonies on the same equal footing; and joined with them in fairly carrying on one common interest.

You ought to consider this, my lords, not as a mere historical fact, but as a most important and invaluable discovery. It enlarges our ideas of the power and energy of GOOD COVERNMENT beyond. all former examples; and shews that it can act like gravitation, at the greatest distances. It proves to a demonstration, that you may have good sub2 R

VOL. II.

claim to a neighbouring territory: as if it signifi ed a straw to mankind, thus called upon to shed blood, who is the person or what the family of the ruler whoever he be, provided he governs in such a manner, as to consult and promote the public felicity.

"ANOTHER alledges, that some punctilio, in a treaty of a hundred articles, has been infringed or neglected.

"A THIRD Owes a neighbouring king, a secret grudge, on a private account, because he has marriedsome princess, whom he intended to be his consort, or uttered some sarcasm that reflects upon his royal person or character.

"BUT, what is the basest and most flagitious conduct of all, there are crowned heads [and sometimes uncrowned heads are as vile] who-finding their own power weakened by the union of the people, and strengthened by their division, contrive to excite war without any substantial reason for a rupture; merely to break the national concord, and pillage the oppressed people with impunity.

"THERE are infernal agents enough who fatten on the plunder of the people, and have little to do in state affairs during the time of peace, who easily