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blics where this equality is not quite lost； the spirit of commerce； industry； and virtue renders every man able and willing to live on his own property； and consequently prevents the growth of luxury。
The laws concerning the new division of lands； insisted upon so eagerly in some republics； were of the most salutary nature。 They are dangerous； only as they are sudden。 By reducing instantly the wealth of some； and increasing that of others； they form a revolution in each family； and must produce a general one in the state。
In proportion as luxury gains ground in a republic； the minds of the people are turned towards their particular interests。 Those who are allowed only what is necessary have nothing but their own reputation and their country's glory in view。 But a soul depraved by luxury has many other desires； and soon becomes an enemy to the laws that confine it。 The luxury in which the garrison of Rhegium began to live was the cause of their massacring the inhabitants。
No sooner were the Romans corrupted than their desires became boundless and immense。 Of this we may judge by the price they set on things。 A pitcher of Falernian wine＇4＇ was sold for a hundred Roman denarii； a barrel of salt meat from the kingdom of Pontus cost four hundred； a good cook four talents； and for boys； no price was reckoned too great。 When the whole world； impelled by the force of corruption； is immersed in voluptuousness＇5＇ what must then become of virtue？
3。 Of sumptuary Laws in an Aristocracy。 There is this inconvenience in an ill…constituted aristocracy； that the wealth centres in the nobility； and yet they are not allowed to spend； for as luxury is contrary to the spirit of moderation； it must be banished thence。 This government comprehends； therefore； only people who are extremely poor and cannot acquire； and people who are vastly rich and cannot spend。
In Venice； they are compelled by the laws to moderation。 They are so habituated to parsimony that none but courtesans can make them part with their money。 Such is the method made use of for the support of industry； the most contemptible of women may be profuse without danger； whilst those who contribute to their extravagance consume their days in the greatest obscurity。
Admirable in this respect were the institutions of the principal republics of Greece。 The rich employed their money in festivals； musical choruses； chariots； horse…races； and chargeable offices。 Wealth was； therefore； as burdensome there as poverty。
4。 Of sumptuary Laws in a Monarchy。 Tacitus says＇6＇ that the Suiones； a German nation； has a particular respect for riches； for which reason they live under the government of one person。 This shows that luxury is extremely proper for monarchies； and that under this government there must be no sumptuary laws。
As riches； by the very constitution of monarchies； are unequally divided； there is an absolute necessity for luxury。 Were the rich not to be lavish； the poor would starve。 It is even necessary here that the expenses of the opulent should be in proportion to the inequality of fortunes； and that luxury； as we have already observed； should increase in this proportion。 The augmentation of private wealth is owing to its having deprived one part of the citizens of their necessary support； this must therefore be restored to them。
Hence it is that for the preservation of a monarchical state； luxury ought continually to increase； and to grow more extensive； as it rises from the labourer to the artificer； to the merchant； to the magistrate； to the nobility； to the great officers of state； up to the very prince； otherwise the nation will be undone。
In the reign of Augustus； a proposal was made in the Roman senate； which was composed of grave magistrates； learned civilians； and of men whose heads were filled with the notion of the primitive times； to reform the manners and luxury of women。 It is curious to see in Dio；＇7＇ with what art this prince eluded the importunate solicitations of those senators。 This was because he was founding a monarchy； and dissolving a republic。
Under Tiberius； the ？diles proposed in the senate the re…establishment of the ancient sumptuary laws。＇8＇ This prince； who did not want sense； opposed it。 〃The state；〃 said he； 〃could not possibly subsist in the present situation of things。 How could Rome； how could the provinces； live？ We were frugal； while we were only masters of one city； now we consume the riches of the whole globe； and employ both the masters and their slaves in our service。〃 He plainly saw that sumptuary laws would not suit the present form of government。
When a proposal was made under the same emperor to the senate； to prohibit the governors from carrying their wives with them into the provinces； because of the dissoluteness and irregularity which followed those ladies； the proposal was rejected。 It was said that the examples of ancient austerity had been changed into a more agreeable method of living。＇9＇ They found there was a necessity for different manners。
Luxury is therefore absolutely necessary in monarchies； as it is also in despotic states。 In the former； it is the use of liberty； in the latter； it is the abuse of servitude。 A slave appointed by his master to tyrannise over other wretches of the same condition； uncertain of enjoying tomorrow the blessings of to…day； has no other felicity than that of glutting the pride； the passions； and voluptuousness of the present moment。
Hence arises a very natural reflection。 Republics end with luxury； monarchies with poverty。＇10＇
5。 In what Cases sumptuary Laws are useful in a Monarchy。 Whether it was from a republican spirit； or from。 some other particular circumstance； sumptuary laws were made in Aragon； in the middle of the thirteenth century。 James the First ordained that neither the king nor any of his subjects should have above two sorts of dishes at a meal； and that each dish should be dressed only one way； except it were game of their own killing。＇11＇
In our days； sumptuary laws have been also enacted in Sweden； but with a different view from those of Aragon。
A government may make sumptuary laws with a view to absolute frugality； this is the spirit of sumptuary laws in republics； and the very nature of the thing shows that such was the design of those of Aragon。
Sumptuary laws may likewise be established with a design to promote a relative frugality： when a government； perceiving that foreign merchandise； being at too high a price； will require such an exportation of home manufactures as to deprive them of more advantages by the loss of the latter than they can receive from the possession of the former； they will forbid their being introduced。 And this is the spirit of the laws which in our days have been passed in Sweden。＇12＇ Such are the sumptuary laws proper for monarchies。
In general； the poorer a state； the more it is ruined by its relative luxury； and consequently the more occasion it has for relative sumptuary laws。 The richer a state； the more it thrives by its relative luxury； for which reason it must take particular care not to make any relative sumptuary laws。 This we shall better explain in the book on commerce；＇13＇ here we treat only of absolute luxury。
6。 Of the Luxury of China。 Sumptuary laws may； in some governments； be necessary for particular reasons。 The people； by the influence of the climate； may grow so numerous； and the means of subsisting may be so uncertain； as to render a universal application to agriculture extremely necessary。 As luxury in those countries is dangerous； their sumptuary laws should be very severe。 In order； therefore； to be able to judge whether luxury ought to be encouraged or proscribed； we should examine first what relation there is between the number of people and the facility they have of procuring subsistence。 In England the soil produces more grain than is necessary for the maintenance of such as cultivate the land； and of those who are employed in the woollen manufactures。 This country may be therefore allowed to have some trifling arts； and consequently luxury。 In France； likewise； there is corn enough for the support of the husbandman and of the manufacturer。 Besides； a foreign trade may bring in so many necessaries in return for toys that there is no danger to be apprehended from luxury。
On the contrary； in China； the women are so prolific； and the huma。n species multiplies so fast； that the lands； though never so much cultivated； are scarcely sufficient to support the inhabitants。 Here； therefore； luxury is pernicious； and the spirit of industry and economy is as requisite as in any republic。＇14＇ They are obliged to pursue the necessary arts； and to shun those ot luxury and pleasure。
This is the spirit of the excellent decrees of the Chinese emperors。 〃Our ancestors；〃 says an emperor of the family of the Tangs＇15＇ 〃held it as a maxim that if there was a man who did not work； or a woman that was idle； somebody must suffer cold or hunger in the empire。〃 And on this principle he ordered a vast number of the monasteries of Bonzes to be destroyed。
The third emperor of the one…and…twentieth dynasty；＇16＇ to whom some precious stones were brought that had been found in a mine； ordered it to