140 STUDIES OF NATURE. 



*' though, in truth, our Savages are fuch only in 

 " name, juft as the plants and the fruits which 

 " Nature produces without culture in forefts and 

 *' deferts ; for thefe too we denominate wild or 

 *' favage, though the)'- poffefs the real virtues and 

 " properties in their native force and vigor, which 

 *' we frequentlj^ corrupt by art, and caufe to de- 



" generate by tranfplantation into our gardens 



*' It is of importance," adds he afterwards, *' to 

 " demonftrate in this treatife, that the Savages in 

 " thefe iflands, are the mofl content, the happieft, 

 '^ the leajl viciouSy the moft fociable, the lead de- 

 " formed, and the leaft tormented by difeafe of 

 *' any people in the world." 



If we trace among ourfelves the hiftory of a vil- 

 lain's life, we fliall find that his infancy was always 

 very miferable. Wherever I have found children 

 unhappy, I always obferved they were wicked and 

 ugly ; and wherever I faw them happy, there 

 likewife they were beautiful and good. In Hol- 

 land and Flanders, where they are brought up 

 with the greatefl; gentlenefs, their beauty is Angular- 

 ly remarkable. It is from them that the famous 

 fculptor, Francis the Flemilh, borrowed his charm-- 

 ing models of children j and Rubens that frefhnefs 

 of colouring which glov/s on thofe of his piftures. 

 You never hear them, as in our cities, uttering 

 loud and bitter cries ; flill lefs do you hear them 



threatened 



