ThecharacteroftheChineseisformedofanothermixture，directlyoppositetothatoftheSpaniards；theprecariousnessoftheirsubsistence[13]inspiresthemwithaprodigiousactivity，andsuchanexcessivedesireofgain，thatnotradingnationcanconfideinthem。[14]ThisacknowledgedinfidelityhassecuredthemthepossessionofthetradetoJapan。NoEuropeanmerchanthaseverdaredtoundertakeitintheirname，howeasysoeveritmightbeforthemtodoitfromtheirmaritimeprovincesinthenorth。
11。AReflection。Ihavesaidnothingherewithaviewtolessenthatinfinitedistancewhichmusteverbebetweenvirtueandvice。GodforbidthatIshouldbeguiltyofsuchanattempt！Iwouldonlymakemyreaderscomprehendthatallpoliticalarenotallmoralvices；andthatallmoralarenotpoliticalvices；andthatthosewhomakelawswhichshockthegeneralspiritofanationoughtnottobeignorantofthis。
12。OfCustomsandMannersinadespoticState。Itisacapitalmaximthatthemannersandcustomsofadespoticempireoughtnevertobechanged；fornothingwouldmorespeedilyproducearevolution。Thereasonisthatinthesestatestherearenolaws，thatis，nonethatcanbeproperlycalledso；thereareonlymannersandcustoms；andifyouoverturntheseyouoverturnall。
Lawsareestablished，mannersareinspired；theseproceedfromageneralspirit，thosefromaparticularinstitution：nowitisasdangerous，naymoreso，tosubvertthegeneralspiritastochangeaparticularinstitution。
Thereislesscommunicationinacountrywhereeach，eitherassuperiororinferior，exercisesorisoppressedbyarbitrarypower，thanthereisinthosewherelibertyreignsineverystation。Theydonot，therefore，sooftenchangetheirmannersandbehaviour。Fixedandestablishedcustomshaveanearresemblancetolaws。Thusitisherenecessarythataprinceoralegislatorshouldlessopposethemannersandcustomsofthepeoplethaninanyothercountryuponearth。