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Show 18 REMARKS ON THE THOUGHTS corrupted, the rei'toration of their liberty'by the" 19 Romans, overturned the remains of their power; ages been between raw, though well~difciplined - Whether the manners of Ancient Rome were, at any period, calculated to promote the happinefs armies, and veterans, and more from the irre- ofindividuals, it is not my defign to examine: conferred on troops frequently neither difciplined nor experienced. The military manners of the Noé/e/é in But that their manners, and the effects of thofe manners on their government and public conduct, '!'Wrmmm;p' [G.P.] ON THE PEOPLING or COUNTRIES. fiitible force a fingle moral habit, Religion, has founded, enlarged, and fupported, and afterwards Fmnce, compofe the chief force of that kingdom ; overthrew their empire, is beyond all doubt. One of the effects of their conquef't furniihes us and the enterprifing manners, and ref'defs difpo- fitions of the inhabitants of Canada have enabled with a firong proof how prevalent manners are a handful of men to harafs our populous, and, even beyond quantity of fubfif'tence; for, when the cuflom of bellowing on the citizens of Rome corn enough to fupport themfelves and families, was become eitablifhed, and Egypt and Sicily produced the grain that fed the inhabitants of generally, lefs martial colonies: Yet neither are Italy; this became lefs populous every day; and the jut trimn liéerarum was but an expedient that could not balance the want of induflry'and frugality.-But corruption of manners did not only of the value they feem at firi't fight, becaufe, overbalanced by the defeét they occafion of other habits that would produce more eligible political good: And military manners in a people are not neceffary in an age and country Where fuch manners may be occafionally formed and preferved among men enougb to defend the flare; and fuch a country is Great Britain, where, though dered the remainder incapable of defi'nce, long be- the lower clafs of people are by no means of a military cait, yet they make better foldiers than fore its fall, perhaps before the diifolution of the even the Noblefle of France. republic; f0 that without {landing difciplined are mies co-mpofed of men, whofe moral habits prin- The inhabitants of this country [Eng/47264] a few ages back, were to the populous and rich pro- tbz'n the inhabitants of the Roman Empire ;, it ren- cipally, and mechanical habits fecondarily, made vinces of France, what Canada 'is now to the them different from the body of the people, the Britith colonies. Roman empire had been a prey to the barbarians many ages before it was.-By the mcclranical habits portion between their natural firength; but I mean that the riches of France were a real weaknefs, of the foldiery, I mean their difcipline, and the art of war: And that this is but a fecondary qua, oppofed to the military manners founded upon poverty and a rugged difpofition, then the cha- lity, appears from the inequality, that has in all raéter of the Eng/gyn.,-B ut it muf't be remembered, ages that at this time the manners of a people were It is true, there was lefs difpro- D 2 not |
