^4 THE RURAL SOCRATES. 



** proved and eftablidied regulations, and retting them 

 '' an exemplary pattern. He will have no other pre- 

 '' rogative over the reft, but in work ; and it will only 

 *' be when he aims at mere commandj that they will 

 <■' fubmit to his authority with patience. Thus I have 

 '^ great caufe to truft in the goodnefs of Providence 

 *' that my poftcrity will long remain united and undif- 

 " turbed, without a thought of dividing their patrimo- 

 *' ny, or a temptation to embrace any other profef- 

 *' fion."* '' Ifubmit to the wifdom of your arguments, 



^' (concluded 



*This converfation wilfuncloubteilly appear tedious to many rea(!ers ; 

 but I apprehend, to psrfons of a benevolent tarn of mind it will be inrcreft- 

 log ; — Yet a rational alTent to what Kliyogg advances, is, perhaps, not (o 

 eafily obtaineci. We are apt to confider the expe<f\ation of Kliyogg as chi- 

 merical, and contrary to what experience teaches as to the nature of the 

 human heart, and the diverfity of difpofitions. It is not, however, impof- 

 lible to produce fa^s that as ftiongly corroborate the fyfteno of our riiral 

 philofopher, as the ordinary courfeof things feems to oppofe it. 



I (hall relate one which I had from an ecclefiaftic, refpeftable for his 

 age, manners, and information : He is related to the perfons of whom 

 he {peaks, and has vifited them frequently. I (hall tranfcribe,literalIy,froni 

 my common place-bonk, the account I received from him, above a year 

 before I knew chuc fuch a man as Kliyogg exifted, — There is a family in 

 Upper Provence, which is in poffcffion of authentic letters of NohleCe, 

 granted to one of their anceftors by Saint Louis, at the time that he was 

 in Egypt ; for having (astjjie patent certifier) faved the King and his ar- 

 ray, then in iintninent danger. This family lives in the mod obfcure kind 

 of mediocrity ; upon their own eftare, it is true ; but by cultivating it 

 with their own hands. They are independent, but enjoy no other advan- 

 tages above common peafants. The eldeft fon always fucceeds to the ef- 

 Eate ; and the younger branches, who leave the family feat when they 

 marryy are paid a thoufand French livers.. Their alliances are wiih fim- 

 ple peafants ; and though their common way of life is in the ruftic ftile, 

 they entertain their guefts nobly with wild fowl, pigeons, and game. 

 When they have been advifed to avail themfehcs of the advantages an- 

 nexed to a nobility, fj ancieut in its origin, and founded on fuchdiilin- 

 guilhed ferviccs; they anfwer, that they have always lived peaceably and 

 contentedly in li.jt laborious retirement, which is the extent of their wifhes : 

 and that the tu'iult fnfeparable from rank and riches, excited their dillike 

 lather than defire. Their happy abode is, in ieaii:y,the feat of peace and 

 innocence, of candor and purity of manners. What is Hill more extraordi- 

 nary, not one of the defccr.dants of this honorable lateil/ has ever devi- 

 ated from the way cf thinking of his anceftori, Thofe 



