33 



ter. The most complicated political insti- 

 tutions recorded in the history of mankind 

 had crushed the germe of personal liberty, 

 and the founder of the empire of Couzco, 

 in flattering himself with the power of 

 forcing men to be happy, reduced them to 

 the state of mere machines. The Peruvian 

 theocracy was, no doubt, less oppressive 

 than the government of the Mexican kings; 

 yet both contributed to give the monu- 

 ments, the rites, and the mythology of the 

 two nations, that dark and melancholy 

 aspect, which forms a striking contrast with 

 the elegant arts and soothing fictions of the 

 people of Greece. 



Paris, April the \1th f 1813. 



VOL. XIII. 



