274 STUDIES OF NATURE. 



I could have wiflied very much to fee a Hiftory 

 of your compofing. 



y. y, " I once felt a powerful propenfity to 

 " vv^rite that of Co/mo de Medic is (9). He was a 

 *' fimple individual, who became the fovereign of 

 *' his fellow-citizens, by rendering them more 

 *' happy. He raifed, and maintained his fuperiority 

 *' merely by the benefits which he conferred. I 

 " had made a rough fketch of that fubjedt : but I 

 " have relinquilhed it : I pofîefs not the talents 

 " requifite to the compofition of Hiftory." 



Why have not you yourfelf, with all your ardent 

 zeal for the happinefs of Mankind, made fome at- 

 tempt to form a happy Republic ? I know a great 

 many men of all Countries, and of every condi- 

 tion, who would have followed you. 



*' Oh Î I have had too much experience of 

 " Mankind !" Then looking at me, after a mo- 

 ment's filence, he added, v/ith an air of fome dif- 

 pleafure : *' I have feveral times entreated you 

 "- never to introduce that fubjccl." 



But wherefore might you not have formed, with 

 an aflemblage of Europeans, deftitute of fortune, 

 and of a Country, in fome uninhabited ifland of 



the 



