579 



ing them less, that is by not shackling every in- 

 stant their natural liberty, the missionaries 

 would see the sphere of their activity, which 

 ought to be that of civilization, rapidly increase. 

 Monastic establishments have diffused in the 

 equinoxial part of the New World, as in the 

 north of Europe, the first germes of social life. 

 They still form a vast zone around the European 

 possessions; and, whatever abuses may have 

 crept into institutions, where all power is con- 

 founded in one, they would be with difficulty 

 replaced by others, which, without producing 

 more serious inconveniences, would be as little 

 chargeable, and as well adapted to the silent 

 phlegm of the natives. I shall recur again to 

 these settlements, the political importance of 

 which is not sufficiently understood in Europe. 

 It will be sufficient here to observe, that expe- 

 ditions of discovery accompanied by an armed 

 force would be useless, were the government 

 and the bishops to employ themselves seriously 

 in the melioration of the missions. The Chris- 

 tian settlements the most distant from the coast 

 are at present the most neglected. The poor 

 monks are left in absolute want. Occupied in 

 acquiring subsistence, making unceasing efforts 

 to be placed in some mission less remote from 

 civilization, that is from white and rational peo- 

 ple% they are little tempted to go forward. 



* See above, p. 269. 



2p 2 



