3^6 on the prosperity of states. ^ug' 29. 



covering, in nations of no refinement in science. 

 Honesty is not the virtue of savages, as captain Cook 

 hath iliewn us, bj his observations on the natives of 

 the South Sea islands ; nor indeed can there be any 

 honesty where the distinction o{ private property is 

 not known. Let no one, therefore, when he ob- 

 serves difsimulation, intemperance, and debauchery, 

 in highly civilized nations, conclude that these are 

 all the children of luxury and refinement; or believe 

 the descriptions of poets, who paint the manners of 

 rude nations free from every taint of crime. Let 

 us inquire how luxury, and what degree of it, tends 

 to destroy the consequence of nations and stp^tes. 



This can only be in ihe following ways : First, by 

 totally debasing the moral principle ; or second, by 

 destroying the health, and consequently the strength 

 and energy of men. 



There are two Vv ays in which luxury tends to do- 

 base the moral principle, first, by the means which 

 ricli and luxurious people enjoy, of corrupting the 

 moral principle, by presenting temptations to men 

 which overcome their power of resistance. And, se~ 

 condly, by t'.ie power which riches give a man of in- 

 dulging every desire and appetite. But the second of 

 these sources operates directly in destroying the 

 health, and therefore must be considered under that 

 clafs which we have before pointed out as tending to 

 destroy the energy of man. 



The tendency of wealth to corrupt man, by bribing 

 him into crimes ; is of the most alarming nature, and 

 threatens the ruin of kingdoms. Buc this is most 

 felt where wealth, or the means of luxury, is in few 

 hands ; and nations which are enriched hy con.^uesc 



