VOYAGE TO MADAGASCAR. IJ 



t)e preferved from catching that frivolous 

 turn of mind which ia fo deflrudive to 

 fociety in Europe j and efpeclally in Fmnce* 

 Care ought to be taken, above all, that they 

 fliould not carry to their iflaod the feeds of 

 this pernicious fcourge, which checks every 

 kind of ufeful induftryi and difFnfes inex- 

 preffible evils throughout whole nations. It 

 is in large capitals, particularly, that this 

 fcourge is felt. Millions of people periili m 

 the country through wretched nefs and hard 

 labour, while the rich affix a vahie only to 

 agreeable talents, and arts of luxury. That 

 exceffive fondnefs which the great fhew for 

 things of no ufe, and which are often very 

 pernicious, is fo common, that it makes 

 very little impreffion upon us. What then 

 do the Europeans poffefs of fuch value, that 

 they take the liberty to defpife all the reft of 

 mankind I If we confider our manners and 

 our laws, we fliall find that we have as yet 

 C fcarcely 



