STUDY X. 



29 



were beautiful, becaufe they were happy ; they 

 lived in cordial union with their equals, and in 

 the enjoyment of popular favour with the citizens 

 at large. Befides, there were among them no me- 

 lancholy, moping, monkifh inftitutions, fimilar 

 to thofe of our colleges, to disfigure the whole 

 youth of a Nation at once. The defcendants of 

 thofe fame Nations are, at this day, far from ex- 

 hibiting a refemblance to their anceftors, though 

 the climate of their country is not in the fmalleft 

 degree changed. 



It is, farther, to moral caufes that we muft refer 

 the Angularly dignified phyfionomies of the great 

 Lords of the Court of Louis XIV. as is viflble in 

 their portraits. In general, perfons of quality be- 

 ing, by their rank, elevated above the reft of the 

 Nation, do not live continually at daggers draw- 

 ing with each other, and with the other fubjects 

 of the State, as is the cafe of mod of our fmall 

 country-gentlemen. Befides, they are ufually edu- 

 cated under the paternal roof, that is, under the 

 bleflèd influence of domeftic enjoyment, and far 

 remote from foreign jealoufy and ftrife. But thofe 

 of the age of Louis XIV. had this diftinguifhed 

 advantage over their pofterity, that they were 

 taught to value themfelves on beneficence, and po- 

 pular affability, and on bellowing their patronage 

 upon talents and virtue, wherever they found 



them. 



