scrutiny； which Newton's theory has undergone； proceeded not from
his own countrymen； but from foreigners； and if it can overcome
the obstacles； which it meets with at present in all parts of
Europe； it will probably go down triumphant to the latest
posterity。 The English are become sensible of the scandalous
licentiousness of their stage； from the example of the French
decency and morals。 The French are convinced； that their theatre
has become somewhat effeminate； by too much love and gallantry；
and begin to approve of the more masculine taste of some
neighbouring nations。
In China； there seems to be a pretty considerable stock of
politeness and science； which； in the course of so many
centuries； might naturally be expected to ripen into some thing
more perfect and finished； than what has yet arisen from them。
But China is one vast empire； speaking one language； governed by
one law； and sympathizing in the same manners。 The authority of
any teacher； such as Confucius； was propagated easily from one
corner of the empire to the other。 None had courage to resist the
torrent of popular opinion。 And posterity was not bold enough to
dispute what had been universally received by their ancestors。
This seems to be one natural reason； why the sciences have made
so slow a progress in that mighty empire。＇4＇
If we consider the face of the globe； Europe； of all the
four parts of the world； is the most broken by seas； rivers； and
mountains； and Greece of all countries of Europe。 Hence these
regions were naturally divided into several distinct governments。
And hence the sciences arose in Greece； and Europe has been
hitherto the most constant habitation of them。
I have sometimes been inclined to think； that interruptions
in the periods of learning； were they not attended with such a
destruction of ancient books； and the records of history； would
be rather favourable to the arts and sciences； by breaking the
progress of authority； and dethroning the tyrannical usurpers
over human reason。 In this particular； they have the same
influence； as interruptions in political governments and
societies。 Consider the blind submission of the ancient
philosophers to the several masters in each school； and you will
be convinced； that little good could be expected from a hundred
centuries of such a servile philosophy。 Even the Eclectics； who
arose about the age of Augustus； notwithstanding their professing
to chuse freely what pleased them from every different sect； were
yet； in the main； as slavish and dependent as any of their
brethren since they sought for truth not in nature； but in the
several schools； where they supposed she must necessarily be
found； though not united in a body； yet dispersed in parts。 Upon
the revival of learning； those sects of Stoics and Epicureans；
Platonists and Pythagoricians； could never regain any credit or
authority； and； at the same time； by the example of their fall；
kept men from submitting； with such blind deference； to those new
sects； which have attempted to gain an ascendant over them。
The observation； which I shall form on this head； of
the rise and progress of the arts and sciences； is； 。
To balance a large state or society； whether monarchical or
republican； on general laws； is a work of so great difficulty；
that no human genius； however comprehensive； is able； by the mere
dint of reason and reflection； to effect it。 The judgments of
many must unite in this work： Experience must guide their labour：
Time must bring it to perfection： And the feeling of
inconveniencies must correct the mistakes； which they inevitably
fall into； in their first trials and experiments。 Hence appears
the impossibility； that this undertaking should be begun and
carried on in any monarchy； since such a form of government； ere
civilized； knows no other secret or policy； than that of
entrusting unlimited powers to every governor or magistrate； and
subdividing the people into so many classes and orders of
slavery。 From such a situation； no improvement can ever be
expected in the sciences； in the liberal arts； in laws； and
scarcely in the manual arts and manufactures。 The same barbarism
and ignorance； with which the government commences； is propagated
to all posterity； and can never come to a period by the efforts
or ingenuity of such unhappy slaves。
But though law； the source of all security and happiness；
arises late in any government； and is the slow product of order
and of liberty； it is not preserved with the same difficulty with
which it is produced； but when it has once taken root； is a hardy
plant； which will scarcely ever perish through the ill culture of
men； or the rigour of the seasons。 The arts of luxury； and much
more the liberal arts； which depend on a refined taste or
sentiment； are easily lost； because they are always relished by a
few only； whose leisure； fortune； and genius fit them for such
amusements。 But what is profitable to every mortal； and in common
life； when once discovered； can scarcely fall into oblivion； but
by the total subversion of society； and by such furious
inundations of barbarous invaders； as obliterate all memory of
former arts and civility。 Imitation also is apt to transport
these coarser and more useful arts from one climate to another；
and make them precede the refined arts in their progress； though
perhaps they sprang after them in their first rise and
propagation。 From these causes proceed civilized monarchies；
where the arts of government； first invented in free states； are
preserved to the mutual advantage and security of sovereign and
subject。
However perfect； therefore； the monarchical form may appear
to some politicians； it owes all its perfection to the
republican； nor is it possible； that a pure despotism；
established among a barbarous people； can ever； by its native
force and energy； refine and polish itself。 It must borrow its
laws； and methods； and institutions； and consequently its
stability and order； from free governments。 These advantages are
the sole growth of republics。 The extensive despotism of a
barbarous monarchy； by entering into the detail of the
government； as well as into the principal points of
administration； for ever prevents all such improvement。
In a civilized monarchy； the prince alone is unrestrained in
the exercise of his authority； and possesses alone a power； which
is not bounded by any thing but custom； example； and the sense of
his own interest。 Every minister or magistrate； however eminent；
must submit to the general laws； which govern the whole society；
and must exert the authority delegated to him after the manner；
which is prescribed。 The people depend on none but their
sovereign； for the security of their property。 He is so far
removed from them； and is so much exempt from private jealousies
or interests； that this dependence is scarcely felt。 And thus a
species of government arises； to which； in a high political rant；
we may give the name of ； but which； by a just and
prudent administration； may afford tolerable security to the
people； and may answer most of the ends of political society。
But though in a civilized monarchy； as well as in a
republic； the people have security for the enjoyment of their
property； yet in both these forms of government； those who
possess the supreme authority have the disposal of many honours
and advantages； which excite the ambition and avarice of mankind。
The only difference is； that； in a republic； the candidates for
office must look downwards； to gain the suffrages of the people；
in a monarchy； they must turn their attention upwards； to court
the good graces and favour of the great。 To be successful in the
former way； it is necessary for a man to make himself ；
by his industry； capacity； or knowledge： To be prosperous in the
latter way； it is requisite for him to render himself
； by his wit； complaisance； or civility。 A strong
genius succeeds best in republics： A refined taste in monarchies。
And consequently the sciences are the more natural growth of the
one； and the polite arts of the other。
Not to mention； that monarchies； receiving their chief
stability from a superstitious reverence to priests and princes；
have commonly abridged the liberty of reasoning； with regard to
religion； and politics； and consequently metaphysics and morals。
All these form the most considerable branches of science。
Mathematics and natural philosophy； which only remain； are not
half so valuable。
Among the arts of conversation； no one pleases more than
mutual deference or civility； which leads us to resign our own
inclinations to those of our companion； and to curb and conceal
that presumption and arrogance； so natural to the human mind。 A
good…natured man； who is well educated； practises this civility
to every mortal； without premeditation or interest。 But in order
to render that valuable quality general among any people； it
seems necessary to assist the natural disposition by some general
motive。 Where power rises upwards from the people to the great；
as in all republics； such refinements of civility are apt to be
little practised； since the whole state is； by that means；
brought near to a level； and every member of it is rendered； in a
great measure； independent of another。 The people have the
advantage； by the authority of their suffrages： The great； by the
superiority of their station。 But in a civilized monarchy； there
is a long train of dependence from the prince to the peasant；
which is not great enough to render property precarious； or
depress the minds of the people； but is sufficient to beget in
every one an inclination to please his superiors； and to form
himself upon those models； which are most acceptable