provinces, which must be governed by bafhaws, are always ripe for a revolt. To fecure Nicomedia, which had frequently fuffered by fire, Pliny fuggefted to the Emperor Trajan, a fire-company of one hundred and fifty men. So infirm at that period was the Roman empire, that Trajan durft not put the project in execution, fearing disturbances even from that small body. The chief caufe is the luxury and effeminacy of a great monarchy, which leave no appetite for war, either in the sovereign or in his fubjects. Great inequality of rank in an extenfive kingdom, occafioned by a conftant flow of riches into the capital, introduces fhow, expenfive living, luxury, and fenfuality. Riches, by affording gratification to every fenfual appetite, become an idol to which all men bow the knee; and, when riches are worshipped as a passport to power as well as to pleasure, they corrupt the heart, eradicate every virtue, and fofter every vice. In fuch diffolution of manners, contradictions are reconciled: avarice and meannefs unite with vanity; diffimulation and cunning, with fplendor. Where fubjects are so cor rupted, rupted, what will the prince be, who is not taught to moderate his paffions, who measures juftice by appetite, and who is debilitated by corporeal pleasures? Such a prince never thinks of heading his own troops, nor of extending his dominions. Mostazen, the last Califf of Bagdat, is a confpicuous inftance of the degeneracy defcribed. His kingdom being invaded by the Tartars in the year 1258, he fhut himfelf up in his feraglio with his debauched companions, as in profound peace; and, Atupified with floth and voluptuousness, was the only person who appeared careless about the fate of his empire. A King of Perfia, being informed that the Turks had made themselves mafters of his beft provinces, answered, that he was indifferent about their fuccefs, provided they would not disturb him in his city of Ifpachan. Schah Huffein, King of Perfia, at the beginning of the prefent century, was fo funk by floth and luxury in a feraglio life, that, when a victorious army of rebels was approaching to Ifpachan, he faid to his minifters, "It is your bufinefs to repel the "rebels, as you have armies provided. As "for my part, if they but leave me my "palace palace of Farabath with my women, I am content." Hoatfang, the last Chinese Emperor of the Chinese race, hid himself in his palace, while the Tartars were wresting from him his northern provinces, and Liftching, a rebel mandarine, was wrefting from him the remainder. The Emprefs ftrangled herself in her apartment; and the Emperor, making a laft effort, followed her example. The ninth Chinese Emperor of the blood of Genhizcan, addicted to women and priests, was despised by his people. A perfon without a name, who had been a fervant in a convent of Bonzes, putting himself at the head of fome robbers, dethroned the monarch, and extinguished the royal family. The Tonquinefe, after a long subjection to the Emperor of China, regained their independence, and were governed by kings of their own nation. These princes having by long peace become indolent, luxurious, and effeminate, abandoned the government to their minifters. The governor of Cochinchina, being at a great distance from the capital, revolted first, and that country became a feparate kingdom. The governor of Tonquin, in which province VOL. II. L1 the the King refided, ufurped the fovereignty: but refpecting the royal family, he only locked up the King in his palace; leaving to the King's defcendents the name of Bova, or King, with fome fhadow of royalty. The ufurper and his fucceffors content themselves with the title of Chova, or Generaliffimo; which fatisfies the people, who pierce no deeper than what eyefight difcovers. A revolution of the fame kind happened in Japan. Similar caufes produce fimilar effects. The luxurious and indolent fucceffors of Charlemagne in the kingdom of France, trufting their power and authority with the mairs of their palace, were never seen in public, and were feldom heard of. The great power of thefe officers inflamed them, with an appetite for more. Pepin and his fucceffors were for a long time kings de facto, leaving to the rightful fovereign nothing but the Charles Martel reigned for empty name. fome time without even naming a king. And at laft Pepin the younger, anno 751, throwing off the mafk, ordered himself to be proclaimed King of France. Bufbequius, who wrote in the days of Philip II. of Spain, has the following ob servation. fervation. Comparing the Turkish fol "diers with ours, I can prognofticate nothing good to Chriftendom. On their "fide, a mighty empire, great armies, experience in war, a long feries of vic tories, a veteran foldiery, concord, or→ "der, difcipline, frugality, vigilance, and patience of labour. On our fide, pu"blic want, private luxury, contempt of difcipline, impatience of labour, drunk"ennefs, and gluttony. Can any one 66 "doubt what the event will be? For preventing ruin, we have nothing to "depend on but the Perfians." How plaufible is this reafoning; and yet how falfe the prognoftic! At that early time, the science of politics was but in its infancy in Europe. Bufbequius did not difcover, nor did any other man difcover, a feed of corruption in the Turkish government that in time ripened to its ruin; and that is wealth and luxury in a defpotic monarchy. The monarch is funk in voluptuoufness licentioufnefs creeps in among the foldiery, and the government becomes entirely military. This progress is far advanced among the Turks; and their troops at present make no figure but by numbers. Our |