The new order of things which feemed opening upon Europe, afforded no profpect more flattering to the lovers of mankind, than that of a probable extinction of the wars which from the earliest records have never ceased to ravage the world. It was very plaufibly argued, that fince nothing was more demonftrable than the preponderance of evil which a war brought even upon the fuccefsful party, as foon as nations fhould become capable of purfuing, as well as difcovering their true interefts, the fword would no longer be reforted to for the decifion of their differences. But the first confequence of the French Revolution has been a very extenfive and moft bloody war, entered into with as much eagerness and animofity by the feveral parties as any former one; and, in the mean time, three potentates have joined unmolefted in a fcheme of fharing between them one of the principal portions of Europe, and abolishing a rifing liberty which had every plea of justice in its favour. Nor does it appear, that a temporary peace can be restored without leaving abundant feeds of future difcord; or that even the greateft fufferers by the war, are likely to be cured of the fatal propenfity to rush again into quarrels on the flighteft occafions of ambition or contention. War is in fo many ways the author of mifery, and the obftacle of melioration, that unless fomewhat decifive fhall be effected for abolifhing it from the ordinary courfe of human affairs, it may be affirmed, that nothing comparatively is done towards a better fate of things. The propenfity to national hoftility has already withftood all the efforts of a religion apparently promulgated for the exprefs purpofe of reftoring peace on earth. It did not, even when its influence was ftrongeft, beftow the shorteft breathing-time on mankind; and its minifters have long been, and are at the prefent day, fome of the most active promoters of the horrid fpirit of mutual enmity. The banner is confecrated at the altar before it is dipped in blood; and prayers are folemnly offered up in every church in Chriftendom for fuccefs in every act of public violence that the fovereign of each country fhall pleafe to engage in. The fpirit of commerce too, which fo much diftinguishes the prefent age, inftead of binding the nations in a golden chain of mutual peace and friendship, feems only to have given additional motives for war. Each fate aims at a monopoly, only to be established by an armed force; and the improvements of navigation have contracted the dimenfions of the world fo as not to allow fpace enough for the fchemes of a merchant's counting houfe. Further, the prefent fyftem of trade can only be maintained by the flavery or fubjugation of great numbers of mankind; and while the East and Weft Indies compofe links in the chain of European commerce, cruelty and injuftice must be the means by which they are made to hold together. From thefe confiderations, I fear, we have very infufficient grounds to fuppofe, that the defired melioration of the world upon public principles is as yet commenced. All that a comparifon of this century with the last will allow us with certainty to infer, is greater lenity and regularity in the adminiftration of government in fome countries; more encouragement to the exertions of induftry; and a defire in governors to participate in the improvements made by art and fcience, which has the good effect of inciting them to encourage the means of advancing useful knowledge, though often from narrow and felfish motives. If, in oppofition to these advantages, be fet the prodigious increase of standing armies; the vaft accumulation of national debts and burthens; and the extinction of a spirit of independence in numbers of the middle and fuperior ranks of fociety, while the lowest are doomed to ceafelefs toil in order to gain a mere fubfiftence, I queftion if the moft fanguine friend of mankind can ftrike a fair balance which will give him much fatisfaction. But not to dwell entirely upon the dark fide of the profpect, I shall state a few circumftances of private improvement, on which I think we may fafely place fome reliance. It is impoffible to doubt that, in all the more civilized parts of the world, fuperftition and bigotry, thofe bitter foes of human happiness, have loft much of their power; and that this has been owing to that progrefs of good fenfe and knowledge which may be expected to go on ftill further diminishing their influence. It is true, the connexion between old fyftems of belief and old claims of authority, may for a while maintain the ftruggle of falfhood and violence, against truth and equity; but I would fain hope that impofture and perfecution have received their death wound in Europe, and will never again be able to produce the follies and miferies under