FRAGMENT. 277 



as in the early ages of the World. There are in 

 this Republic, no priefts, no foldiers, no flaves ; 

 for they are fo religious, that every Head of a fa- 

 mily is the pontiff of it ; fo warlike, that every 

 individual inhabitant is at all times prepared to 

 take ijp arms in defence of his Country, without 

 the inducement of pay ; and in fuch a ftate of 

 equality, that there are not fo much as domeftic 

 fervants among them. The children are there 

 brought up in the habit of ferving their parents. 



The utmoft care is taken to avoid infpiring 

 them, under the name of emulation, with the poi- 

 fon of ambition, and no fuch leflbn is taught as 

 that of furpaffing each other; but, on the contrary, 

 they are inured, betimes, to prevent one another, 

 by good offices of every kind ; to obey their pa- 

 rents ; to prefer their father, their mother, a 

 friend, a miftrels, to themfelves; and their Coun- 

 try to every thing. In this (late of Society, there 

 is no quarrelling among the young people, unlefs 

 it be fome difputes among lovers, like thofe of 

 the Devin du Village. But virtue there frequently 

 convokes the citizens to national afl'emblies, to 

 concert together meafures conducive to the gene- 

 ral welfare. They eled:, by a plurality of voices, 

 their Magiftrates, who govern the State as if it 

 were one family, being cntrufted, at once, witk 

 the fundions of peace, of war, and of religion. 



T 3 From 



