28 



to allure the eyes, and excite the malignity of the despot, 

 and his voracious and unfeeling creatures. We find the 

 Beys in Egypt perpetually squeezing the nianufacturere 

 and merchants. In the same manner, the arbitrary kings 

 of England, in the ruder ages, used to oppress and plun- 

 der the Jews. Thus, in Asia, domestic slavery, and despotic 

 rule, Avalk hand in hand. In a government like this, whose* 

 principle requires, that a particular regard be paid to its 

 tranquillity, and which, by the extreme of subordination, 

 calls for peace, it is necessary, above all things, that the 

 women should be confined, lest their intrigues should prove 

 fatal to their husbands. The effects of this seclusion of 

 the women, on the intercourse of society, and, in conse- 

 quence, on the fine arts, on manufactures, and commerce, 

 are very apparent. A government, which has not time to 

 examine minutely into the conduct of its subjects, views 

 them with a suspicious eye; merely because they appear, 

 and suffer themselves to be known. It will readily be con- 

 ceived, Avhat influence the peculiarly servile condition of 

 women must have, on music, poetry, and painting: arts, 

 which are adapted to please the fair sex; and derive much 

 of their powerful incentives and encouragement from their 

 favour. 



Such an arbitrary prince, as has been described, has so 

 many vices and imperfections, that he is afraid to expose 

 his natural stupidity to public view. He is concealed in his 



palace, 



* See Montesquien's Spirit of Laws, Vol. I. 



