voluptuousness, or an extravagant indulgence in diet and dress.

Concerning the general utility of luxury to a state, there is much controversy among the political writers. Baron Montesquieu lays it down, that luxury is necessary in monarchies, as in France; but ruinous to democracies, as in Holland. With regard therefore to Britain, whose government is compounded of both species, it may still be a dubious question, how far private luxury is a public evil; and, as such, cognizable by public laws. And indeed our legislators have several times changed their sentiments as to this point: for formerly there were a number of penal laws existing, to restrain excess in apparel; chiefly made in the reigns of Edward III. IV. and Henry VIII. against picked shoes, short doublets, and long coats; all of which were repealed by statute 1 Jac. I. c. 25. But, as to excess in diet, there still remains one ancient statute unrepealed, to Edw. III. st. 3, which ordains, that no man shall be served, at dinner or supper, with more than two courses; except upon some great holidays there specified, in which he may be served with three.