we expect； that a government will be well modelled by a people；
who know not how to make a spinning…wheel； or to employ a loom to
advantage？ Not to mention； that all ignorant ages are infested
with superstition； which throws the government off its bias； and
disturbs men in the pursuit of their interest and happiness。
Knowledge in the arts of government naturally begets mildness
and moderation； by instructing men in the advantages of humane
maxims above rigour and severity； which drive subjects into
rebellion； and make the return to submission impracticable； by
cutting off all hopes of pardon。 When the tempers of men are
softened as well as their knowledge improved； this humanity
appears still more conspicuous； and is the chief characteristic
which distinguishes a civilized age from times of barbarity and
ignorance。 Factions are then less inveterate； revolutions less
tragical； authority less severe； and seditions less frequent。
Even foreign wars abate of their cruelty； and after the field of
battle； where honour and interest steel men against compassion as
well as fear； the combatants divest themselves of the brute； and
resume the man。
Nor need we fear； that men； by losing their ferocity； will
lose their martial spirit； or become less undaunted and vigorous
in defence of their country or their liberty。 The arts have no
such effect in enervating either the mind or body。 On the
contrary； industry； their inseparable attendant； adds new force
to both。 And if anger； which is said to be the whetstone of
courage； loses somewhat of its asperity； by politeness and
refinement； a sense of honour； which is a stronger； more
constant； and more governable principle； acquires fresh vigour by
that elevation of genius which arises from knowledge and a good
education。 Add to this； that courage can neither have any
duration； nor be of any use； when not accompanied with discipline
and martial skill； which are seldom found among a barbarous
people。 The ancients remarked； that DATAMES was the only
barbarian that ever knew the art of war。 And PYRRHUS； seeing the
ROMANS marshal their army with some art and skill； said with
surprize； These barbarians have nothing barbarous in their
discipline！ It is observable； that； as the old ROMANS； by
applying themselves solely to war； were almost the only
uncivilized people that ever possessed military discipline； so
the modern ITALIANS are the only civilized people； among
EUROPEANS； that ever wanted courage and a martial spirit。 Those
who would ascribe this effeminacy of the ITALIANS to their
luxury； or politeness； or application to the arts； need but
consider the FRENCH and ENGLISH； whose bravery is as
uncontestable； as their love for the arts； and their assiduity in
commerce。 The ITALIAN historians give us a more satisfactory
reason for this degeneracy of their countrymen。 They shew us how
the sword was dropped at once by all the ITALIAN sovereigns；
while the VENETIAN aristocracy was jealous of its subjects； the
FLORENTINE democracy applied itself entirely to commerce； ROME
was governed by priests； and NAPLES by women。 War then became the
business of soldiers of fortune； who spared one another； and to
the astonishment of the world； could engage a whole day in what
they called a battle； and return at night to their camp； without
the least bloodshed。
What has chiefly induced severe moralists to declaim against
refinement in the arts； is the example of ancient ROME； which；
joining； to its poverty and rusticity； virtue and public spirit；
rose to such a surprizing height of grandeur and liberty； but
having learned from its conquered provinces the ASIATIC luxury；
fell into every kind of corruption； whence arose sedition and
civil wars； attended at last with the total loss of liberty。 All
the LATIN classics； whom we peruse in our infancy； are full of
these sentiments； and universally ascribe the ruin of their state
to the arts and riches imported from the East： Insomuch that
SALLUST represents a taste for painting as a vice； no less than
lewdness and drinking。 And so popular were these sentiments；
during the later ages of the republic； that this author abounds
in praises of the old rigid ROMAN virtue； though himself the most
egregious instance of modern luxury and corruption； speaks
contemptuously of the GRECIAN eloquence； though the most elegant
writer in the world； nay； employs preposterous digressions and
declamations to this purpose； though a model of taste and
correctness。
But it would be easy to prove； that these writers mistook the
cause of the disorders in the ROMAN state； and ascribed to luxury
and the arts； what really proceeded from an ill modelled
government； and the unlimited extent of conquests。 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 less 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 pleasures； such as men are
