[Footnote 174: Livy mentions two remarkable and flagitious
aeras, of 3000 persons accused, and of 190 noble matrons
convicted, of the crime of poisoning, (xl. 43, viii. 18.)
Mr. Hume discriminates the ages of private and public
virtue, (Essays, vol. i. p. 22, 23.) I would rather say that
such ebullitions of mischief (as in France in the year 1680)
are accidents and prodigies which leave no marks on the
manners of a nation.]