112 STUDIES OF NATURE. 



that they did not pafs that way exprefsly for the 

 purpofe. They had a particular bench allotted 

 them at the public feftivals ; and feveral Em- 

 prefles requefted, as the higheft honour they 

 could afpire to, permiffion to fit among them» 

 And our Paris trades- people, too, crown our ruf- 

 tic Veftals * 1 Noble and generous effort ! They 

 beftow a garland of rofes upon indigent virtue, in 

 the country ; while, in the city, vice flaunts abouE 

 glittering with diamonds. 



On the other hand, the punifliments of guilt 

 appear to me as injudicioufly adj lifted as the re- 

 wards of virtue. We too frequently hear called 

 aloud In our ftreets thefe terrible words, The fen- 

 tence of condemnation I but never. The fentence of re- 

 ward. Crimes are reprefled by infamous punifh- 

 ments. A fimple brand inflicted, inftead of re- 

 forming the criminal, frequently plunges him 

 deeper in guilt, and not feldom drives his whole 

 family headlong into vicious courfes. Where, let 

 me afk, can an unhappy wretch find refuge, who 

 has been publicly whipped, branded, and drum- 

 med out ? Neceflity has made him a thief; indig- 

 nation and defpair will hurry him on to murder. 



* They candefccnd^ likewife, to permit them to eat at the fame 

 table with themfelves, for that day. See the journals of the fef- 

 tivity, which break out into" captures on this gccafion. 



His 



