XIV PREFACE. 



tivated, exposes the natives to pass their lives iit 

 the severest drudgery, and, after all, makes the 

 digging of metal from the mine httle more than 

 drawing water in a sieve; since, in such countries, 

 riches disappear almost as soon as they are revealed. 

 Industry alone, in the old world, and in the new, has 

 the power of acquiring and preserving wealth, and 

 this too without the trouble of mining. Besides, 

 though not insisted upon, it will be evidently seen, 

 that severity in government, and superstition in re- 

 ligion, subvert both liberty and morals, and are con- 

 sequently in all respects destructive of the happiness 

 of mankind. 



The account given by our authors, of the missions 

 which the Jesuits have established in Paraguay, is 

 as interesting as it is entertaining ; and may be very 

 justly considered as one of the most curious and 

 best written parts of the whole performance; since, 

 at the same time that it breathes all the deference 

 and respect possible for the fathers, it informs us of 

 a great variety of facts of so much the more conse- 

 quence, as, at the time it was written, nobody could 

 foresee that the courts of Madrid and Lisbon would 

 make so thorough a change as they have done in 

 their sentiments in regard to this order; and there- 

 fore the informations these gentlemen give us, are 

 the more to be relied on. They shew us in what 

 manner, and under what specious pretences, the 

 Jesuits acquired a kind of independent possession 

 of so large a tract of country, and, except their 

 annual tribute, an almost absolute dominion over an 

 immense number of people. They acquaint us, 

 that there is a civil government in every village,after 

 the model of the Spanish towns; 'but the magis- 

 trates are chosen by the people, subject only to the 

 approbation of the father Jesuit, who resides in, 



and, 



