224 NATURAL AND CIVIL 



would have led d people in such a situation, tQ 

 any improvements, until necessity should have 

 introduced agriculture ; and forced them to be- 

 come husbandmen, instead of remaining hun^ 

 ters. 



Such were the disadvantages attending the 

 savage state. They appear to have been in- 

 separably connected with it : And of such a 

 nature, as to prevent the improvement, progress, 

 or increase of society. We need not hesitate 

 to pronounce, that these disadvantages far ex- 

 ceeded any advantages that could attend it ; 

 and operated with a certain and fj^tal tendency, 

 to continue man in a state of infancy, weakness, 

 and the greatest imperfection. The freedom to 

 "which it led, was its greatest blessing ; but the 

 independence of which the savage was so fond, was 

 never designed for man : And it is only in the 

 improvements of civil society, that the human 

 race can find the greatest increase of their num= 

 berg, knowledge, safety, and happiness. 



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