HISTORY OF MEXICO. 



369 



fciences as the Mexicans taught their children the cuf- 

 toms of their nation. The Greeks endeavoured to in- 

 form the mind, the Mexicans to form the heart. The 

 Athenians proftituted their youth to the mod execrable 

 obfeenities in thofe very fchools which were deftined for 

 their inftru&ion in the arts. The Lacedaemonians tutor- 

 ed their children according to the prefcriptions of Lycur- 

 gus, in dealing, in order to make them crafty and a&ive, 

 and whipped them feverely when they caught them in 

 any theft ; not for the theft, but for their want of dex- 

 terity, and being detected. But the Mexicans taught 

 their children, together with the arts, religion, modefty, 

 honefty, fobriety, labour, love of truth, and refpect to 

 fuperiors. 



Thus we have given a fliort but true picture of the 

 progrefs in refinement of the Mexicans taken from their 

 ancient hiftory ; from their paintings, and the accounts 

 of the mod correct Spanifli hiftorians. Thus were thofe 

 people governed whom M. de Paw thinks the mod favage 

 in the world. Thus were thofe people governed who 

 are inferior in induftry and fagacity to the rudeft people 

 of the old continent. Thus were thofe people governed 

 of whofe rationality fome Europeans have doubted. 



Vol. III. 



CATALOGUE. 



