Imágenes de página
PDF
ePub
[ocr errors]

rally all the vivacity arifing from a temperate clime and bountiful foil *. Hence the profound ignorance of that people, while other European nations are daily improving in every art and in every fcience. Human nature is reduced to its lowest state, when governed by fuperftition clothed with power.

We proceed to another capital article in the history of manners, viz. the selfish and focial branches of our nature, by which manners are greatly influenced. Selfishnefs prevails among favages; because corporeal pleafures are its chief objects, and of these every savage is perfectly fenfible, Benevolence and kindly affection are too refined for a favage, unlefs of the simplest kind, fuch as the ties of blood. While artificial wants were unkown, selfishness made no figure the means of gratifying the calls of nature were in plenty; and men who are not afraid of ever being in want, never think of providing against it;

* The populace of Spain, too low game for the inquifition, are abundantly chearful, perhaps more fo than thofe of France. And I am credibly informed, that the Spanish women are perpetually dancing, finging, laughing, or talking.

and

66

and far lefs do they think of coveting what belongs to another. The Caribbeans, who know no wants but what nature infpires, are amazed at the industry of the Europeans in amaffing wealth. Liften to one of them expoftulating with a Frenchman in the following terms: How mi"ferable art thou, to expofe thy perfon to tedious and dangerous voyages, and "to fuffer thyfelf to be oppreffed with anxiety about futurity! An inordinate appetite for wealth is thy bane; and yet thou art no less tormented in preferving the goods thou haft acquired, "than in acquiring more: fear of robbery or fhipwreck fuffers thee not to enjoy a quiet moment.

66

[ocr errors]

66

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

Thus thou groweft old in thy youth, thy hair turns gray, thy forehead is wrinkled, a thou"fand ailments afflict thy body, a thou"fand diftreffes furround thy heart, and "thou moveft with painful hurry to the

6C

grave. Why art thou not content with "what thy own country produceth?

66

Why not contemn fuperfluities, as we "do?" But men are not long contented with fimple neceffaries: an unwearied appetite to be more and more comfortably provided,

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

provided, leads them from neceffaries to conveniencies, and from these to every fort of luxury. Avarice turns headftrong; and locks and bars, formerly unknown, become neceffary to protect individuals from the rapacity of their neighbours. When the goods of fortune, money in particular, come to be prized, selfishness foon difplays itself. In Madagafcar, a man who makes a prefent of an ox or a calf, expects the value in return: and scruples not to say, "You my friend, I your friend; you no my friend, I no your friend; I falamanca you, you salamanca me (a).” Admiral Watson being introduced to the King of Baba, in Madagascar, was asked by his Majesty, what presents he had brought. Hencé the custom, univerfal among barbarians, of always accofting a king, or any man of high rank, with presents. Sir John Chardin fays, that this cuftom goes through all Afia. It is reckoned an honour to receive presents: they are received in public; and a time is chofen when the croud is greatest. It is a maxim too refined for the potentates of Asia, that there is more

(a) Salamanca means, the making a prefent.

honour

honour in bestowing than in receiving. The peculiar excellence of man above all other animals, is the capacity he has of improving by education and example. In proportion as his faculties refine, he acquires a relish for fociety; and finds a pleasure in benevolence, generofity, and in every other kindly affection, far above what selfishnefs can afford. How agreeable is this fcene! Alas, too agreeable to laft for ever. Opulence and luxury inflame the hording appetite; and selfishness at last prevails as it did originally. The selfishness however of favages differs from that of pampered people. Luxury, confining a man's whole views to himself, admits not of friendship, and fcarce of any other focial paffion. But where a favage takes a liking to a particular perfon, the whole force of his focial affection being directed to a fingle object, becomes extremely fervid. Hence the unexampled

friendship between Achilles and Patroclus in the Iliad ; and hence many fuch friendfhips among favages,

But there is much more to be faid of the influence of opulence on manners. Rude and illiterate nations are tenacious

of

of their laws and manners; for they are governed by custom, which is more and more rivetted by length of time. A people, on the contrary, who are polifhed by having paffed through various scenes, are full of invention, and conftantly thinking of new modes. Manners in particular can never be stationary in a nation refined by profperity and the arts of peace. Good government will advance men to a high degree of civilization; but the very best government will not preferve them from corruption, after becoming rich by profperity. Opulence begets luxury, and envigorates the appetite for fenfual pleasure. The appetite, when inflamed, is never confined within moderate bounds, but clings to every object of gratification, without regard to propriety or decency. When Septimius Severus was elected Emperor, he found on the roll of caufes depending before the judges in Rome no fewer than three thousand accufations of adultery. From that moment he abandoned all thoughts of a reformation. Love of pleafure is fimilar to love of money: the more it is indulged the more it is inflamed. Polygamy is an incentive to the

« AnteriorContinuar »