iSz STUDIES OF NATURE. 



patriotifni, has iikewife fixed the centre of it in 

 their Capital, and frequently in fome particular 

 monument of that Capital ; the Jews had theirs at 

 Jerufalem, and it's Temple ; the Romans, theirs 

 at Rome, and the Capitol ; the LacedemonianSj 

 theirs at Sparta, and in citizenfhip. 



I am fond of Paris. Next to a rural fituation, 

 and a rural fituation fuch as I like, I give Paris 

 the preference to any thing I have ever feen in the 

 World. 1 love that city, not only on account of 

 it's happy fituation, becaufe all the accommoda- 

 tions of human life are there colledcd, from it's 

 being the centre of all the powers of the kingdom, 

 and for the other reafons, which made Michael 

 Montaigne delight in it, but becaufe it is the afy- 

 lum and the refuge of the miferable. There it is 

 that the provincial ambitions, prejudices, aver- 

 fions, and tyrannies, are loft and annihilated. 

 There a man may live in obfcurity and liberty. 

 There, it is poffible to be poor without being de- 

 fpifed. The afflicted perfon is there decoyed out 

 of his mifery, by the public gaiety ; and the feeble 

 there feels himfelf ftrong in the ftrength of the 

 multitude. Time was when, on the faith of our 

 political Writers, 1 looked upon*that city as too 

 great. But I am now far from thinking that it is 

 of fufficient extent, and fufEciently majeftic, to be 

 the Capital of a kingdom fo flourifhing. 



I could 



