22e 



ANTIENT METAPHYSICS. Book II. 



CHAP. XI. 



Obfervations to prove that the Egyptian form of government zuas moft 

 perfect. —-The Egyptian government had not the fault of the heroic 

 government Sy nor of the later governments in Greece, that of being 

 too popula''. — The confequence of a popular government is, giving 

 povoer to men vuho can neither give nor take good council. — The 

 government of Egypt had not another defcd of the heroic govern- 

 ments in Greece, viz. that it ivas not fit for the cultivation of arts 

 andfciences. — Leifure required for that, and a clafs of men fet 

 apart for that purpofe. — This the Priefls of Egypt had. — Jntient 

 learning never could have been reflored in Europe in the i^th and 

 \6th centuries, if men had not been fet apart for that purpofe. — Ob- 

 jeilion to the Egyptian government, that it nvas not a free govern- 

 ment, fuch as the heroic governments.— ^Anfvuer, that it vuas not a 

 popular government, and fo much the better for not being fuch ; — ■ 

 reafonfor this. — Objedion, that the people in Egypt vuere govern- 

 ed like flaves. — Avfwer, that they voere fo ivife, as tofubmit vuil- 

 lingly to the government eflablifloed among them, and not to obey 

 through fear or by compulfion. — This ivas the cafe of the Ca- 

 padocians of old, and the Peafants at prefent in Poland and Ruffia. 

 — The confequences of the People being taken from their private 

 bnjinefs to attend the Public, is their poverty. — Examples of this 

 in Athens and Rome.— They ivill defire to make profit of the Pu- 

 blic ; and that ivill produce fadion and corruption. — No Slaves in 

 Egypt.— That proved by the ftlence of antient Authors upon that 

 fubjed, and by the prefent pradice in India, —Sefofiris did not make 

 Slaves of his Captives, but employed them in public vorks. — Sla- 

 very^ an impolitical infiitntion, — not necejfary in Egypt, as it ivas 



in 