accustomed to； and desire： Nor can any thing restrain or regulate
the love of money； but a sense of honour and virtue； which； if it
be not nearly equal at all times； will naturally abound most in
ages of knowledge and refinement。
Of all EUROPEAN kingdoms； POLAND seems the most defective in
the arts of war as well as peace； mechanical as well as liberal；
yet it is there that venality and corruption do most prevail。 The
nobles seem to have preserved their crown elective for no other
purpose； than regularly to sell it to the highest bidder。 This is
almost the only species of commerce； with which that people are
acquainted。
The liberties of ENGLAND； so far from decaying since the
improvements in the arts； have never flourished so much as during
that period。 And though corruption may seem to encrease of late
years； this is chiefly to be ascribed to our established liberty；
when our princes have found the impossibility 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 ascribed to any refinements in luxury。
If we consider the matter in a proper light； we shall find；
that a progress in the arts is rather favourable to liberty； and
has a natural tendency to preserve； 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 society is divided into two classes；
proprietors of land； and their vassals or tenants。 The latter are
necessarily dependent； and fitted for slavery and subjection；
especially where they possess no riches； and are not valued for
their knowledge in agriculture； as must always be the case where
the arts are neglected。 The former naturally erect themselves
into petty tyrants； and must either submit to an absolute master；
for the sake of peace and order； or if they will preserve their
independency； like the ancient barons； they must fall into feuds
and contests among themselves； and throw the whole society into
such confusion； as is perhaps worse than the most despotic
government。 But where luxury nourishes commerce and industry； the
peasants； by a proper cultivation of the land； become rich and
independent； while the tradesmen and merchants acquire a share of
the property； and draw authority and consideration to that
middling rank of men； who are the best and firmest basis of
public liberty。 These submit not to slavery； like the peasants；
from poverty and meanness of spirit； and having no hopes of
tyrannizing over others； like the barons； they are not tempted；
for the sake of that gratification； to submit to the tyranny of
their sovereign。 They covet equal laws； which may secure their
property； and preserve them from monarchical； as well as
aristocratical tyranny。
The lower house is the support of our popular government； and
all the world acknowledges； that it owed its chief influence and
consideration to the encrease of commerce； which threw such a
balance of property into the hands of the commons。 How
inconsistent then is it to blame so violently a refinement in the
arts； and to represent it as the bane of liberty and public
spirit！
To declaim against present times； and magnify the virtue of
remote ancestors； is a propensity almost inherent in human
nature： And as the sentiments and opinions of civilized ages
alone are transmitted to posterity； hence it is that we meet with
so many severe judgments pronounced against luxury； and even
science； and hence it is that at present we give so ready an
assent to them。 But the fallacy is easily perceived； by comparing
different nations that are contemporaries； where we both judge
more impartially； and can better set in opposition those manners；
with which we are sufficiently acquainted。 Treachery and cruelty；
the most pernicious and most odious of all vices； seem peculiar
to uncivilized ages； and by the refined GREEKS and ROMANS were
ascribed to all the barbarous nations； which surrounded them。
They might justly； therefore； have presumed； that their own
ancestors； so highly celebrated； possessed no greater virtue； and
were as much inferior to their posterity in honour and humanity；
as in taste and science。 An ancient FRANK or SAXON may be highly
extolled： But I believe every man would think his life or fortune
much less secure in the hands of a MOOR or TARTAR； than in those
of a FRENCH or ENGLISH gentleman； the rank of men the most
civilized in the most civilized nations。
We come now to the second position which we proposed to
illustrate； to wit； that； as innocent luxury； or a refinement in
the arts and conveniencies of life； is advantageous to the
public； so wherever luxury ceases to be innocent； it also ceases
to be beneficial； and when carried a degree farther； begins to be
a quality pernicious； though； perhaps； not the most pernicious；
to political society。