Ch.VIII. south AMERICA. 397 



for their pundlual obfervance of the laws of nature: 

 fometimes they carry this ftridnefs to fupcrftition : 

 and from this principle all the penalties laid on them 

 in England could not bring them to take the oaths 

 required by the government ; fo that at length they 

 obtained from the parliament, that the fimple affirma- 

 tion of a Quaker ihould have the fame force as an 

 oath, except in capital cafes. As they make fuch a 

 ftriót profeíTion of truth, and lay down as a fundamental 

 article of their belief, the neceíTity of inviolably 

 adhering to their affirmation, they alfo make profeffion 

 of candour, julVice and fimplicity in all their dealin^^s ; 

 and it is a thing well known, that all treaties, aj^ree- 

 ments and conventions made with Quakers, though 

 only on their bare word, prove better founded and 

 fulfilled, without any of that chicane and delay, which 

 fo often occurs in thofe with other people, thoucyh 

 corroborated by bonds, witneííes, and fecurides. Such 

 perfons as thefe having the direéiion, diftribution and 

 making of the money in the colony of Pcnnfylv.nnia, 

 and others where it is current, the inhabitants are un- 

 der no manner of concern with regard to any malver- 

 fationj nor can it morally be expc6led, for fuch a 

 breach of truft would be a total departure from their 

 faith. This has been their uniform condud: and as 

 this feci has gready increafed in thefe colonies, they 

 have always ftriiftly adhered to their ceremonies and 

 rules; and irreproachably obferved the maxims tranf- 

 mitted to them by their anceftors ; and this probity 

 has doubflefs communicated icfelf to the members of 

 other religions, that among thofe people to harbour 

 the ilighteft fufpicion concerning the difintereíledneís 

 of their magiftrates, would be an injury j thofe virtues 

 being as common here as they are rare among other 

 nations. 



The traders fell all their European goods in ex- 

 change for this money ; and with it buy thofe of the 

 €ountryi and confign them to their corrcfpondents 



in 



