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perfection. In my opinion, mining is one of the ftronged charafteriflics which diflin-guiflies the Germans, particularly the Saxons, from our countrymen. The Frenchman ,though much quicker, is eafily conquered by difficulties', is difpinted when the firfl heatdoes not get the better of the oppofition, is fond of changing the object of his purfuit,is defirous of getting a great deal at once, in a'word, is only adapted to enterprizes,which require a quick comprehenfive genius and readinefs; he is confequently muchlefs fit for this work, than the cold, peniive, inquifitive, penetrating, preferving, and in-defatigable German, who can employ himfelf in the mod unthankful offices withoutbeing weary. No doubt, there are many valuable mines in the French dominions.Every body knows the projects of Colbert and his fucceffors. 1 hey have been takenup again in our own time by M. Turgot; but the genius of the nation has hitherto coun-teracted every effort of the kind that has been made.
The inhabitants of the fmalleft villages in the Saxon mountains, though often (hutout from the world by hills on each fide, are more polifhed, better bred, and morealive, than thofe of the largeft towns in the fouth of Germany .
Reading is almoft univerfal in this country; fociability and hofpitality accompany andencourage the hardelt labour; even the focieties of the inferior ranks are dlftinguiffiedby the liberality, knowledge of the world, wit, and jollity to be met with in them. Thewomen are throughout remarkable for the beauty of their fhapes, the animation of theirlooks, and their infinite fpirit, eafe, and vivacity, and yet they are quite good natured,and admirable houfewives. The men have of late, indeed, begun to complain a little,that for forne time pad, their beautiful partners have been too much addicted to vanity;but their clamours would foon ceafe, if the women were to unite and make a law, thatevery eighth or tenth man fhould take an Audrian or Bavarian wife for the edificationof the whole community. For my own part, the article of drefs alone excepted, I havenot been able to difcover a Angle excrefcence which wants pruning ; whereas the Bava-rian and Audrian women, befides being full as fond of drefs, break out a little both atbed and board, and do not concern themfelves at all with domedic matters.
The uncommonly large population of this country expofes the inhabitants to no fmalldillrefs in times of fcarcity. The land does not produce a tenth part of the grain ne-ceffary f Qr the confumption of the people, who are obliged to fupply their wants fromBohemia. The univerfal fcarcity which prevailed in Europe nine or ten years ago, wasno where more feverely felt than here, many thoufands died, a part through abfolutewant, and a part from being obliged to eat bad provifions. Great numbers were in-debted for their lives to the free-mafon’s lodges at Drefden, Leipfick, Fridburg, andother places, the members of which did an incredible deal for the relief of the neceffitiesof their brethren. If any country (lands in need of granaries, it is this. As foon as thedualled fcarcity is perceived, the exportation from the neighbouring countries is floppedU P, and the Saxon plains are too much peopled eafily to bear the lofs of their harved.Government has made fome regulations ; but in the prefent date of the finances of thecountry, it is impoffible that it fhould do as much as would be requifite to fecure the^habitants of the mountains againft every event.
Confpicuous as the indudry and commerce of this people is, the fituation of thefarmer amongd them is in all refpects pitiable. The fault, however, is in the conditu-bonof the country, not in the inhabitants, who are a frank, diligent, and intelligent peo-ple. No doubt, but the didrefs is owing to the quantity of land in the hands of greatfarmers. Along the foot of the Ertzgeberg mountain, and in the plain, you can hardlycount the deeples, which you fee on all fides of you. The number of villages in theElectoral territory, taking in the Lau/lts, is near fix thoufand. I faw feveral farmers
x 2 , who