I6l 



Much however is due to chivalry; and philosophy may justly 

 claim a share. 



To chivalry European society is indebted for polished man- 

 ners, a high sense of honour, fidelity to sovereigns, and res- 

 pect for the female sex. To philosophy Ave owe the cessation 

 of trials by ordeal, and of the judicial (I wish I could also 

 say extra-judicial) trials by battle ; the discredit of witchcraft 

 or magic, an imaginary crime for which many thousands have 

 been condemned to death ; and the general prevalence of re- 

 ligious toleration. 



It must be confessed, however, that most European coun- 

 tries are, as yet, but imperfectly civilized; in most of them 

 an absolute unlimited authority is at present, and has been 

 for some ages, vested in a single person whose power is sup- 

 ported by a numerous disciplined army ; hence it is frequently 

 abused, and those rights for the preservation of which men 

 originally associated, are frequently grossly violated, by arbi- 

 trary imprisonments, heav3% unequal and unnecessary impo- 

 sitions, severe restraints on the communication of knowledge, 

 and in many by punishment, even unto death, of those who 

 adopt speculative religious opinions dift'erent from those au- 

 thorised by the state. Those guilty of this atrocity cannot 

 surely reproach the Mexicans with their execrable human 

 sacrifices. 



VOL. XI. T - Thus 



