THE RURAL SOCRATES. 177 



heard it named, — Beiides, it fcems that we have rather 

 to inquire refpedling the community of property and 

 of interefis in inflitiuions of this kind, than after a mere 

 perfeverance in a retired life ; the latter bordering on 

 milery ; with which the former fcheme has no relation. 

 It is true, that Kiiyogg fecks to found an order of mo- 

 naftic hufbandmen^\ but nature would be. the bafis of it ; 

 without the aid of fanatic mortifications, or other vio- 

 lent means, which are always fcducing to warm and fu- 

 perftitious minds, ignorant of their real duties. In his 

 project, every thing is fimple, and confequently great ; 

 ** * but the projefi is at the fame time fmgular, and 

 perhaps not fuited to the conllitution of a large empire. 



The Afifwer of the French Tranflator to the Marquis ; 

 dated Bafie^ Jcmuary 4, 1763. 



* ^ ^ TJIE bookfellers who had the copy of the Ru- 

 ral Socrates, finding the firll edition nearly fold, propole 

 a new one ; and I wi(h to make fome additions by way 

 of Supplement. If you will allow me to include your 

 interefting letter, it v/ill be a valuable accellion to the 

 work.* * * 



* * * It feems that you itientibn only one point of 

 difagreement with Kiiyogg ; [namely rcfpe<£ting his ox- 

 en.] * ^ * Your plough-boy goes through two acres 

 each day v/ith a pair of horfes. But is the foil as labo- 

 rious a§ that of Kiiyogg ? Kiiyogg you know alfo tellii 

 •as, that four oxen coil lefs than two horfes ; includ- 

 ing the profit upon the carcafes of the . oxen when 

 flaughtercd ; with their cheaper keeping, and the quan- 

 tity and quality of their dung; advantages which are 

 not to be overbalanced by their flownefs. — i know that 



an 



* The original fays *' Cemhites Agrirulteurs** or cuhivators llvirg /« 

 common. M )nk8 are properly peifons living u?:married in retirement. — 

 The wiifer however had in view, perfons who lead a family life, but rrix 

 in a feleft fociety of their own rf!Jarions, 



V 



