ly from one house to another, with no appreciable
reason. This disease continues with many even fourteen days; until at
last, they become weary of their eternal gadding, check themselves and
regain their former health.

"In France, Italy and Spain, the people lose their reason for some
weeks, in the winter season. This delirium is moderated by strewing
ashes on the foreheads of the sufferers. In the northern parts of
Europe, to which this disease sometimes extends, and where the ashes
have no power, nature is left to work the cure.

"It is the custom with most Europeans, to enter into a solemn compact
with God, in the presence of witnesses, three or four times a year,
which they invariably and immediately break. This compact is called
'communion,' and seems to have been established only to show that the
Europeans are used to break their promises several times each year. They
confess their sins and implore the mercy of God, in certain melodies,
accompanied by instrumental music. As the magnitude of their sins
increases, their music becomes louder: thus fluters, trumpeters and
drummers are favorite helpers to devotion.

"Almost all the nations of Europe are obliged to acknowledge and believe
in the doctrines, which are contained in a certain 'holy book.' At the
south the reading of this book is entirely forbidden; so that the people
are forced to credit what they dare not read; in these same regions, it
is likewise austerely forbidden to worship God, except in a language
incomprehensible to the people; so that, only those prayers are held to
be lawful and pleasing to God, which are uttered from memory, without
comprehension.

"The learned controversies which occupy the European academies, consist
in the discussion of matters, the development of which is productive of
no benefit, and in the examination of phenomena, the nature of which is
beyond the reach of the human mind. The most serious study of a European
scholar, is the consideration of a pair of old boots, the slippers,
necklaces and gowns of a race long extinct. Of the sciences, both
worldly and divine, none judge for themselves, but subscribe blindly to
the opinions of a few. The decisions of these, when once established,
they cling to, like oysters to the rocks. They select a few from their
number whom they call, 'wise,' and credit them implicitly. Now, there
would be nothing to object against this, could raw and ignorant people
decide in this case; but to de