332 STUDIES OF NATURE. 



Let us firfl fuppofe a ftate entirely governed by 

 Love, fuch as that on the banks of the Lignon, 

 imagined by the ingenious cTUrfeius. I beg leave 

 to afk, Who would be at the trouble of building 

 houfes there, and of labouring the ground ? Muft 

 we not fuppofe, that fuch a country would eon- 

 tain fervant?, whofe induftry fhould compenfate 

 the idlenefs of their matters ? Will not thefe fer- 

 vants be reduced to the neceffity of abftaining 

 from making love, in order that their mailers may 

 be inceffantly employed in it ? Befides, In what 

 manner are the old people of both fexes to pals 

 their time ? A fine fpe&acle for them truly, to 

 behold their children always indulging in the dal- 

 liance of the tender paffion ! Would not fuch a 

 fpectacle become to them a perpetual fource of re- 

 gret, of ill-humour, of jealoufy, as it is among 

 thofe of our own country ? Such a government, 

 in truth, were it even in the iflands of the South- 

 Sea, under the groves of the cocoa and bread-fruit 

 trees, where there was nothing to do but to eat 

 and make love, would foon be torn with difcord, 

 and oppreffed with languor. 



But, on the fuppofition that the principle of 

 focial reafon were to oblige every family to labour 

 each for it's own fupport, and to introduce more 

 variety into their way of living, by inviting to it 

 our arts and fciences -, it would quickly accelerate 



their 



