BIMANA. 51 



time that the hope of acquiring, by industry, a comfortable exist- 

 ence for self and posterity, has given a new spring to emulation. 

 The discovery of a representative of property or a circulating me- 

 dium, by facilitating exchanges and rendering fortunes more inde- 

 pendent and susceptible of being increased, has carried this emula- 

 tion to its highest degree, but by a necessary consequence it has 

 also equally increased the vices of effeminacy and the furies of ambi- 

 tion. 



The natural propensity to reduce every thing to general principles, 

 and to search for the causes of every phenomenon, has produced re- 

 flecting men, in every stage of society, vv^ho have added new ideas to 

 those already obtained, nearly all of whom, -while knowledge was 

 confined to the few, endeavoured to convert their intellectual supe- 

 riority into the means of domination, by exaggerating their own 

 merit, and disguising the poverty of their knowledge by the propa- 

 gation of superstitious ideas. 



An evil still more irremediable, is the abuse of physical power : 

 now that man only can injure man, he is continually seeking to do 

 so, and is the only animal upon earth that is for ever at war with his 

 own species. Savages fight for a forest, and herdsmen for a pasture, 

 and as often as they can, break in upon the cultivators of the earth 

 to rob them of the fruits of their long and painful labours. Even 

 civilized nations, far from being contented with their blessings, pour 

 out each other's blood for the prerogatives of pride, or the monopoly 

 of trade. Hence, the necessity for governments to direct the 

 national wars, and to repress or reduce to regular forms the quarrels 

 of individuals. 



The social condition of man has been restrained, or advanced by 

 circumstances more or less favourable. 



The glacial climates of the north of both continents, and the im- 

 penetrable forests of America are still inhabited by the savage hun- 

 ter or fisherman. The immense sandy and salt plains of central 

 Asia and Africa are covered with a pastoral people, and innumerable 

 herds. These half civilized hordes assemble at the call of every 

 enthusiastic chief, and rush like a torrent on the cultivated coun- 

 tries that surround them, in which they establish themselves, but to 

 be weakened by luxury, and in their turn to become the prey of 

 others. This is the true cause of that despotism which has always 

 crushed and destroyed the industry of Persia, India, and China. 



Mild climates, soils naturally irrigated and rich in vegetables, are 

 the cradles of agriculture and civilization, and when so situated as 

 to be sheltered from the incursions of barbarians, every species of 

 talent is excited; such were (the first in Europe) Italy and Greece, 

 and such is, at present, nearly all that happy portion of the earth. 



