AND LOWER EGYPT. 8l 



owed to the institution of the knights of Malta, 

 and, in this political view, she had an interest in 

 maintaining it. 



But if politics be the philosophy of governments, 

 philosophy is, in its turn, the politics of humanity, 

 and she took pleasure in contemplating with a 

 lively interest, in this same institution, formed of 

 Various elements, the germ of concord among na- 

 tions. In truth, an association of men of almost all 

 the nations of Europe, selected, in general, from 

 amonjr those whom a liberal education rendered 

 susceptible of the honourable impressions of the 

 soul, and of just reasoning; constrained to live in 

 an island, where they were secluded from all so- 

 ciety but that of their companions, and from ail 

 pleasures but those which they enjoyed in com- 

 mon ; habituated to the same exercises, subjected 

 to the same regulations, to the same regimen ; such 

 an association, I say, was exceedingly well adapted 

 for softening down the disparates existing between 

 nation and nation, and for melting away the harsh 

 shades of their character. And when it is con- 

 sidered that the greatest part of these same men, 

 on returning to their several focuses, were destined 

 to the exercise of important employments, fre- 

 quently to fill great political stations ; when they 

 were all viewed as members of the families styled 

 illustrious and puisscmt t there is no possibility of 



vol. i. g doubting 