which men so many ages groaned. Religious fyftems are fill, indeed, full of error, and are little, if at all, mended in their principles; but the fpirit of the times has been too potent for them, and doubt or indifference have effected what mere argu ment ment could not have done. Emancipation from the fervile dread of fupernatural evils, and from the burthenfome and degrading practices by which they were to be averted, is a gain in point of happiness which cannot be too highly prized. It enters deep into the comfort of private life, and makes all the difference between a freeman and a flave. And that increafed lenity in governments and liberality in individuals, which renders the profeffion of a different religious faith from the eftablifhed one, no longer dangerous or degrading, is a most important advantage to all diffidents. The great diffufion of knowledge, though perhaps of a fuperficial kind, among ranks of people who formerly poffeffed fcarcely the fmalleft portion of it, has certainly added much to the pleasure and variety of, life; and if it has tended to foften and humanize the manners, and introduced a greater love for fedentary amufements, and the purfuits of cultivated leifure, I own I am one of thofe who think this a good exchange against the rough vigour and rude fimplicity of former ages. Nor can it efcape any obferver, that even the amufive writings of the prefent day are almoft invariably friendly to decency, humanity, generofity, and all the finer and nobler feelings of the heart. And as a confequence of the propagation of fuck fentiments, the virtues of charity, benefificence, and affability, were certainly never more confpicuous. From these confiderations I am not willing to accept the conceffion of a very zealous believer in the progreffion of the human race, the late Condorcet, who afferts, "that though much has been done for the glory of mankind, fcarcely any thing has yet been done for its happiness." It is true, that the continuance of deftructive wars, and of the immenfe inequality of conditions, perpetuates a vast mass of evils in fociety; yet thefe evils, which at no period did not exift, are undoubtedly foftened by modern manners ; and private life has in various refpects been made happier to all ranks of people. But I own that the very circumftance of fome improvement in thefe points, leads me to despair of those radical and effectual meliorations which many expect from vigorous schemes of reform, conducted upon principles of general intereft and public virtue. Our fituation has too many advantages to be readily hazarded; an the exertions requifite to maintain thofe advan tages too much occupy our minds to allow of the application of much time and atten tion to matters remotely concerning ourfelves. Our tempers, too, with the fternnefs, have loft the force, of the heroic ages; nor do I conceive that any confiderable number of us would be capable of going through the rough work of a reformation when brought from theory to practice. If the inftance of a neighbouring nation be brought to refute the notion of a neceffary connexion between advancement in civilization and effeminacy of character; it may be urged, on the other hand, that the fhocking calamities which have attended its revolutionary exertions will with certainty for a long time render its hiftory more a warning than an example to other nations. Melioration, according to its warmeft advocates, cannot be effected without overthrowing all ufurpations in governments, all impofitions in religion, rooting up all prejudices, levelling all artificial diftinctions, and equalifing mankind fo far as can be done confiftently with the fundamental principles of focial union. But where are the engines by which thefe mighty operations are to be brought about? The pulpit, the bar, the sword, are already engaged in fupport of exifting inftitutions; and the prefs, on which the chief reliance of reformers is placed, is at least half bought by the fame powerful bidders. Not a fingle axiom on which the rights of man are founded, has been able to fix itself beyond the reach of affault. All is difputed; and where argument fails, authority is called in to give fuccour; while wit and eloquence fight indifcriminately on either fide. Ifhall conclude with one more reflexion which forcibly preffes upon me. All the proofs that have been adduced of the amended state of mankind, and all that I have admitted as real or probable, relates only to Europe and her immediate connexions, and not even to the whole of that. But what a fmall portion of the human race does this comprehend! The laft accounts of China ftate the population of that empire alone at upwards of 300 millions, of which fum all Europe can only fhow a trifling fraction. Who can with the least probability