284 STUDIES OF NATURE. 



monuments of modern Rome, and even like many 

 of our own royal monuments, an objeâ: of filthy 

 lucre to individuals, who fell the fight of them to 

 the curious. Particular care would be taken not 

 to exclude the People, becaufe they are meanly 

 habited ; nor 10 hunt out of it, as we do from 

 our public gardens, poor and honed artifans in 

 jackets, while well-drefled courtefans flaunt about 

 with effrontery, in their great alleys. The lowed 

 of the commonalty fhould have it in their power 

 to enter, at all feafons. It is to you, O ye mifer- 

 able of all conditions, that the fight of the friends 

 of Humanity fliould of right appertain ; and your 

 patrons are henceforth no where but among the 

 flatues of virtuous men ! There, a foldier, at fight 

 OÎ Catinat^ would learn to endure calumny. There, 

 a girl of the town, fick of her infamous profeflion, 

 would, with a (igh, call her eyes down to the 

 ground, on beholding the flatue of Modefty ap- 

 proached with honour and refped : but at light of 

 that of a female of her own condition, reclaimed 

 to the paths of virtue, flie would raife them to- 

 ward Him who preferred repentance to innocence. 



It may be objeded to me, That ouc poorer fort 

 would very foon fpread deftrudion oVer all thofe 

 monuments; and it muft, indeed, be admitted, 

 that they feldom fail to treat in this manner, thofe 

 which do not intereft them. There fhould, un- 

 doubtedly. 



