1792. on the injluence of taste. 227 



among the richer and higher ranks of men in Greece 

 and Italy, that mankind were indebted for any relax-* 

 ation.of that Ihocking and barbarous disparity which 

 took'place among their feudal and military instituti- 

 dns, where the prince and the soldier were every 

 thing, and the people nothing. 



It was to the same existing causes, encreased by 

 tlie intervention of the printing prefsand the engra- 

 ver, that France, under a similar government, from 

 the reign of Henry 11. to the death of Lewis XXV." 

 enjoyed the small degree of happinefs that fell' 

 to its fliare, during those times of trouble, or of 

 monarchical vanity and ambition ; and to the same 

 causes France and the world is indebted for the pre- 

 eminence that good sense has obtained over the en- 

 slaving maxims of an all-grasping church or turbu- 

 lent nobility. 



By this very taste, or power, or sentiment, opera- 

 ting extensively through the channels of literature, 

 mankind are now satisficid that tlie happinefs of tlie 

 people ought to be the supreme law, a:id the rul2 

 of all government, as well as its final object ia its ad- 

 ministration. 



I know very well that the extensive difricmination 

 of taste and sentiment among the lower ranks of 

 men, is scouted by the great and opulent ; and by 

 a motistrous delusion is not approved of by some, 

 who, in the odour of diabolical antiquarianism, a- 

 dore the rust of chains that are ancient, and are care- 

 lefs of those things that are of unifersal utility, and 

 general concern, and competent to all men. 



But a light has begun now to fliinc- out of darliuefs, 

 liich, though it makes the eyes of the darkling to 



