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form to the dictates of reafon and vir- 

 tue : an inability which has been un- 

 juftly charged to a natural propenlity to 

 vice, but which is the fole production 

 of luxury, and unknown in a ftate of 

 nature. Luxury, however, in genera- 

 ting immorality, likewife promotes the 

 advancement of literature, which, by 

 a variety of means, tends to reprefs and 

 difcountenance vice. A ftate in this fi- 

 tuation, like a body corrupted by in- 

 temperance, requires to be fupported 

 by the continuation of corrupt means ; 

 and luxury in the rich promotes induftry 

 and arts, and feeds and cloaths the la- 

 bouring poor, who would otherwife 

 ftarve. Thus by an unnatural perver- 

 fion of things, the members of a cor- 

 rupt ftate derive advantage not only 

 from the follies, but vices of each other ; 

 and the fabulous fpeech and confeffion 

 of a dying malefactor prevents many 

 from ftarving. 



But 



