2Î STUDIES OF NATURE. 



The Pleafiire of Ruin. 



I was for fome time imprefTcd with the belief, 

 that Man had a certain unaccountable tafte for de- 

 ilrudion. If the populace can lay their hands 

 upon a monument, they are fure to deftroy it. I 

 have feen at Drefden, in the gardens of the Count 

 de Brithl, beautiful ftatues of females, which the 

 Pruiïian foldiery had amufed themfclves with mu- 

 tilating by mufket-fliot, when they got poffeffion 

 of that city. Moft of the common people have a 

 turn for ilander ; they take pleafure in levelling 

 the reputation of all that is exalted. But this ma- 

 levolent inftinâ; is not the production of Nature. 

 It is infufed by the mifery of the individuals, 

 whom education infpires with an ambition which 

 is interdifted by Society, and which throv/s them 

 into a negative ambition. Incapable of raifing any 

 thing, they are impelled to lay every thing low. 

 The tafte for ruin, in this cafe, is not natural, and 

 is fimply the exercife of the power of the mife- 

 rable. Man, in a lavage ftate, deftroys the monu- 

 ments only of his enemies ; he preferves, with the 

 moft affiduous care, thole of his own Nation ; and, 

 what proves hiin to be naturally much better than 

 Man in a ftate of Society, he never llanders his 

 compatriots. 



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