An essay on the history of civil society / [Adam Ferguson].

  • Adam Ferguson
Date:
1789
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: An essay on the history of civil society / [Adam Ferguson]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    395/438 page 385
    \ CIVIL SOCIETY. 385- own arts and contrivances, as well as thole who inherit fervility from their anceftors, and are enfeebled by their natural temperament, and the enervating charms of their foil, and their climate. It appears, therefore, that although the mere . ufe of materials which conftitute luxury, may be diftinguilhed from adual vice ; yet nations under a high Hate of the commercial arts , are expofed to corruption, by their admitting wealth, unfupported by perfonal elevation and virtue , as the great foundation of diftindion, and by having their attention turned on the fide of intereft, as the road to confideration and honour. With this effed, luxury may ferve to corrupt democratical Hates, by introducing a fpecies of monarchical fubordination, without that fenfe of high birth and hereditary honours which render the boundaries of rank fixed and determinate,- and which teach men to ad in their ftations with force and propriety. It may prove the oc- cafion of political corruption , even in monarchical governments , by drawing refped towards mere wealth ; by calling a fhade on the luftre of perfon- al qualities, or family-diftindions; and by infed- ing all orders of men , with equal venality, fer- Vility, and cowardice.
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