would have ferved them equally as well in all parts, as in their native land. Methinks one uniformity of customs would have been the inevitable confequence of one language, universally understood.

BUT as it is, the different languages are almost an invincible bar to the poor people, who would defert their native country; they have no power of explaining what they would have, or do, and are consequently held at home, in spite of all inclination to be free; the difficulty is too great to be attempted, in their prefent embarraffment,

A GENERAL language would make people travel into another kingdom, as little reluctant, as at prefent they do into another province of the fame realm; and national attachment would have been long loft, if one language had been spoken by all the nations of the globę.

WHO then would have frozen beneath the north pole, or in the fnowy hills of Lapland, thro' a tedious night of fix months? or parched

on

on the dry defart of Arabia, unfheltered from

the fultry sky?

.kd

THREE parts of the globe had been a defart, had one language been univerfally spoken, and others too crowded with inhabitants.

THIS feems to be a probability well founded in nature, when we fee how eafily men, who Speak various languages, lofe their natural prejudice, and are difpofed to be indifferent whether they breathe the air of England, Italy, or France; and with how little reluctance, great numbers of Germans leave their native lands for those of America, where they know that their native language is very readily spoken, by former fettlers.

THE cuftoms of France and England refemble each other more and more every day, and more than any other two people in Europe; as that language is more known by the English, than by other people, they have long followed French cuftoms; and the French fince the introducing the ftudy of the language of this kingdom in Paris, are following the English in

their turn; as these increase, the people will become still more refembling, till the difference be fcarce perceptible, and all diftinction loft, like the force of two oppofite currents becoming one by the prevalency of the strongest, or blue and yellow falling into one uniform colour of green. It is impoffible but that an univerfal language would have effected an univerfal fameness of behaviour and customs, long before this, by the vast intercourfe which the chriftian religion and commerce, have made amongst men.

To this variety of tongues it is owing, that the Laplander thinks happiness no where to be found, but on the other fide the artic circle, and prefers his whale oil to the juice of the Burgundian grape; and the Arabian die unrepining, a land which denies him even water, to flake that thirft which it creates; this is the boundary which preferves the different climates of the earth inhabited, and scatters the human being uncomplaining, amidst funs, and fnows, on fands and mountains, infufferable to men brought forth in happier climes.

THIS

THIS then, seems to be the great use, and final caufe, of various language: the world would have been made in vain, if three parts had been left unpeopled, and contentment found no where in man, but in the few felected and paradifaic spots of this vaft globe; eternal feuds and mifery to man had been the confequence, and mountains, rivers, feas, feparated kingdoms ineffectually.

I HAVE probably tired you by this time, in this research. I am,

Your most obedient fervant.

LET

LETTER LIII.

To the Marchionefs of **

at Rome.

Madam,

IT

Tis not an eafy thing to refolve the question which you ask me; the ladies of England do and do not paint; that is, there are many. who exclaim with great acrimony against that villainous, custom, whilft the rouge is blushing on their cheeks; probably there are not three women in the kingdom who would openly avow it, as the ladies of Paris do without the leaft hefitation. From this prefent fhynefs in the affair, it is only used as an art to help nature at a dead lift, after nocturnal riots, and the emotions of thofe gentle paffions, which attend a run of ill luck at cards; at which time the husband is fure of having a double potion of her choicest spirit of gall, and her face a double quantity of enlivening red.

THIS fashion will probably gain ground in this kingdom, as that kind of life which makes

it