a r t s focieties and their various progrefs, their laws o f government,
s c i e n c e s wou^ be fufficient to enable us to form a competent idea o f the
real Hate o f humanity in thefe countries. It remains only to-
complete the whole, b y fuggefting thofe arts-, thofe ideas and
principles, which thefe nations think moft worthy o f perpetuating,
among their progeny, and which therefore become the objedts
both o f common and more exalted education.
Our trades and mechanical arts, as well' as our fciences and historical
knowledge, are the refults o f the inventions and obfervations
of-many thoufands, w h a have lived at many different periods o f
time, and in countries very remote from one another. Th e y may
bejuftly confidered as the joint-flock o f .knowledge o f all mankind,
and a treafure, to which,, all inquifitive individuals, and-
the more polifhed nations o f Europe- have free accefs.. This im-
menfe ftore of knowledge can at prefent no longer be viewed and
examined by one perfon t it.-is -too vaft.to be-comprehended by one
individual, be he ever fo great a genius-. It is. enough in the
prefent condition o f highly civilized European focieties,. to perpetuate
the bulk, by dividing it into various branches, open for the
exercife and in.veftigation o f a multitude,, and their various cir.-
cumftances and choice.. Thus we. have contrived not only to
preferve each fmall branch in that perfection in. which it is found,
but likewife to make new improvements, and to add to it new
difcoveries,
difcoveries.. Our art o f writing and printing, is the moft a r t s -.
efficacious means o f preventing the entire oblivion o f many ufeful 8fcj^LCEE
obfervations, experiments, and difcoveries, in each branch of
human knowledge. But had mankind lived difperfed in the
woods like favages or hunters, or had they continually rambled...
over great fpaces with their herds, it would have been equally
impoffible to lay up fo valuable and fo immenfe a treafure, to
increafe it fo conflantly, and to make the advantages arifing from
their ufe fa eafy, and fo common, to every individual. The cultivation
o f fuch vegetables as ferve for food to mankind, enables.,
us in an. efpeciat manner, to form numerous focieties- Many trades
and mechanical arts, want the joint efforts of many arms, to give
them that perfection, o f which they are capable; and the more
each art and trade is fubdivided. into fmaller branches,, the greater
is the probability o f bringing, it to perfection- and maturity.- I t is-
therefore evident that no other than numerous focieties, in
countries rich in fuch productions as are neceffary for food and
raiment, are belt calculated, for the greateft improvements,, and.
moft likely to- promote the progrefs. of arts and. fciences, and
their various branches- E g yp t , on account o f its happy conflitution,
caufed.by the Niles overflowing every year the flat country, became
very early the feat o f agriculture;, and cultivation of all kinds of
vegetables, and for that reafon paftoral. life was laid afide, and
even