322 STUDIES OF NATURE'. 



rate of proud Rome. She was unable to fupport 

 the weight of her unwieldy turrets ; her cumber- 

 fome and ponderous upper-works overfet her. 

 The following infcriptions might be engraved on 

 the different rocks againft which they have made 

 Ihip wreck ; 



LOVE OF CONQUEST. 



Accumulation of Property. Venality of Employments., 



AND, ABOVE ALL : 



CONTEMPT OF THE PEOPLE. 



The billows of Time ftill roar over their enor- 

 mous wrecks, and feparate from them detached 

 planks, which they fcatter among modern Nations, 

 for their inftrudiion. Thofe ruins feem to addrefs 

 them thus : '* We are the remains of the ancient 

 " government of the Tufcans, of Dardanus, and 

 '* of the grand-children of Numitor. The States 

 *' which they have tranfmitted to their defcendants 

 " ftill fupport Nations of Mankind; but they no 

 '* longer have the fame languages, nor the fame 

 *' religions, nor the fame civil dynafties. Divine 

 " Providence, in order to five men from fhip- 

 *' wreck, has drowned the pilots, and dalhed the 

 *' (hips to pieces." 



We admire, on the contrary, in our frivolous 

 Sciences, their conquefls, their vaft and ufelefs 



buildings. 



