380 STUDIES OF NATURE. 



I have hazarded fundry conjedures, in the vie^ 

 of furnifliing to the People abundant means of 

 fubfiftence and of population, and of re-animating 

 in them the fpirit of Reiigion and of Patriotifm, 

 by prefenting them with certain perfpeftives of in- 

 finity, without which the fehcity of a Nation, like 

 that of an individual, is negative, and quickly ex- 

 haufted, were we to form plans, in other refpedis, 

 the mod advantageous, of finance, of commerce, 

 and of agriculture. Provilion muft be made, at 

 once, for Man, as an animal, and as an intelligent 

 being. I have terminated thofe différent projeéls, 

 by prefenting the fketch of a National Education, 

 without which it is impoffible to have any fpecies 

 of Legillation, or of Patriotifm, that fliall be of 

 long duration. 1 have endeavoured to unfold in 

 it, at once, the two powers, phyfical and intellec- 

 tual, of Man, and to dired them toward the love 

 of Country and Religion. 



I muft, no doubt, have frequently gone aftray 

 in purfuing paths fo new, and fo intricate. I muft 

 have, many a time, funk far below my fubjed, 

 from the conftruclion of my plans, from my inex- 

 perience, from the very embarraffment of my ftyle; 

 but, I repeat it, provided my ideas Oiall fuggeft 

 fuperior conceptions to others, I am well fatisficd. 

 At the fame time, if calamity be the road to Truth, 



I have 



