*54 EXCURSION TO THE REALMS SELOW. 



very linking. But I there again perceive a very con- 

 siderable difference. The parental authority and go- 

 vernment la'fts only during the years of infancy, and 

 ceafes fo foon as the children can provide for them- 

 felves : but the plenipotentiary over the great children 

 will never allow that his plenipoteney terminates with 

 the epocha of their infancy: and how contrary to com- 

 mon fenfe it is to fuppofe, that an intelligent nation, 

 formed by the arts, enlightened by the fciences, and 

 wife by the experiences of a number of centuries, 

 fhould allow themfelves to be treated in their age of 

 maturity jufl as they were in their years of infancy. 

 Yet we fee that the aforefaid plenipotentiary does not 

 regard this abfurdity, but, on the contrary, makes the 

 yoke only fo much the heavier, the more caufe they 

 have to be perfuaded that the reafon and ftrength of 

 the fubjugated are become fufflciently powerful to caft 

 it oif. 



Xenop/j, What is jufl in this observation, does not 

 militate at all agairiff me. It is highly abfurd, no doubt, 

 to treat an informed and enlightened nation as if it 

 were frill in its infancy. But what do we call an en- 

 lightened nation ? The great multitude will never de- 

 ferve this appellation. The experience of all ages on 

 the genius and character of the people at large as well 

 in monarchies as in popular Hates, and principally in 

 the latter, incontrovertibly demonft rates, that the great 

 multitude ever remains in its infant condition, and are 

 ever in want of others to think for them and to take 

 care of their concerns. It is therefore true, and is con- 

 firmed by tlie general hillory of all mankind, that a 

 whole nation never attains to fo high a degree of reafon 



and 



