SECT. XVIII.

THE EFFECTS OF DESPOTISM ON THE NATIONAL CHARACTER.

IN DESPOTIC STATES learning proves dangerous, emulation fatal; and as to virtue, Ariftotle cannot think there is any one virtue belonging to flaves; if fo, education in defpotic countries is confined within a narrow compass.

·Exceffive obedience fuppofes ignorance in the person that obeys: for he has no occafion to deliberate, to doubt, to reafon; he has only to will.

Here therefore education is in fome measure needlefs: to give fomething, one must take away every thing; and be gin with making a bad fubject, in order to make a good flave.

FOR WHY SHOULD EDUCATION TAKE PAINS IN FORMING A GOOD CITIZEN, ONLY TO MAKE HIM SHARE IN THE PUBLIC MISERY?-IF HE LOVES HIS COUNTRY, HE WILL STRIVE TO RELAX THE SPRINCE OF GOVERNMENT; IF HE MISCARRIES HE WILL BE UNDONE; IF HE SUCCEEDS, HE MUST EXPOSE HIMSELF, THE PRINCE, AND HIS COUNTRY, TO RUIN.

SECT. XIX.

THE EFFECTS OF A REPUBLIC ON THE NATIONAL

CHARACTER.

MOST of the ancients lived under governments that had virtue for their principle; and when this was in full vigour, they performed actions unusual in our times, and at which our narrow minds are aftonished.

It is in a republican government that the whole power of education is required.-It must inspire us with the ove of the laws and of our country.-And as fuch love requires a conftant preference of public to private interest, it demands a species of self-renunciation, which is ever arduous and painful.

Every thing depends on establishing this love in a republic; and to infpire it ought to be the principal businefs of education: but the fureft way of inftilling it into children, is for parents to set them an example.

People have it generally in their power to communicate their ideas to their children; but they are still better able to transfufe their paffions.

Virtue in a republic is a moft fimple thing; it is a love of the republic; it is a fenfation, and not a confequence of acquired knowledge: a fenfation, that may be felt by the meanest as well as by the highest person in the ftate.--When the common people adopt good maxims, they generally adhere to them with great fteadiness.

The love of our country is conducive to purity of morals, and the latter is again conducive to the former.-The less we are able to satisfy our private paffions, the more we abandon ourselves to thofe of a general nature.

SECT,

SECT. XX.

THE EFFECTS OF CLIMATE ON THE NATIONAL CHARACTER.

A cold air conftringes the extremities of the external fibres of the body; this increases their elasticity, and favours the return of the blood from the extreme parts to the heart. It contracts thofe very fibres; confequently it increases also their force.-On the contrary a warm air relaxes and lengthens the extremes of the fibres; of course it diminishes their force and elasticity.

People are therefore more vigorous in cold climates.— Here the action of the heart and the reaction of the extremities of the fibres are better performed, the temperature of the humours is greater, the blood moves freer towards the heart, and reciprocally the heart has more power. This fuperiority of firength must produce

various effects; for instance, a greater boldness, that is,

a This appears even in the countenance: in cold weather people look thinner.

We know it shortens iron.

more

more courage; a greater fenfe of fuperiority, that is, lefs defire of revenge; a greater opinion of fecurity, that is, more frankness, lefs suspicion, policy, and cunning.In short, this must be productive of very different tempers.-PUT A MAN INTO A CLOSE WARM PLACE, AND FOR THE REASONS ABOVE GIVEN HE WILL FEEL A GREAT FAINTNESS. IF UNDER THIS CIRCUMSTANCE YOU PROPOSE A BOLD ENTERPRIZE TO HIM, I BE LIEVE YOU WILL FIND HIM VERY LITTLE DISPOSED `TOWARDS IT: HIS PRESENT WEAKNESS WILL THROW HIM INTO A DESPONDENCY; HE WILL BE AFRAID OF EVERY THING, BEING IN A STATE OF TOTAL INCAPACITY.-The inhabitants of warm countries are, like old men, timorous; the people in cold countries are, like young men, brave.—If we reflect on the late wars*, which are more recent in our memory, and in which we can better diftinguish some particular effects that escape us at a greater diftance of time; we fhall find that the northern people tranfplanted into fouthern regions, did not perform fuch exploits as their countrymen, who, fighting in their own climate, poffeffed their full vigour and courage.

a Thofe for the fucceffion to the Spanish monarchy.

For instance in Spain.