in Ancient and Modern Times, 93 



great number of powerful, wealthy, and populous nations, af- 

 fluent in all the necessaries and luxuries of life, beyond most 

 other parts of the globe, and so productive of corn, in particular, 

 that Africa was always considered the granary of the Roman 

 Empire. Several of those states, such as Cyrenaica, part of the 

 ancient Libya, Mauritania, and Numidia, were strong enough to 

 wage war, often of doubtful issue, with the mighty power of the 

 Carthaginians ; of which the naval superiority was then as con- 

 spicuous as is that of Great Britain at the present moment. 

 No part of the world has suffered such a lamentable decay as 

 that extensive division of Africa which leans on the Mediterra- 

 nean. The whole of that vast and fertile region is now sunk to 

 the lowest state of degradation ; enchained by a domination, 

 physical as well as moral, of so benumbing and deadly a nature, 

 that there appears neither prospect nor hope of future amelio- 

 ration — debased by its religion ; depraved in morals ; barbarous 

 in manners and institutions ; miserably peopled, and so imper- 

 fectly cultivated, that instead of being able to feed the south of 

 Europe with its superfluous produce, it can barely furnish a suf- 

 ficient supply for its own scanty population. 



We come now to Europe ; and here, it must be confessed, 

 appearances are much more encouraging on the side of the 

 moderns. Sweden, Denmark, and Nonvay, comprehending the 

 ancient Scandinavia, and also Russia and Poland, known in 

 different parts by the names of Scythia, Sarmatia, Sclavonia, 

 &c. I should imagine are better inhabited at present than in 

 former times ; notwithstanding all that we are told of the pro- 

 digious swarms which issued from these dreary regions, and 

 overspread the south like flights of locusts. When a great part 

 of a nation changes its seats by a simultaneous movement, we 

 cannot wonder that it assumes the appearance of an overwhelm- 

 ing mass. These countries have shared in the improvements, 

 and profited by the discoveries of later ages, in such a degree, 

 that, upon the whole, we cannot doubt that both the population 

 and general condition are greatly advanced. Still it must be 

 admitted, from the very nature and capacities of these countries, 

 that this improvement cannot be such as to influence materially 

 the general comparison. 



The great strength of the argument on the side of the mO'* 



