This Continual
Dissipation Must Have Been A Great Enemy To Industry; And The
People Must Have Been Idle And Effeminate.
I think it would be no
difficult matter to prove, that there is very little difference,
in point of
Character, between the antient and modern inhabitants
of Rome; and that the great figure which this empire made of old,
was not so much owing to the intrinsic virtue of its citizens, as
to the barbarism, ignorance, and imbecility of the nations they
subdued. Instances of public and private virtue I find as
frequent and as striking in the history of other nations, as in
the annals of antient Rome; and now that the kingdoms and states
of Europe are pretty equally enlightened, and ballanced in the
scale of political power, I am of opinion, that if the most
fortunate generals of the Roman commonwealth were again placed at
the head of the very armies they once commanded, instead of
extending their conquests over all Europe and Asia, they would
hardly be able to subdue, and retain under their dominion, all
the petty republics that subsist in Italy.
But I am tired with writing; and I believe you will be tired with
reading this long letter notwithstanding all your prepossession
in favour of - Your very humble servant.
LETTER XXI
NICE, November 10, 1764.
DEAR DOCTOR, - In my enquiries about the revenues of Nice, I am
obliged to trust to the information of the inhabitants, who are
much given to exaggerate. They tell me, the revenues of this town
amount to one hundred thousand livres, or five thousand pounds
sterling; of which I would strike off at least one fourth, as an
addition of their own vanity:
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