bles, it is owing, that in their body are to be found few tiresome, fcholaftic pedants, and none of those perturbed spirits, who ruffle the ferenity of nations by political alarms, who clog the wheels of government by oppofition, who pry into the conduct of minifters, or in any way disturb that total indifference with regard to the public, which prevails all over this kingdom. We are told by a great modern Hiftorian*, that "force of mind, a sense "of perfonal dignity, gallantry in enter"prife, invincible perfeverance in execu ❝tion, contempt of danger and of death, "are the characteristic virtues of uncivil"ifed nations." But as the nobles of this country have long been fufficiently civilifed, these qualities may in them be fupposed to have given place to the arts which embellish a polished age; to gaming, gallantry, mufic, the parade of equipage, the refinements of drefs, and other nameless refinements.

* Vide Dr. Robertfen's History of the Emperor Charles V. Sect. I.

LETTER LVIIL

Naples.

TH

HE citizens of Naples form a fociety of their own, perfectly diftinct from the nobility; and although they are not the most industrious people in the world, yet, having fome degree of occupation, and their time being divided between businefs and pleasure, they probably have more enjoyment than thofe, who, without internal refources, or opportunities of active exertion, pass their lives in fenfual gratifications, and in waiting the returns. of appetite around a gaming table. In the most respectable class of citizens, are comprehended the lawyers, of whom there are an incredible number in this town. The most eminent of this profesfion hold, indeed, a kind of intermediate rank between the nobility and citizens;

the reft are on a level with the phyficians; the principal merchants, and the artifts; none of whom can make great fortunes, however induftrious they may be; but a moderate income enables them to support their rank in fociety, and to enjoy all the conveniences, and many of the luxuries, of life.

England is perhaps the only nation in Europe where fome individuals, of every profeffion, even of the loweft, find it poffible to accumulate great fortunes; the effect of this very frequently is, that the fon defpifes the profeffion of the father, commences gentleman, and diffipates, in a few years, what coft a life to gather. In the principal cities of Germany and Italy, we find, that the ancestors of many of those citizens who are the moft eminent in their particular bufineffes, have tranfmitted the art to them through feveral generations. It is natural to imagine, that this will tend to the improvement of

the

the art, or fcience, or profeffion, as well as the family fortune; and that the third generation will acquire knowledge from the experience, as well as wealth from the industry, of the former two; whereas, in the cafes alluded to above, the wheel of fortune moves differently. A man, by affiduity in a particular bufinefs, and by genius, acquires a great fortune and a high reputation; the fon throws away the fortune, and ruins his own character by extravagance; and the grandfon is obliged to recommence the business, unaided by the wealth or experience of his ancestors. This, however, is pointing out an evil which I fhould be forry to fee remedied; because it certainly originates in the riches and profperity of the country in which it exifts.

The number of priests, monks, and ecclefiaftics of all the various orders that fwarm in this city, is prodigious; and the provision appropriated for their use, is as

ample.

ample. I am affured, that the clergy are in poffeffion of confiderably above onethird of the revenue of the whole kingdom, over and above what some particular orders among them acquire by begging for the use of their convents, and what is gotten in legacies by the addrefs and affiduity of the whole. The unproductive wealth, which is lodged in the churches and convents of this city, amounts also to an amazing value. Not to be compared in point of architecture to the churches and convents of Rome, thofe af Naples furpafs them in riches, in the value of their jewels, and in the quantity of filver and golden crucifixes, veffels, and implements of various kinds.. I have often heard these estimated at a fum fo enormous as to furpass all credibility; and which, as I have no opportunity of afcertaining with any degree of precifion, I fhall not mention. This wealth, whatever it amounts to, is of as little ufe to the kingdom, as if it ftill remained in the mines of Peru; and