2^4 STUDIES OF NATUÏtEa 



and on the other, to the celibacy of two millions 

 of men. The unprofitable fuperabundance of the 

 idle and cenforious burghers in our fécond artd 

 third-rate cities, arifes from the impoils which de- 

 grade the inhabitants of the country. The preju- 

 dices of the nobility are kept alive by the refent- 

 ments of thofe who want the advantage of birth j 

 and all thefe evils, and others innumerable, phyfical 

 and intelleftual, fpring up out of the mifery of 

 the People. It is the indigence of the People 

 which produces fuch fwarms of players, courtefans, 

 highwaymen, incendiaries, licentious fcholars, ca- 

 lumniators, flatterers, hypocrites, mendicants, kept- 

 miftrefles, quacks of all conditions, and that infi- 

 nite multitude of corrupted wretches, who, inca- 

 pable of coming to any thing by their virtues, en- 

 deavour to procure bread and confideration by 

 their vices. In vain will yoii oppofe to thefe, 

 plans of finance, projefts of equalization of taxes 

 and tithes, of ordonnances of Police, of arrets of 

 Parliament ; all your efforts will be froitlefs. The 

 indigence of the People is a mighty river, which 

 is, every year, colledling an increafe of ftrength, 

 which is fweeping away before it every oppofmg 

 mound, and which will ilfue in a total fubverfion 

 of order and government. 



To this phyfical caufe, of our diflrelTes, mufl be 

 added another, purely moral ,; I mean our educa- 

 •'. . - . ., . tion. 



