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AN

ESSAY

ON

PVBLIC HAPPINESS.

SECTION III.

Confiderations on the Lot of Humanity amongst the modern Nations.

CHAP. I.

On the feodal government.

HAD there been no connexion between

the happiness of mankind and their legislation; had those rude covenants which fupplied the place of laws amongst the barbarous nations, perifhed with their manners and their customs, it were, undoubtedly, VOL. II. B

an

an useless task to make the least enquiry into the state of thofe earlier times, which may be confidered as the cradle of our modern dynasties: but we must recollect, that it hath been already obferved that, to form a juft idea. of the true principles which conftitute the bafis of governments, or rather, of the spirit which animates them, we must examine attentively the circumstances under which these governments have been established. And what people have preferved, more than ourselves, the traces of our origin? if the French, as they are returning from the representation of the tragedies of Andromache, or Merope, fhould imagine themselves to be the rivals of the Greeks, they need only enter into the house of the next notary, and peruse the first deed, the first inftrument of fale, which may fall into their hands, to be convinced, from the mention of the words fief, lord paramount, and vassalage, that they are but the heirs of the Goths or Lombards. Some young students from the academy, or, perhaps, even from the philofophical schools, are going to bestow all the enthusiasm of applause on an actor, whom the public feem to idolize: one might fuppofe the theatre to be filled with the ci

tizens of Athens: in the violence of his tranfports, a fpectator bruises the arm of his next neighbour: they quarrel, retire, and are killed in a duel. Here, then, are our Greeks converted into Sicambrians, or Scandinavians. Examine our laws, obferve our customs, and fee how continually prejudice and reafon, politeness and barbarity are blended together. We resemble those formidable animals, whom it is necessary to render tame, and whom we behold with more furprize than pleasure : even at the fight of their most innocent sports, our impreffions of terror do not entirely fubfide, and, to be affected with their gentleness, we must think on their natural ferocity. Be this as it will, let us not turn away from those disagreeable objects, which are going to present themselves to our view. It is of little confequence what we have been, provided there be no reafon to blufh for what we are. Is it not much better to have occafion to de plore, than to regret the past times? and to whatsoever stage of our journey we may have arrived, is not the traveller, who advances flowly, more certain of accomplishing his defign, than he who turns backward? may our obfervations, then, far from becoming

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the fources of difcouragement, prove apologies for the prefent age, by explaining the reason why it hath not made a greater prógrefs. May we convince thofe unfortunate readers, who doubt whether a good government, or an happy fociety can exift, that all the focieties and all the governments which they have in view, are established on the principles, and drawn from the manners of those barbarous nations, whom we so justly deem the pefts of humanity. With fuch materials, was it poffible to raise the most beautiful, and the most regular of all edifices? and who can efface the firft given impref ffions? The Spartans were abfolute favages to the Ilote; and the affrighted world still felt the robbers under Romulus, amidst the deftroyers of Carthage and Numantia.

Much hath been advanced concerning le gislations; and political establishments enjoy their fhare of approbation; yet men in general find no law, but in example, no rule, but in custom. Now, what people shall fet thefe examples, what people fhall form these customs, unless it be they who are too ignorant to have any knowledge of proper models, and too favage to comply with their

ufage?

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