STUDY Ir 11^ 



new Climate exhibited to their view, and the trials 

 which they made of them, as the means of fubfift- 

 ence; how they were aided, no doubt, in their 

 necefTitous circumftances, and in their induftry, 

 by fonie celeftial Intelligence, who commiferated 

 their diftrefs; how they gradually formed an efta- 

 blifhment; what was the origin of their laws, of 

 their cuftoms, and of their religions. 



What afts of virtue, what inftances of generous 

 love have ennobled the deferts, and are unknown 

 to our pride ! We flatter ourfelves, that we have 

 got a clear infight into the Hifhory of foreign Na- 

 tions, becaufe we have collefled a few anecdotes, 

 picked up at random by travellers. But this is 

 much the fame, as if they were to compofe ours 

 from the tales of a mariner, or the artificial repre- 

 fentations of a courtier, amidft the jealoufies of 

 war, or the corruptions of commerce. The know- 

 ledge and the fentiments of a Nation, are not de- 

 pofited in books. They repofe in the heads, and 

 in the hearts, of it's fages ; if there be on Earth 

 fuch a thing as a fecuie afylum for Truth. We 

 have already employed ourfelves fufficiently in paf- 

 fing judgment on them ; it would be of more im- 

 portance for us, to fubmit to be judged by them, 

 in our turn, and to profit by their expreffions of 

 aftonifhment, at fight of our Cuftoms, of our 

 Sciences, and of our Arts. 



I 2 If 



