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From Rome to Naples. 183

em. These ill Effects may arise, in a
great measure, out of the Arbitrari-
ness of the Government, but I think
they are chiefly to be ascrib'd to the
very Genius of the Roman Catholick
Religion, which here shows it self in
its Perfection. It is not strange to
find a Country half unpeopled, where
so great a proportion of the Inhabi-
tants of both Sexes is ty'd under Vows
of Chastity, and where at the same
time an Inquistion forbids all Re-
cruits of any other Religion. Nor
is it less easie to account for the great
Poverty and Want that are to be met
with in a Country that invites into it
such Swarms of Vagabonds, under
the Title of Pilgrims, and shuts up
in Cloisters such an incredible Multi
tude of young and lusty Beggars, that,
instead of encreasing the Common
Stock by their Labour and Industry,
lye as a dead Weight on their Fellow-
Subjects, and consume the Charity
that ought to support the Sickly, Old
and
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