fuggeft improvement in that ancient, vain and prejudiced people, who only know enough of us and our inftitutions to fufpect and defpife us? Who pretends to fee lefs ferocity in the African, lefs pride in the Turk, lefs rapine in the Arab, lefs perfidy in the Indian, lefs cruelty in the Perfian? Alas! while we are overwhelmed at home with bufinefs enough to occupy reformation for centuries, all thefe vaft regions have not as yet heard the word word found in their ears, and would probably fhudder at the propofal of any innovation as the direft of crimes! The imagination can scarcely conceive that change which thould render our books, our knowledge, our opinions, familiar to thefe people. Nothing but entire conqueft would feem anywife adequate to this effect; and what a Pandora's box does that word conqueft comprife! Better, furely, that the world fhould remain in its prelent mixed and imperfect ftate, than that an uniformity of good fhould be aimed at by means which are themfelves the greatest of evils!• To the Editor of the Monthly Magazine. I RESPECTED FRIEND, N appretiating the general character of any body of men, it is equally abfurd and unjust to defcribe it by traits which do not exclufively apply, or which may be equally pertinent to any other branch of the community and no lefs fo to impute to it practices with which individuals only are chargeable. A writer in the Magazine, under the fignature of G. W. has not, I think, been fufficiently guarded in thefe refpects in his remarks on the fociety called Quakers: for altho' he fays thofe remarks," must not be accepted as individually applicable," he offers them as "the refult of long, attentive, and commodious infpection," and that"in various parts of this kingdom, and among very numerous focieties of the Friends," thence inferring their appropriate juftice and accuracy. The limits ufually allowed to an Effay of this kind do not admit of a difcuffion of all the fubjects involved in those remarks. I therefore mean to confine myself to such as ftruck me most forcibly on the perufal. He fays, "I fhall attempt to estimate the public character of thefe people under the threefold divifion of peculiarities praifeworthy, dubious, and reprehenfible." As to the two first claffes, it may be worthy of G. W's confideration, whether, if his opinion of them under the first head, is "the refult of long, attentive, and commodious infpection," he fhould have hefitated in admitting their fingularity of drefs to be more than a prudent "external diftinction," and "a prominent exhibition of principles and character to the ocular obfervations of their countrymen." After a more than forty years intimate acquaintance with their principles and practices, I never knew that "the colour of cloth and the difpofal of buttons" were matters of peculiar fcruple or ferious regulation among them, excepting only fuch advices as have been from time to time iffued against the ufe of mourning habits, and following vain and expenfive fashions-as to black, it is almost exclufively the livery of the clergy, and the glaring colours, as red, &c. that of the military orders: on which account the fociety may have declined the ufe of them in favour of other colours. The avoidance of parade, expenfiveness and finery, at once vain and vicicus, is the fole object to which its recommendations on this head have reference and of course such parts of apparel as are more adapted to ornament than us, and to gratify that difpofition which induces the gay and inconfiderate to fubmit to the capricious empire of fashion, mult experience its disapprobation. As to the drefis in which the generality of this people now appear, it is thought they are nearly the fame which were commonly worn by others, at their first appearance, excepting fuch particulars wherein an improvement in real convenience was their inducement to alteration. If this be true, the peculiarity of their garb may be rather attributable to the versatility of their countrymen than to them.* That they have paid more "attention to certain forms of language in perfonal addrefs, dates, and fuperfcriptions," is admitted. But I cannot as readily concede that the period is arrived when the plain rules of grammar and language are no longer facrificed to "fuperftitious reverence,' and the most fulfome and unmeaning adulation. I can hardly think that G. W. on more ferious confideration, will think that the fubftitution of the fingular for the plural number in addreffing a single perfon," or of the numerical names of the days and months in lieu of those derived from the heathen mythology, really merit the cenfure he has expreffed on that account. Or what proof is it of their difloyalty and want of good fenfe, that in their addreffes to the king, whom they honour, they