52 



of Hungary, of whose inhabitants it is extremely jealous; 

 because the people anciently had formidable and extensive 

 rights, and a great liberty; and still have retained a fond 

 remembrance of them, and shewed a disposition to claim 

 and assert them. The nobles have vast possessions; and a 

 power, which, if they acted in unison, might prove fatal 

 to their connexion with Austria. It, therefore, has stu- 

 diously endeavoured at accomplishing the ruin and subjec- 

 tion of the Hungarian nobility; by attracting them to 

 court, and implicating them in heavy expenses. * Henry 

 the Third endeavoured to practise the same artifice, Avith 

 respect to the French nobility of his time; and to engage 

 them, by his example, in frivolous pursuits, and inordinate 

 pleasures. He fell the victim of his own artifice. His vi- 

 gour was relaxed, his understanding clouded; he sunk into 

 a premature debility, and impotence of mind and body; 

 while, at last, he pursued that from inclination, Avhich, at 

 first, he practised from policy. 



The spirit, which thus originates in the sovereign, and 

 those immediately about him, is diffused through the na- 

 tion; affects every individual with the poison of luxury, 

 and disposes the people to expense in clothes, equipages, 

 furniture, the pleasures of the table and amusements. 

 Hence, an imiversal patronage will be afforded to all the 

 arts, which minister to luxury and amusement; to various 

 manufactures, Avhich produce elegant superfluities, and 



flatter 



* See Hume's History of England, and Davila, Guerre Civili di Francia. 



