394 STUDIES OF NATURE. 



** By fuch a policy it is that Egypt has attained 

 *' a degree of power, and of felicity, which renders 

 ** her the centre of the Nations, and that the wif- 

 ** dom of her priefthood commands fo much re- 

 " fpeâ; over the face of the whole Earth. Keep 

 *' this maxim, therefore, conftantly in view : That 

 *' every excefs of power, in a religious or military 

 " corps, arifes out of the wretchednefs of the 

 " People, becaufe all power is derived from them. 

 ** There is no other way of curbing that excefs, 

 ** but by rendering the People happy. 



" When once your authority fliall be completely 

 ** eflablilhed, communicate a (hare of it to Magif- 

 ** trates feledled from among perfons of the mofi: 

 ** diftinguiflied goodnefs. Bend your chief atten- 

 ** lion to the education of the children of the com- 

 *' monalty : but take care not to entruft it to the 

 ** firft adventurer who may be difpofed to under- 

 " take it, and ftill lefs to any one particular corps, 

 " fuch as that of the Druids, the interefts of which 

 ** are always different from thofe of the State. 

 " Confider the education of the children of your 

 *' People, as the mod valuable part of your admi- 

 *' niftration. It alone can form citizens. With- 

 *' out it the beft Laws are good for nothing. 



*' While you wait for the means and an oppor- 

 " tunity, of laying a folid foundation whereon to 



" rear 



