A N D D E A T H. 481 



Befides, the varieties of climate, and ct the 

 modes of Hving, make no difference as to the 

 period of our exiftencc, which is the fame in the 

 European, the Negro, the Chinefe, the Ameri- 

 can, the civiHzed man and the favage, the rich 

 and the poor, the citizen and the peafant. Nei- 

 ther does the difference of races, of food, or of 

 accommodation, make any change on the dura- 

 tion of Hfe. Men who feed upon raw flefh or 

 dried fifli, on (iigo or rice, on caffada or roots, 

 live as long as thofe who arc nourifhed with 

 bread and prepared viduals. It is apparent, 

 therefore, that tlie duration of life has no de- 

 pendence either on manners or cuftoms, or the 

 qualities of particular food ; If luxury and in- 

 temperance be excepted, nothing can alter thofc 

 laws of mechanifin which regulate the number 

 of our years. 



Any little differences which may be remarked 

 in the term of human life feem to be owing to 

 the quality of the air. There are generally 

 more old men in high than in low countries. 

 The mountains of Scotland, of Wales, of Au- 

 vergne, and of Switzerland, have furnilhed 

 more examples of extreme old age than tlie 

 plains of Holland, Flanders, Germany, or Po- 

 land. But, taking mankind in general, tlierc 

 is hardly any difference in the duration of life. 

 When men ar(^ not cut off by accidental difcafos, 

 they every where live 90 or ico years. Our 

 anceftors never exceeded this pciiod j and, llncc 



Vol. II. H h the 



