6o «STUDIES OF NATURE. 



ferions, it is abfolutely neccflary that both parties 

 fhould rip up each other, under pain of infamy. 

 To this hatred of it's tyrants we tnufl impute the 

 fmgular attachment which the Japanefe expreffed 

 for the Chriflian Religion, becaufe they hoped it 

 was to efface, by it's morality, diftindlions fo abo- 

 minable between man and man : and to popular 

 prejudices we muft refer, in the Nobility of that 

 Country, the contempt which they expreifed on a 

 thoufand occafions, for a life rendered fo preca- 

 rious from the opinion of another. 



A fage equality, proportioned to the intelli- 

 gence, and to the talents of all her fubjeâs, has, 

 for a long time, rendered China the happieft fpot 

 on the Globe : but a tafte for pleafure having 

 there, at laft, produced a diifolution of the moral 

 principle, money, the inftrument of procuring it, 

 is become the moving principle of the Govern- 

 ment. Venality has there divided the Nation into 

 two great claffes, the rich and the poor. The an- 

 cient ranks which, in that Country, elevated men 

 to all the public offices, dill exiil:, but the rich 

 only aftually fill them. This vafh and populous 

 Empire having no longer any patriotifm, but what 

 confifts in certain unmeaning ceremonies, has 

 been, oftener than once, invaded by the Tartars, 

 who were invited into the Country by the calami- 

 ties which the People endured. 



The 



