SPANISH POLICY. 293 



and bigotted policy of Roman Catholicism, 

 sought, by dazzling the eyes and amusing 

 the senses of the Colombians, to restrain 

 thought, and divert reflection from dwelling 

 on their state of bondage. To this end, they 

 fixed innumerable feast-days, festivals, holi- 

 days, &c., and had ceremonies v^ithout end, 

 and diversions innumerable ; which encourag- 

 ed idleness, and prevented the oppressed 

 people from attending uninterruptedly to any 

 modes of business and employment which 

 tend to give solidity to the mind, and fixed- 

 ness to thought. But this was an overstrain- 

 ed, and, as the event proved, an unavailing 

 policy ; — the bow may be too slack, as well 

 as too tight. The present government, at 

 the same time that they have greatly dimi- 

 nished, and are still diminishing the number 

 of holidays, yet are unwilling to deprive the 

 people of harmless, and even useful recrea- 

 tion ; but have so contrived, that even their 

 festivals shall call to mind the great object 



