cities of Italy were pure democracies: and the government of Spain, at the time, probably the most restricted monarchy on earth. What field, therefore, could be more favorable for the display, or expansion of the "superior" European character? Yet what was the progress made? Dr. Robertson gives it in a few words, when describing "the frequency of rapine, murder, and every act of violence in "all the provinces of Spain during this time, as absolutely amazing, and presenting to 66 us the idea of a society but little removed "from the disorder and turbulence of that "which has been called a state of nature."* This, indeed, was very much the state of the rest of Europe, throughout the long and dark period of the middle ages. Some slight improvement is discernible after the tenth century; but it glimmers only like the long and dubious twilight of a polar day. Although the authority of kings was every where circumscribed in feudal countries, it was kept down in the other states of Europe by the overgrown power of a military aristocracy, whose quarrels and jealousies spread anarchy and devastation throughout the fairest regions of the West. With the spirit of liberty uni * Rob. Char. V. vol. i. p. 429. versally prevalent, and often vigorously enforced, it contributed so little of itself to improve the moral condition of the people, during twelve successive centuries, as to be recorded of them in the sixteenth, with all their boasted superiority, that even in their own favorite science of war, they were still decidedly inferior to the Ottomans of Turkey. When, therefore, in the course of events, and by the aid of standing armies which, after the example set by Charles VII. of France in 1445, came into general use, the power of the feudal aristocracy was effectually broken throughout Europe, absolute monarchy gradually established itself on the downfall of baronial independence, and equally triumphed over that liberty which had been till then the freeman's boast. In no countries have these effects been more conspicuous than in Italy, and Spain, which for this reason are particularly instanced here. Once the favoured abodes of liberty, displaying itself in the vigour of luxuriant growth, but gradually decaying from ignorance and superstition, and finally expiring under the blight of despotism, where are we to look for the boasted superiority of their people? It hence appears, that neither the spirit, nor the forms of liberty are alone sufficient to ensure advancement in national prosperity. Moral and intellectual improvement is its best and surest foundation. It has accordingly only advanced steadily in those countries of Europe, as England and France, where civilization and knowledge have at the same time made their greatest progress. We learn also from European history, how, under different political circumstances, and in different stages of civilization, the character of nations as pointedly varies. The ancient patriotism of Rome is not to be found in the tame submission of its citizens to a Nero, a Caligula, or Domitian ; in the almost unresisting opposition of Italians to frequent invasions by the French, and by German arms; nor in their present quailing to the tyranny of Austria. Neither is the pride, the honor, or the free spirit, of Spain and Portugal to be found in the wretched crouching of its present inhabitants to a despot, or usurper, holding them in worse than negro thraldom. These are traits, with which nothing in the Indian character, or history, is base enough to be compared a degenerate and degrading fall from the Roman virtue, and high Castilian spirit of their fathers, to which the history of nations can scarcely furnish a parallel. SECTION XXI. Further remarks on the Indian character compared with the European under like circumstances, as to property and political state. HAVING in preceding pages adduced so many striking features of resemblance between the early inhabitants of Europe, and the natives of India, in what must be considered to have been, in the times alluded to, the chief usages of life; it may now be asked, whether it is reasonable to suppose, that the natural character of these two races should be so different, as that the one should be remarkable for genius and vigour, the other for confirmed incapacity? This question may perhaps be answered by stating another. It may be said-" The political economists instruct us that property, and the security of property, are the basis of all improvement in human SOciety; and since property would appear, in both parts of the world, to have been equally secured to its owners by the same allodial rights, how comes it then to pass, that there should be such marked difference in the result?" The best answer, I conceive, that can be given to this last question is, to admit the position of the economists in its fullest extent. Property, and landed property more particularly, is favourable to the diffusion of wealth, through which the subsistence, and comforts of the community at large are promoted; and in proportion to the rank and influence of great landed proprietors, the power of royalty must necessarily be circumscribed, or abridged. It is therefore, to a certain degree, favourable to liberty. Now it does appear to me, that, down to a certain period, these effects were equally, and contemporaneously, in force in both countries. In regard to the Hindoos of former times, we have little more to depend on than the opinions of learned authors, who have penetrated deeply into the literature, and history, of this ancient people. Among others, the name of Sir William Jones must ever be mentioned with the greatest respect. He was of opinion, that the ancient Hindoos were civilized, polished, and enlightened, to an extraordinary degree; and though Sir William's description may be partly the exaggerated language of partiality, still if we admit, what I have before intimated to be probable, that the Hindoos of rank and property, previously to the Mahomedan conquest, were as far advanced in improvement, as the higher classes Brahmins and others - of the present day, we should still have a |