Voyage to madagascah, 157 



jpraife? The tapeftries, however, of the 

 Gobelins ; the carpets of Savonerie ; the rich 

 fluffs of Lyons; the fine cloth of Louviers ; 

 the fplendour and durability of our dyes ; 

 the exquifite tafte which charaderifes the 

 works of our artifts j the beautiful porcelaia 

 of Sevcs ; the large glafs-plates of St. Gobin, 

 and a multitude of other manufadlures 

 more or lefs important, fully prove, in my 

 opinion, that France is not totally deftitutc 

 of induftry. If we wifli to filence thofe 

 who fo unmercifully depreciate our arts, 

 let us alk them, what their progrefs would 

 be, were they free, and encouraged ; and 

 did not abfurd prejudices forbid, as one 

 may fay, thofe from applying to them, who 

 perhaps by their education are the beft 

 qualified for that purpofe ? 



An enlightened man never difdains or de- 

 fpifes but what is ufelefs or hurtful. He 

 refpeQs every profcffion which is beneficial 



to 



