Page:A discourse upon the origin and foundation of the inequality among mankind (IA discourseuponori00rous).pdf/153

, took notice of nothing but what it was his Interet to ee, and that his Undertanding made as little Progres as his Vanity. If he happened to make any Dicovery, he could the les communicate it as he did not even know his Children. The Art perihed with the Inventer; there was neither Education nor Improvement; Generations ucceeded Generations to no Purpoe; and as all contantly et out from the ame Point, whole Centuries rolled on in the Rudenes and Barbarity of the firt Age; the Species was grown old, while the Individual till remained in a State of Childhood.

If I have enlarged o much upon the Suppoition of this primitive Condition, it is becaue I thought it my Duty, conidering what ancient Errors and inveterate Prejudices I have to extirpate, to dig to the very Roots, and hew in a true