18.6. 6. Of Countries raised by the Industry of Man.
Those countries which
the industry of man has rendered habitable, and which stand in need of
the same industry to provide for their subsistence, require a mild and
moderate government. There are principally three of this species: the
two fine provinces of Kiang-nan and Tsekiang in China; Egypt, and
Holland.
The ancient emperors of China were not conquerors. The first thing
they did to aggrandise themselves was what gave the highest proof of
their wisdom. They raised from beneath the waters two of the finest
provinces of the empire; these owe their existence to the labour of man.
And it is the inexpressible fertility of these two provinces which has
given Europe such ideas of the felicity of that vast country. But a
continual and necessary care to preserve from destruction so
considerable a part of the empire demanded rather the manners of a wise
than of a voluptuous nation, rather the lawful authority of a monarch
than the tyrannic sway of a despotic prince. Power was, therefore,
necessarily moderated in that country, as it was formerly in Egypt, and
as it is now in Holland, which nature has made to attend to herself, and
not to be abandoned to negligence or caprice.
Thus, in spite of the climate of China, where they are naturally led
to a servile obedience; in spite of the apprehensions which follow too
great an extent of empire, the first legislators of this country were
obliged to make excellent laws, and the government was frequently
obliged to follow them.
