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emarked of the latter.CAUSES OF THE FALL OF GKEECE.A nation with a religion like thatof the Greeks, must either refrain from philosophical inquiries, or learn from philosophy that its religion is unfounded.This result cannot be urged against the philosophers as acrime, but only a want of prudence, of which they wereguilty in promulgating their positions.The care taken bythe best of them in this respect, has already been mentioned ;and that the state was not indifferent to the practice of therest, is proved by the punishments which were inflicted onmany of them. But though the systems of the philosopherswere restricted to the schools, a multitude of philosophicviews were extended, which to a certain degree were adopted by the common people. In Athens, the comedians contributed to this end ;for whether with or without design,they extended the doctrines which they ridiculed.The most melancholy proof of the decay of religiousisfeeling, found in the Phocian war and the manner inwhich that war was conducted. In the time of Thucydides,Delphi and its oracle were still revered; 1 although theSpartans began even then to doubt its claims to confidence.2When all the former relations of the states were dissolvedby the Peloponnesian war and itsconsequences, those toward the gods were also destroyed and the crimes com;mitted against them, brought on their own punishment in anew civil war and the downfal of liberty.The treasuresstolen from Delphi, with which the war was carried on,suddenly increased the mass of specie current in Greece toan unheard of degree; but increased in an equal degreeluxury, and the wants of life. 3 And if any portion of theancient spirit remained, it was destroyed by the custom ofemploying mercenary soldiers, a custom which becameevery day more common, and gave a deadly chill to valourand patriotism.Thus the evils of which the superior policy of a neighbour knew how to take advantage, were the result of defects in the political constitution ;in that very constitution,but for which the glorious fruits of Grecian liberty nevercould have ripened. But amidst all the disorder, and all thelosses, not every thing perished. The national spirit, though1Tfeneyd. v. 32, *Ttracjrd. r. 1&* See a leading passage on this topic, in Athen. rr. p. 231.