refrain from the common epithets of moft facred-moft excellentmost high-moft mighty, &c. yet here G. W.'s cenfure would apply with equal reafon. *The late Dr. Franklin, on being told by a perfon with whom in earlier life he had been in the habits of intimacy, that his old he had changed his political principles, replied, acquaintance were forry to obferve how often "Be affured, my dear Sir, they are mistaken; I have kept on in the fame ftraight road; and when they, in croffing it, have met me, they have fuppofed it to be me and not themfelves, that was going zigzag. I now I now proceed to the lefs" evanefcent fpecks" to which G. W. has excited the public attention as reprehenfible peculiarities in the fociety. They are indeed far more worthy of comment, and (at least of their own) ferious inquiry: for "a ftoical unconcern for the public good," under whatever circumstances manifefted, would, if it could be proved upon this or any other people, render them unworthy of fuch commendation as he has bestowed on the objects of his animadverfions; being indeed utterly inconfiftent with that fympathy in the univerfal happiness of our fpecies which is enjoined by the gospel.' 66 But the people in queftion probably differ widely from G. W. in their ideas of the real indications of fuch a lamentable ftate of mind. In what way, confiftent with their religious opinions refpecting, war, can they more effectually exert themfelves for the correction of " political corruptions and perturbations," than by carefully avoiding the caufes, and main taining against them the firm proteft of a peaceable and unoffending example, with the occafional formality of verbal remonftrance." If by "pofitive energy" he means fuch exertions as aim at a general reformation of morals-the relief of general diftrefs, or the univerfal happiness of our fpecies, he fhould have fhewn in which of thofe particulars they have lagged behind their neighbours. Their perfevering endeavours for the abolition of the Slave-Trade, and the tyranny and cruelty attendant on and confequent of it-the very confiderable facrifices of intereft, which many of their members have made on this account (fome individuals to the amount of feveral thousand pounds) and their continual attention to the rights and welfare of the Indian natives, in countries first fettled by fome of their ancestors, fur. nish ample proof that, as a body, they have not been remarkably deficient, at least in fome of the duties which directly tend to "produce an essential melioration of civil life.' But if by "pofitive energy" is meant an active co operation in the party politics which have lately fo much agitated this nation, I must allow, that with the more serious part of the society, it is a matter of fincere regret that there is not yet more foundation for the charge; apprehenfive as they are, that under the pretenfions of party leaders, are but too often concealed the designs of ambition; and that the means adopted to obtain even defirable ends are often inconfiftent with the nobility of the object in view. I feel lefs difficulty in acknowledging, that many individuals in the fociety appear to be too "unremittingly occupied in the purfuit of worldly intereft," but that G. W.'s remark on this head applies more peculiarly to them than" to any men whatever' is, I apprehend, more eafily afferted than determined. In the advices published from time to time by the fociety, there is hardly any species of evil against which its members have been more frequently and earneftly cautioned, than this of worldly-mindedness; which implies that a fenfe at leaft of its turpitude remains among them. I do not however wish that any obfervations I am now making may leffen the expofure of a propenfity fo oppofed to Chriftian benevolence, either in thefe or any other of its profeffors; though when we confider the valt expence of time and money confequent on their attendance of their monthly, quarterly, and yearly meetings, and the great dereliction of outward eafe, and domeftic comforts, which their minifters manifeft in their travels, I believe the charge of worldly-mindednefs cannot be pre-eminently fixed on them. 66 Neither in adverting to the third peculiarity imputed to them as reprehenfible" can I acquiefce in G. W.'s fentiment, that the literary education of their youth is neglected; and that the liberal arts and fciences which he enumerates are "almost if not altogether unknown among them."