1^6 VOYAGE TO MADAGASCAR. 



extend his undertaking, lie was obliged to 

 confine himfelf to machinerjr which grinds, 

 daily, about feven hundred bufiielsj Paris 

 meafure. 



It is only in the moment of diftrefs that 

 weak men are fenfible of the value of in- 

 duftry. At other times, the moft import- 

 ant objects are often facrificed to their fri- 

 volous taftes ; and nothing but ftcrn necef- 

 fity, as one may fay, can ever compel them 

 to pay attention to it. But why fhould 

 thefe men, who have, however, a great in- 

 fluence over public opinion, be fo fond of 

 praifing indiftin^ly, and without knowing 

 the caufe, every thing that comes from a 

 foreign country^ — and of difcouraging, by 

 their imprudent eulogies, thofe able artifts 

 who are capable of rivalling and coming in 

 competition with the artifts of other na* 

 tions ? Have we then no manufa^ures in 

 France, no kind of induflry worthy of 



praife f 



