"fatisfies our hunger; water fupplies the 66 want of wine; and every tree is to us a warm houfe (a) *."

The indulging in down-beds, foft pillows, and easy feats, is a fpecies of luxury; because it tends to enervate the body, and to render it unfit for fatigue, Some London ladies employ an operator for pairing their nails. Two young women of high quality, who were fisters, employ'd a fervant with foft hands to raise them gently out of bed in a morning. Nothing lefs than all-powerful vanity, can make such persons submit to the fatigues of a toilet: how can they ever think of fubmitting to the horrid pangs of child-bearing? In the hot climates of Afia, people of rank are rubbed and chaffed twice aday; which, befide being pleasant, is neceffary for health, by moving the blood in a hot country, where floth and indo

*Providence has provided the gout as a beacon on the rock of luxury to warn against it. But in vain during diftrefs, vows of temperance are made: during the intervals, these vows are forgot. Luxury has gained too much ground in this ifland, to be restrained by admonition.

(a) Dion Caflius.

lence

lence prevail. The Greeks and Romans were curried, bathed, and oiled, daily; tho' they had not the fame excufe for that practice it was luxury in them, tho' not in the Afiatics.

Nations where luxury is unknown, are troubled with few difeafes, and have few physicians by profeffion. In the early ages of Rome, women and flaves were the only physicians, becaufe vegetables were the chief food of the people; who befide were conftantly employ'd in war or in husbandry. When luxury prevailed among the Romans, their diseases multiplied, and phyfic became a liberal profeffion.

With respect to exercife, the various machines that have been invented for executing every fort of work, render bodily ftrength of lefs importance than formerly. This change is favourable to mental operations, without hurting bodily health. The travelling on horfeback, tho' a lefs. vigorous exertion of ftrength than walking, is not luxury, because it is a healthful exercife. I dare not fay fo much for wheel-carriages: a fpring-coach rolling along a smooth road, gives no exczcife; or

fo

fo little, as to be preventive of no difeafe: it tends to enervate the body, and in some meafure alfo the mind. The increase of wheelcarriages within a century, is a pregnant proof of the growth of luxurious indolence. During the reign of James I. the English judges rode to Westminster on horseback, and probably did fo for many years after his death. Charles I. iffued a proclamation, prohibiting hackney-coaches to be ufed in London, except by thofe who travel at least three miles out of town. At the Restoration, Charles II. made his public entry into London on horfeback, between his two brothers, Dukes of York and Gloucefter. We have Rufhworth for our voucher, that in London, not above a hundred years ago, there were but twenty hackney-coaches; which did not ply on the streets, but were kept at home till called for. He adds, that the King and council published a proclamation against them; because they raised the price of provender upon the King, nobility, and gentry. At prefent, 1000 hackney-coaches ply on the streets of London; befide a great number of stage-coaches for travelling from London to all parts of the king

dom.

dom. The first coach with glaffes in France was brought from Bruffels to Paris, anno 1660, by the Prince of Condé. Sedan-chairs were not known in England before the year 1634. Cookery and coaches have reduced the military spirit of the English nobility and gentry, to a languid ftate the former, by overloading the body, has infected them with difpiriting ailments; the latter, by fostering ease and indolence, have banished labour, the only antidote to fuch ailments *. Too great indulgence in the fine arts, confumes part of the time that ought to be employ'd on the important duties of life: but the fine arts, even when too much indulged, produce one good effect, which is, to foften and humanize our manners: nor do they harm the body, if they relax not that degree of exercife which is neceffary for fupporting it in health and vigour.

J'ai toujours vu ceux qui voyageoient dans de bonnes voitures bien douces, rêveurs, triftes, grondans ou fouffrans; et les piétons toujours gais, légers, et contens de tout. Combien le cœur rit Combien un repas

quand on approche du gîte!

groffier parôit favoureux! avec quel plaifir on se repofe à table! Quel bon fommeil on fait dans un mauvais lit! Rouffeau Emile.

The enervating effects of luxury upon the body, are above all remarkable in war. The officers of Alexander's army, were foon tainted with Afiatic manners. Moft of them, after bathing, had fervants for rubbing them, and inftead of plain oil, ufed precious ointments. Leonatus in particular commiffioned from Egypt the powder he used when he wrestled, which loaded feveral camels. Alexander reproved them mildly: "I wonder that men "who have undergone fuch fatigues in

war, are not taught by experience, that "labour produces fweeter and founder fleep than indolence. To be voluptuous, is an abject and flavish state. How 66 can a man take care of his horfe, or "keep his armour bright, who difdains

to employ his own hands upon what is "deareft to him, his own body (a)?”

With respect to the mind in particular, manifold are the pernicious effects of luxury. Corporeal pleasures are all of them selfish; and when much indulged tend to make selfishness the leading principle. Voluptuoufnefs accordingly, relaxing every

(a) Plutarch.

VOL. II.

T

fympathetic