-Indeed, it his pofition be true, that "knowledge is the bafis of all virtue," it is not very probable that a people diftinguished for qualities, which he fays, "richly merit not only the cordial teftimony, but the univerfal imitation of mankind," can be uncommonly ignorant or neglectful of the means of acquiring it: and, from his extenfive acquaintance among them, I fhould have fuppofed he might have met with a fufficient number to have obviated his exception to the fociety on that account. It is, however, probable, that even thefe do not in general apprehend with G. W. that extraordinary degrees of the knowledge he alludes to, and for which fo few have adequate capacities, are really effential to human happiness, and much less to "the renovation of our fpecies." In this momentous concern, it is well known the fociety in question profess to believe, that a dependance on fomething fuperior to human wifdom is indifpenfibly neceffary, and that to this all the acquirements of which the mind of man is capable, ought to be held in conftant fubfervience. The The general care of the fociety in the education of their youth, and that all, even the children of the poorest among them, may freely part ike of learning, to fit them for the bufinefs of life in which they are likely to be employed," is a fufficient proof that knowledge really ufeful is by no means undervalued by them. And I quetion if, on impartial enquiry, there will be found in any religious fociety a greater proportion of members capable of reading and writing, or who have a more general knowledge of men and things, than in this. As G. W. has not fpecified what thofe "doctrines of Christianity connected with its very effence" are, which he apprehends, will not bear the fcrutinizing difcuffions of increafing knowledge, I can only fay, that till they are stated, it can hardly be expected they will be abandoned, however "noxious," on infinuations which are not understood. But pofiibly, if opportunity for difcuffing them were afforded, it would appear that the tenets alluded to are not acknowledg ed by the fociety, and prove to be "only the iffues of unfortunate inquiry" in the objector. But be that as it may, as Christianity rightly embraced and fully fubmitted to, is the perfection of morality, both G.W. and the objects of his animadverfions, would do well to bear in remembrance this fentiment of the poet: For modes of faith let angry zealots fight, 14th 12th Month, 1798. P. S. I find G. Dyer (in his letter of the last month) has been induced in his P S. to quote an extract from a letter addreffed to the fociety of the people called Quakers, in 1793, figned Pacificus; wherein the moft active and approved members of that fociety' are faid to have lent money to government for the avowed purpofe of active operation against the enemy;' at the fame time others were difowned for carrying guns in their fhips for defence only. I fully believe this not to have been the cafe. It is true, that perfons, actual members of the fociety, have been concerned in loans; but thefe were generally fuch as had forfaken its teftimonies in other refpects; and a knowledge of what had been, induced the yearly meeting in 1790, on the profpect of a war, to iffue the following advice, which I think effectually clears the body from the charge of countenancing war by loans. we cannot own. "If any be concerned in fabricating or felling inftruments of war, let them be treated with in love; and if by this unreclaimed, let them be further dealt with as thofe whom And we intreat, that when warlike preparations are making, friends be watchful left any be drawn into loans, arming or letting out their thips or veffels, or otherwife promoting the deftruction of the human fpecies." It may probably eventually fpare your pages to fay, that one, alfo a member, had a manufactory of arms, for which, though it long remained a deferved ftigma, he was within thefe few years difowned In a fociety where birthright gives admiffion, unconverted brethren must be expected, and for a time borne with. IT was not to be expected that the article in the Miffionary Magazine, relative to the diffolution of the Northampton Academy, would find an approver in you. But there are truths which however unwelcome to fome, demand a gefolved-I am well pleafed with the event neral diffufion. The Academy is dif my and additionally pleated that efforts were fuccefsful in haftening it. You complain of mifreprefentation, and roundly affirm, what I did not expect, that you habitually recommended to the ftudents a fyftem in full coincidence with the will of the founder, and the defign of the inftitution. Mr. Horfey, are you ferious? What the will of the founder-what the defign of the inftitution require, the public are not to learn. It is exprefly flated that the ftudents fhall be inftructed agreeably to the doctrines of the Affembly's Catechifin. Whether the doctrines be true or falfe is not here the point in dif pute. But we afk-is it ingenuous in a man to hold a fituation which profeffes to inculcate them, while the heart is known utterly to difclaim them: From this charge |
