336 STUDIES OF NATURE. 



of the human fpecies, and ferocious animals, but 

 even the elements themfelves. Valour, with them, 

 fupplies the place of juilice. They always decide 

 their differences by force of arms, and confider rea- 

 fon as the refource of thofe only who are deftitute 

 of courage. Thefe two clafles of citizens, one of 

 which employs cunning, and the other force, to 

 make themfelves feared, completely balance each 

 other; but they unite in tyrannizing over the 

 people, whom they treat with fovereign contempt. 

 Never can a plebeian, among the Gauls, arrive at 

 the honour of filling any public ftation. It would 

 appear, that this Nation exifts only for it's Priefts 

 and it's Nobles, Inftead of being confoled by the 

 one, and protedled by the other, as juflice requires, 

 the Druids terrify them, only in order that the 

 larles may opprefs them. 



Notwithftandingall this, there is no race of men 

 polTelTed of better qualities than the Gauls. They 

 are very ingenious, and excel in feveral fpecies of 

 ufeful arts, which are to be found no where elfe. 

 They overlay plates of iron with tin, (13) fo art- 

 fully, that it might pafs for filver. They com- 

 patfl pieces of wood with fo much exadlnefs, that 

 they form of them vafes capable of containing all 

 forts of liquors. What is dill more wonderful, they 

 have a method of boiling water in them, without 

 their being confumed. They make flmt ftones 



red- 



