of the moral fenfe; and benevolent affections prevailed over diffocial paffions. In that comfortable period, we hear no more of cruelty as a national character: on the contrary, the averfion we have to an enemy, is even in war exercifed with moderation. Nor do the ftormy paffions ever again revive; for after a nation begins to decline from its meridian height, the paffions that prevail are not of the violent kind, but selfish, timorous, and deceitful.

Morality however has not to this day arrived to fuch maturity, as to operate between nations with equal steadiness and vigour, as between individuals. Ought this to be regretted as an imperfection in our nature? I think not: had we the fame compunction of heart for injuring a nation as for injuring an individual, and were injuftice equally blameable as to both; war would ceafe, and a golden age enfue, than which a greater misfortune could not befal the human race (a).

In the progress from maturity to a declining state, a nation differs widely from an individual. Old age puts an end to (a) Book 2. fketch 1.

the latter: there are many caufes that weaken the former; but old age is none of them, if it be not in a metaphorical fenfe. Riches, felfifhnefs, and luxury, are the difeafes that weaken profperous nations: thefe difeafes, following each other in a train, corrupt the heart, dethrone the moral fenfe, and make an anarchy in the foul: men ftick at no expence to purchafe pleasure; and they ftick at no vice to fupply that expence.

Such are the outlines of morality in its progrefs from birth to burial; and these outlines I purpose to fill up, with an induction of particulars. Looking back to the commencement of civil fociety, when no wants were known but thofe of nature, and when fuch wants were amply provided for; we find individuals of the fame tribe living innocently and cordially together; they had no irregular appetites, nor any ground for ftrife. In that state, moral principles joined their influence with that of national affection, to fecure individuals from harm. Savages accordingly, who have plenty of food and are fimple in habitation and cloathing, feldom tranfgrefs the rules of morality within their

own

own tribe. Diodorus Siculus, who compofed his hiftory recently after Cæfar's expedition into Britain, fays, that the inhabitants dwelt in mean cottages covered with reeds or flicks; that they were of much fincerity and integrity, contented with plain and homely fare; and were ftrangers to the excefs and luxury of rich men. In Friezeland, in Holland, and in other maritime provinces of the Netherlands, locks and keys were unknown, till the inhabitants became rich by commerce: they contented themselves with bare neceffaries, which every one had in plenty. The Laplanders have no notion of theft. When they make an excurfion into Norway, which is performed in the fummer months, they leave their huts open, without fear that any thing will be purloined. Formerly they were entirely upright in their only commerce, that of bartering the fkins of wild beafts for tobacco, brandy, and coarse cloth. But being often cheated by ftrangers, they begin to be more cunning. Theft was unknown among the Caribbees till Europeans came among them. When they loft any thing, they faid innocently, "the Chriftians have

❝ been

"been here." Crantz, defcribing the inhabitants of Iceland before they were corrupted by commerce with ftrangers, fays, that they lived under the fame roof with their cattle; that every thing was common among them except their wives and children; and that they were fimple in their manners,' having no appetite but for what nature requires. In the reign of Edwin King of Northumberland, a child, as historians report, might have travelleď with a purse of gold, without hazard of robbery in our days of luxury, want is fo intolerable, that even fear of death is not fufficient to deter us. All travellers agree, that the native Canadians are perfectly difinterested, abhorring deceit and lying. The Californians are fond of iron and sharp inftruments; and yet are so strictly honest, that carpenter-tools left open during night, were fafe. The favages of North America had no locks for their goods they probably have learned from Europeans to be more circumfpect. Procopius bears teftimony (a), that the Sclavi, like the Huns, were innocent people, free of malice. Plan Carpin, the Pope's am

(a) Hiftoria Gothica, lib. 3.

baffador

baffador to the Cham of Tartary, anno 1246, fays, that the Tartars are not addicted to thieving; and that they leave their goods open without a lock. Nicholas Damafcenus reports the fame of the Celtæ. The original inhabitants of the ifland Borneo, expelled by the Mahometans from the fea-coast to the center of the country, are honest, induftrious, and kindly to each other: they have some notion of property, but not fuch as to render them covetous. Pagans in Siberia are numerous; and, tho' grofsly ignorant efpecially in matters of religion, they are a good moral people. It is rare to hear among them of perjury, thieving, fraud, or drunkenness; if we except those who live among the Ruffian Chriftians, with whofe vices they are tainted. Strahlenberg (a) bears teftimony to their honesty. Having employ'd a number of them in a long navigation, he flept in the fame boat with men whofe names he knew not, whofe language he understood not, and yet loft not a particle of his baggage. Being obliged to remain a fortnight among the Oftiacs, upon the river Oby, his baggage

(a) Defcription of Ruffia, Siberia, &c.

lay