lOO STUDIES OF NATURE. 



reformation, without daring to extend it To much 

 as to their families. Thus it was that a Titus and 

 a Marcus Aurelius reigned. They were only great 

 Philofophers on the throne. As far as I am con- 

 cerned, I (hould believe that I had already de- 

 ferved well of my Country, had I only announced 

 in her ear this awful truth ; That (he contains, in 

 her bofom more than feven millions of poor, and 

 that their number has been proceeding in an in- 

 creafing proportion, from year to year, ever fincc 

 •the age of Louis XIV. 



God forbid that I (hould wifli or attempt to 

 difturb, much lefs deftroy, the different orders of 

 the State. I would only wifli to bring them back 

 to the fpirit of their natural Jnftituiion. Would 

 to God that the Clergy would endeavour to merit, 

 by their virtues, the firft place, which has been 

 granted to the facrednefs of their fundions; that 

 tlie Nobility would give their protedion to the 

 citizens, and render themfelves formidable only to 

 the enemies of the people; that the adminiftrators 

 of finance, directing the treafures of the Public to 

 flow in the channels of agriculture and commerce, 

 would lay open to merit the road which leads to 

 all uftful ap.d honourable employment ; that every 

 woman, exempted, by the fecblcncfs of her confti- 

 tiition, from moft of the burthens of Society, 

 would occupy herfelf in fulfilling tiie duties of her 



gentle 



