[5] The Chinese are said to adapt an admirable piece of policy; the son is always of the father's trade, which makes them admirable artisians. May not this be the cause of the small progress the arts have made in that part of the world, and of the dull uniformity and want of taste that distinguishes all their works? [6] The enormous taxes the Spaniards lay on manufactures are the ruin of trade, which would otherwise flourish; and the people are reduced, by that misconduct in their rulers, to purchase from their enemies things they themselves could produce, if the artificers met with proper encouragement. [7] Mr Wilkes, in the motion to refer to the consideration of the committee of supply the petition of the trustees of the _British Museum_. [8] Dr Richard Terrick. [9] Dr Robert Lowth. [10] We may quote from the Zendavesta, a wise and benevolent maxim, which compensates for many an absurdity. He who sows the ground with care and diligence, acquires a greater flock of religious merit than he could gain by the repetition of ten thousand prayers. _Zoraster's Institutes._ [11] See Voltaire's Hist. of the age of Lewis XIV. [12] Vid. Vopiscus in Aureliano. [13] Tacitus Annal. II. Flav. Vopiscus in vita Taciti Imperat. [14] Ælius Lampridius in vita Heliogabali. Primus Romanorum holoserica veste usus fertur, cum jam subserica in usu essent. [15] Procop. de bello Goth. p. 345. [16] See Duhalde's description of China. [17] In opposition to this, noblemen and men of fortune bred at the Dublin University, are excused from learning morality, as they can graduate without any skill in that science; the professor making no doubt, but that honesty necessarily springs up with nobility. The same University refused Swift his degree of _Batchelor of Arts for dulness and insufficiency_, but he at last obtained it _Speciali gratia_. [18] This Lady Frances entertained no fears about: A French author justly observes, _Jamais on ne prend les vices d'une condition au dessous de la sienne: L'enfant du riche, par un sentiment d'orgueil, hausse les épaules sur les defauts du pauvre._ [19] The Empress Catharine II, whose name will be immortal, gave a code of laws to her empire, which contains a fifth part of the globe; and the first of her laws was to establish universal toleration. In France foreign protestants are admitted to all the rights of natives after working for a certain time in the manufactory of the Gobelines. The same policy has been adopted by the Spaniards. [20] Ruben's pictures are _a toleration of all religions_. In one of the compartments of the Luxemburgh gallery, a cardinal introduces Mercury to Mary de Medicis, and Hymen supports her train at the sacrament of marriage, before an altar, on which are the images of God the Father, and Christ.