( 4* ) 



fades ceafed all that violence of war which 

 had for fo long depopulated the weftern parts 

 of the world. Since that time, the arts of 

 peace have gradually prevailed, the horrors of 

 war have been mitigated, battles have been 

 reduced, comparatively^ to fkirmifhes, and 

 learning and the arts have increafed to a de- 

 gree unknown fince the foundation of the 

 world. 



By what means, therefore, fliall we folve 

 this paradox, that, while different nations- 

 waged perpetual war with each other, man- 

 kind were not thinned, and now, when they y 

 comparatively, live at peace, their numbers 

 are not increafed. Nay, to add to our fur- 

 prife, in this refped:, we muft take into our 

 account the much greater frequency of plagues 

 and famines in former times than now. To 

 what fecret caufe, then y are we to afcribe this 

 hidden and invifible definition of our fpecies, 

 which, amidft the appearances of peace and 

 plenty y proves an equivalent to all the rava- 

 ges of war, famine, and peftilence! Nay,, 

 which a^hially feems in a great meafure fuf- 

 pended during our modern wars, as the Jofs 

 of men by them is fcarcely felt more than in 

 lime of peace ? 



The 



