This frength of the fibres in northern nations is the caufe that the coarfer juices are extracted from their aliments.-From hence two things refult: one, that the parts of the chyle or lymph are more proper by reafon of their large surface, to be applied to, and to nourish, the fibres: the other, that they are lefs proper, from their coarseness, to give a certain fubtilty to the nervous juice.-Thofe people have therefore large bodies and but little vivacity.

The nerves that terminate from all parts in the cutis form each a nervous bundle; generally speaking, the whole nerve is not moved, but a very minute part.-In warm climates, where the cutis is relaxed, the ends of the nerves are expanded and laid open to the weakest action of the smallest objects.—In cold countries the cutis is conftringed and the papillæ compreffed; the miliary glands are in fome measure paralytic; and the fenfation does not reach the brain, but when it is very strong and proceeds from the whole nerve at once. Now imagination, tafte, fenfibility, and vivacity, depend on an infinite number of fmall fenfations.

In cold countries, they have very little fenfibility for pleasure; in temperate countries, they have more; in warm countries, their fenfibility is exquifite.-As cli

mates

mates are distinguished by degrees of latitude, we might diftinguish them also in fome measure, by those of senfibility. I have been at the opera in ENGLAND and in ITALY; where I have seen the fame pieces and the fame performers: and yet the fame music produces fuch different effects on the two nations; one is fo cold and phlegmatic, and the other fo lively and enraptured, that it seems almost inconceivable.

It is the fame with regard to pain; which is excited by the laceration of fome fibre of the body.-The author of nature has made it an established rule that this pain fhould be more acute in proportion as the laceration is greater now it is evident, that the large bodies and coarse fibres of the people of the north, are lefs capable of laceration than the delicate fibres of the inhabitants of warm countries; confequently the foul is there lefs fenfible of pain.-You must flay a Muscovite alive to make him feel.

From this delicacy of organs peculiar to warm climates, it follows that the foul is moft fenfibly moved by whatever relates to the union of the two fexes: here every thing leads to this object.

In northern climates fcarce has the animal part of love a power of making itfelf felt.-In temperate climates,

love, attended by a thousand appendages, endeavours to please by things that have at first the appearance, though not the reality of this paffion.-In warmer climates it is liked for its own fake, it is the only cause of happiness, it is life itself

In fouthern countries a machine of a delicate frame, but ftrong fenfibility, resigns itself wholly to a paffion that is inceffantly flattered in a feraglio; or gives way to the love of women who are in perfect independence, and is confequently exposed to a thousand inquietudes.In northern regions the men, robust and heavy, find a pleasure in whatever is apt to throw the spirits into motion, such as hunting, travelling, war, and wine.—If we travel towards the north, we meet with people who have few vices, many virtues, and a great share of frankness and fincerity.—If we draw near the fouth, we fancy ourselves intirely removed from the verge of morality: here the strongest paffions are productive of all manner of crimes, each man endeavouring, let the means be what they will, to indulge his inordinate defires.-In temperate climates we find the inhabitants inconstant in their manners, as well as in their vices and virtues: the climate has not a quality determinate enough to fix them.

THE

THE HEAT OF THE CLIMATE MAY BE SO EXCESSIVE AS TO DEPRIVE THE BODY OF ALL VIGOR AND STRENGTH. THEN THE FAINTNESS IS COMMUNICATED TO THE MIND; THERE IS NO CURIOSITY, NO ENTERPRIZE, NO GENEROSITY OF SENTIMENT; THE INCLINATIONS ARE ALL PASSIVE; INDOLENCE CONSTITUTES THE UTMOST HAPPINESS; SCARCELY ANY PUNISHMENT IS SO SEVERE AS MENTAL EM

PLOYMENT; AND SLAVERY IS MORE SUPPORTABLE THAN THE FORCE AND VIGOR OF MIND NECESSARY FOR HUMAN CONDUCT.

The INDIANS are naturally a pufillanimous people ; even the children of Europeans born in India lose the courage peculiar to their own climate.-But how shall we reconcile this with their cuftoms, and penances fo full of barbarity? the men voluntarily undergo the greatest hardships; and the women burn themselves: here we find a very odd compound of fortitude and weakness.

Nature having framed thofe people of a texture fo weak as to fill them with timidity, has formed them at the fame time of an imagination fo lively, that every object makes the strongest impression upon them.—THAT

DELICACY OF ORGANS WHICH RENDERS THEM APPREHENSIVE OF DEATH, CONTRIBUTES LIKEWISE TO MAKE

N 2

MAKE THEM DREAD A THOUSAND THINGS MORE THAN DEATH: THE VERY SAME SENSIBILITY INDUCES THEM TO FLY, AND DARE, ALL DANGERS.

In ASIA the ftrong nations are opposed to the weak; the warlike, brave, and active people touch immediately on those who are indolent, effeminate, and timorous; the one must therefore conquer, and the other be conquered.-In EUROPE, on the contrary, ftrong nations are opposed to the ftrong; and those who join to each other have nearly the fame courage.—This is the grand reafon of the weaknefs of ASIA, and of the firength of EUROPE: of the lberty of EUROPE and of the flavery of ASIA.-From hence it proceeds, that liberty in ASIA never increases; whilft in EUROPE it is enlarged, or diminished, according to particular circumftances.

SECT.