fions and declamations to this purpose, though a model of tafte and correctness.

But it would be eafy to prove, that these writers miftook the cause of the diforders in the Roman state, and afcribed to luxury and the arts, what really proceeded from an ill-modelled government, and the unlimited extent of conquefts.-Refinement on the pleasures and conveniencies of life has no natural tendency to beget venality and corruption.-The value, which all men put upon any particular pleasure, depends on comparison and experience; nor is a porter lefs greedy of money, which he spends on bacon and brandy, than a courtier who purchases champagne and ortolans.-Riches are valuable at all times, and to all men; because they always purchase pleafures, fuch as men are accustomed to, and defire: nor can any thing reftrain or regulate the love of money, but a fenfe of honour and honefty; which, if it be not nearly equal at all times, will naturally abound most in ages of knowledge and refinement.

The liberties of ENGLAND, fo far from decaying fince the improvements in the arts, have never flourished so much as during that period.—And though corruption may feem to increase of late years; this is chiefly to be ascribed to eur eftablished liberty, when our princes have found the impoffibility

peffibility of governing without parliaments, or of terrifying parliaments by the phantom of prerogative.-Not to mention, that this corruption or venality prevails much more among the electors than the elected; and therefore cannot justly be afcribed to any refinements in luxury.

If we confider the matter in a proper light, we fhall find, that a progress in the arts is rather favourable to liberty, and has a natural tendency to preferve, if not produce, a FREE GOVERNMENT. In rude unpolished nations, where the arts are neglected, all labour is bestowed on the cultivation of the ground; and the whole fociety is divided into two claffes, proprietors of land, and their vaffals or tenants.-The latter are neceffarily dependent, and fitted for flavery and subjection; efpecially where they poffefs no riches, and are not valued for their knowledge in agriculture; as must always be the cafe where the arts are neglected.-The former naturally erect themselves into petty tyrants; and must either submit to an abfolute master, for the fake of peace and order; or, if they will preferve their independency, like the ancient barons, they must fall into feuds and contests among themselves, and throw the whole fociety into fuch confufion, as is perhaps worfe than the molt defpotic

VOL. II.

Z

defpotic government.-But where luxury nourishes commerce and induftry, the peasants, by a proper cultivation of the land, become rich and independent; while the tradefmen and merchants acquire a fhare of the property, and draw authority and confideration to that middling rank of men, who are the best and firmest basis of public liberty.-These fubmit not to flavery, like the peasants, from poverty and meannefs of fpirit; and, having no hopes of tyrannizing over others, like the barons, they are not tempted, for the fake of that gratification, to fubmit to the tyranny of their fovereign.-They covet equal laws, which may fecure their property, and preserve them from mo▪ narchical, as well as ariftocratical tyranny.

UPON THE WHOLE IT APPEARS THEN, THE LABOURS OF AN INDUSTRIOUS AND INGENIOUS PEOPLE IN CIVILIZED COUNTRIES ARE VARIOUSLY, BUT INCESSANTLY EMPLOYED, IN THE SERVICE OF THE RICH. IN THEIR DRESS, THEIR TABLE, THEIR HOUSES, AND THEIR FURNITURE, THE FAVOURITES OF FORTUNE UNITE EVERY REFINEMENT OF CONVENIENCY, OF ELEGANCE, AND OF SPLENDOUR; WHATEVER CAN SOOTH THEIR PRIDE, OR GRATIFY THEIR SENSUALITY.-SUCH REFINEMENTS UNDER THE ODI

* HUME.

OUS

OUS NAME OF LUXURY, HAVE BEEN SEVERELY ARRAIGNED BY THE MORALISTS OF EVERY AGE; BUT IN THE PRESENT IMPERFECT CONDITION OF SOCIETY, LUXURY, THOUGH IT MAY PROCEED FROM VICE OR FOLLY AND OCCASION THEM, SEEMS TO BE THE ONLY LIKELY MEANS TO PROMOTE THE INDUSTRY OF OTHERS, AND CORRECT THE UNEQUAL* DISTRIBUTION OF PROPERTY.-THE DILIGENT meCHANIC, AND THE SKILFUL ARTIST, WHO HAVE OBTAINED NO SHARE IN THE DIVISION OF THE EARTH, RECEIVE A VOLUNTARY TAX FROM THE POSSESSORS OF GREAT ESTATES; AND THE LATTER ARE PROMPTED, BY A SENSE OF INTEREST, TO IM. PROVE THOSE LANDS, WITH WHOSE PRODUCE THEY MAY BE ENABLED TO PURCHASE ADDITIONAL PLEA◄

SURES.

SECT.

It muft, indeed, be confeffed, that nature is fo liberal to mankind, that were all her prefents equally divided among the fpecies, and improved by art and industry, every individual would enjoy all the neceffaries, and even most of the comforts of life; nor would ever be liable to any ills, but fuch as might accidentally arife from the fickly frame and conftitution of his body.It must be confeffed, wherever we depart from the EQUALITY, we rob the poor of more fatisfaction than we add to the rich, and that the flight gratification of a frivolous vanity, in ONE individual, frequently cofts more than bread to MANY FAMILIES, and EVEN PROVINCES.

But hiftorians, alas! and even common fenfe, may inform us, however fpecious

Z 2

SECT. XIII.

ON LIBERTY AS CONNECTED WITH TRADE.

THE arts and manufactures, trade and commerce, are infeparably connected with FREEDOM; they arife from IT; and they tend to produce IT.-Let any country regain its LIBERTY, and thefe return; let a country lofe its LIBERTY, and thefe gradually die away; let them flourish, and the country cannot eafily be subdued by a foreign power, nor enflaved by its own fovereign.— Artists, manufacturers, and merchants, are the life and foul of LIBER

fpecious these levelling ideas, they are really, at bottom, impracticable; and were they not fo, would be extremely pernicious to human fociety.

Render poffeffions ever fo equal, men's different degrees of art, care, and industry, will immediately break that equality.—Or if you check these virtues, you reduce fociety to the extremeft indigence; and instead of preventing want and beggary in a few, render it unavoidable to the whole community.—The most rigorous inquifition, too, is requifite to watch every inequality on its first appearance; and the most severe jurifdiction, to punish and redress it.-But befides, that fo much authority must foon degenerate into tyranny, and be exerted with great partialities; and who can poffibly be poffeffed of it in the favage ftate here fuppofed? HUME.(This by the bye, that the meaning of the last paragraph may not be misunderstood.)

TY;