Letters From Snowdon; Descriptive of a Tour Throug the Northern Counties of Wales [By J. Cradock.].

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1770. Excerpt: ... LETTER XI. Dear Sir, IH A V E heard it often asserted tfiat mankind are the same in all countries. This, if true, will destroy the very idea of national characters. And yet experience will justify the observation, that there is a very wide difference between the inhabitants of Asia and Europe, between those of Spain, France and England, and even between the English and Irish. If no more is meant by such an observation, than that man in a state of nature, is the same in every country, I will admit it to be true. But man is no longer what nature formed him. Education Fa ha5 has furnished him with vices, with prejudices, with a certain range of ideas, and mode of thinking, which stamp his character. Hence the difference of fashion, conduct and character which we observe in every country. In a state of nature, the wants of man are merely physical, confined to the sustenance of corporeal existence. In a state of society most of his necessities are acquired, at first imaginary, and in process of time become real. How few are the wants of the peasant, who dwells in a straw-built hut, on a barren mountain, which the avarice of man has not reduced to property, compared to those of the lord nursed in the cradle of indolence and luxury! It was in a state of society, that Hobbes ought to have sought for his state of war, and not in that of nature. It is in society that the interests of mankind perpetually clash with each other. Many pursue the same object; aspire to the same post or employment. We all pay our devoirs to the inchanting goddess gold; the supposed dispenser penser of all sublunary happiness. The goddess smiles on some of her votaries, frowns on others. Her discarded devotees endeavor to supplant such as share her favors. Every engine which imagination ...