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this automatic nation ; furrounded by hordes of banditti, their 

 wifli was uniformly to preferve the methodical regularity of peace. 

 It will be allowed that it was no eafy taflc to make their cir- 

 cumflances and their tafte agree 5 yet they have quietly gained 

 their point, and they have lived the fame life for thoufands of 

 years. Their ' dynafties have changed, but the*nation has re- 

 mained the fame. 



The exiftence of their empire is the beft proof of its policy, 

 and the beft argument to demonftrate that art and fcience, if we 

 take time into the account, are able to conquer force and num- 

 bers — if we take time into the account; for many of the miftakes 

 in our reafonings, and in the conclufions that we draw from ex- 

 periments, in moral as well as in natural philofophy, have arifcn 

 from our omitting time in our calculations. 



It was the policy of the Romans, which fecured to them the 

 dominion of all the countries which they conquered, to eftablifh 

 wherever they went methods of communication and fwift in- 

 telligence. Their laborious roads, their forts, their military obfer- 

 vatories, are all proofs of their confummate fkill in the arts of 

 government and of war. It is not neceffary to expatiate upon 

 fads with which every perfon of literature is acquainted. The 

 remains of thefe public works may eafily be traced. Amongft 

 many others the lofty towers which are to be feen at Uzes, Bel- 

 legarde, Aries, and an antient building called " The Tourmagne" at 



O z Nifmes. 



