and its inhabitants the
happiest of men: but a single letter from Amyot has
convinced me that China is a truly Turkish government, and
the account of Sonnerat confirms it. See Vol. II. of Voyage
aux Indes, in 4to.

** As long as the Chinese shall in writing make use of their
present characters, they can be expected to make no progress
in civilization. The necessary introductory step must be
the giving them an alphabet like our own, or of substituting
in the room of their language that of the Tartars. The
improvement made in the latter by M. de Lengles, is
calculated to introduce this change. See the Mantchou
alphabet, the production of a mind truly learned in the
formation of language.

In some parts of Europe, indeed, reason has begun to dawn, but even
there, do nations partake of the knowledge of individuals? Are the
talents and genius of governors turned to the benefit of the people? And
those nations which call themselves polished, are they not the same that
for the last three centuries have filled the earth with their injustice?
Are they not those who, under the pretext of commerce, have desolated
India, depopulated a new continent, and, at present, subject Africa
to the most barbarous slavery? Can liberty be born from the bosom
of despots? and shall justice be rendered by the hands of piracy and
avarice? O Genius, I have seen the civilized countries; and the mockery
of their wisdom has vanished before my sight. I saw wealth accumulated
in the hands of a few, and the multitude poor and destitute. I have seen
all rights, all powers concentered in certain classes, and the mass of
the people passive and dependent. I have seen families of princes, but
no families of the nation. I have seen government interests, but
no public interests or spirit. I have seen that all the science of
government was to oppress prudently; and the refined servitude of
polished nations appeared to me only the more irremediable.

One obstacle above all has profoundly struck my mind. On looking over
the world, I have seen it divided into twenty different systems of
religion. Every nation has received, or formed, opposite opinions; and
every one ascribing to itself the exclusive possession of the truth,
must believe the other to be wrong. Now if, as must be the fact in this
discordance of opinion, the greater part are in error, and are honest in
it, then it follows that our