XV. It is also true, that not only real, but imaginary conveniences,
have their influence, to promote an adherence to our country.
Entertaining a flattering opinion of the country in which we were
born, and preferring it to all others in the world, is one of the most
common of all common errors. There is scarce any man, and among the
lower class of people not a single one, who does not think his own
country the first production of nature, and abounding in a three-fold
proportion, with all the goods she distributes, either with respect to
the genius or ability of the natives, the fertility of the soil, or
the happiness of the climate. To understandings of inferior rank, near
objects are represented as by the corporeal eye, which although they
are really less, appear larger than things at a distance. In his nation
only, are to be found learned and wise men, those of other kingdoms are
hardly civilized; the customs of his country only are rational, and
the language of it is the only soft and sufferable one; the hearing a
stranger speak, as effectually excites them to laughter, as seeing Jack
Pudding on a stage; his nation only abounds in riches, and the Prince
of it is the only powerful one. At the end of the last century, when
the arms of France were so prevalent, a junto of people at Salamanca
being talking on this subject, a low Portugueze who was among them,
with an air of great sagacity and importance, made the following
political remark: _There is certainly now no Prince in Europe capable
of resisting the King of France, except the King of Portugal._ But what
Michael Montona, in his treatise intitled _Moral Reflections_, relates
of a rustic Savoyard, is more extravagant still, who said, _I don’t
believe the King of France has the ability he is said to have, for if
that was the case, he would have negotiated with our Duke long ago,
about making him his Major Domo._ Nearly after this manner, do all the
low vulgar discourse of the things of their own country.
XVI. Neither are many of those exempted from so gross an error,
although it is in a less degree, who by their birth or professions, are
much superior to the lower class of people. The number of vulgar who
do not associate with the common herd, but are intruded among people
of understanding, is infinite. How many men of school learning, whose
heads were stored with texts, have I seen filled with the caprice,
that our nation is the only seat of knowledge and learning, and that
in other countries, they print nothing but puerilities and bagatelles,
more especially if they write in their own native idiom; nor does it
appear to them, that any thing worth reading, can be published in
French or Italian, which is in a manner maintaining, that the most
important truths can’t be expressed or explained in other languages,
although it is certain, the Apostles expounded the most essential and
sublime ones in all tongues. But strangers are sufficiently revenged
on us for this conceitedness, for in return for our considering
them as people of little learning, they look upon us as illiberal
and barbarous. Thus in all countries, you will find this piece of
bad road to travel through, which is worn in holes and made rough,
by the hacknied passage of carriages, loaded with the high notions
and opinions the natives have of themselves, and the low ones they
entertain of strangers.