BOOK IIF. C H A P. I. .77 



of their being (e\'cept by miraculous iuterpoiition of the divine Provi- 

 dence) fo far refined as to think^ as well as adt like perjeU men. 



It has been laid, that the nature of their governments is unfa-, 

 vourable to genius, becaufe they tolerate -flavery ; but genius is 

 manifejh-d in the right frame of government : they have republics 

 omong them as well as monarchies, but neither have yet been known 

 produdtive of civility, of arts, or fcienccs. - I'heir geniijs (if it can 

 be fo called) confifts alone in trick and cunning,, e;rial^ling,Lhem, 

 like monkies and apes, to be thievifii and mifchievqus, with a pe- 

 culiar dexterity. They feem unable to combine ideas, or purlue 

 a chain of reafoning ; they have no mode of forniint^ calculations, 

 or of recording events to poflcrity, or of communicating thoughts 

 and obfcrvations by marks, charadlers, or delineation j or by tliat 

 method fo common to mofi: other countries in their rude and primi- 

 tive ages, by little poems or fongs : we find this pradice exilled 

 formerly among the ^Egyptians, Phoenicians, x^rabians, Mexicans, 

 and many others. The ancient inhabitants of Brazil, Peru, Vir- 

 ginia, St. Domingo, and Canada, preferred, in poems of this kind, 

 fuch events as they thought worthy of tiie knowledge of future 

 tinges, and fung them at their public feflivals and folemnities, Arith- 

 metick, aftronomy, geometry, and mecha'nicks, were, in other focie- 

 ties of menjamong the firft fciences to which they applied themfelves. 

 The origin of arts and foieaces in other. countries has te^n afcribed to 

 their uniting in focieties, inllead of leading: a gregarious life; their 

 neceiTities, the inftitution oi la'ws. and- government, and the leifure 

 vvjiicli thefe alTdrded for indulging in fuch refearches. It ma\' be 

 faid,' that the Negroes are not affeScd by this necefTity wlijch has 

 affeded other 'people > that thtip'Toii is wonderfully produdtive; 

 that their country abounds with food ; that the warmth of their 

 climate m'akcSicl'oathing fbperfiuous ; but no futh pretences re- 

 ftrained the South American'?^! and others living under the fame 

 parallel of climate, from cloathing themfelves. 



The art of making garments was invented in the mildeft climates, 

 where there was the lealt need of any covering for the body; necefhty 

 alone therefore could not be the caufe of mens cloathing tlienifclves. 



The Negroes live in focieties ; fome of their towns (as they are 



called) are even faid to be very extenfive ; and if a life ot idlensfs 



Vol. JI. C c c implies 



