108 A wonderful Narrati 



parlies became in a measure exhaust- 

 ed, and weary of the eontcst ; a con- 

 ference was proposed, and acceded to, 

 for the purpose of reconciliation. 

 This was prolonged for many days, 

 andconsiderybfe altercation occurred ; 

 but at lasl, without any compensation, 

 or even concession on either side, they 

 agreed to drop the infamous quarrel, 

 and to return to their former state of 

 friendship and amicable intercourse. 

 After having sustained mutual inju- 

 ries to an amount which cannot be 

 described, and after the causes of 

 complaint had been multiplied a hun- 

 dred fold, each party gladly accepted 

 such terms as they might easily have 

 obtained at the commencement of the 

 dispute. — Such are the folly and mad- 

 ness of men in their sanguinary quar- 

 rels with each other. 



LETTER III. 



Since the reconciliation, several 

 things have been discovered in each 

 of the families which indicate either 

 partial insanity, or very incorrect views 

 both of religion, and the means for 

 preserving peace. Were these fami- 

 lies what they profess to be, it would 

 be natural to suppose that, on reflec- 

 tion, they would be very much 

 ashamed of such a barbarous and 

 disgraceful quarrel ; that they would 

 deeply lament the dishonour done to 

 religion, by the indulgence of such 

 ungodly passions ; and that they would 

 spare no pains to wipe away the re- 

 proach, and to cultivate the spirit of 

 forgiveness and brotherly love. There 

 are, indeed, a few persons in each 

 family who appear to be properly 

 affected in view of the past transac- 

 tions, and who are resolved to exert 

 themselves to prevent, if possible, fu- 

 ture animosities. But, however asto- 

 nishing it may seem to you, a much 

 greater number in each family are 

 often heard to boast of the injuries they 

 did to the other during the conflict. 

 They even glory in the number of their 

 robberies and murders 1 Not only has 

 this been done in private < onversation, 

 but even in public newspapers ; as 

 though it were truly an honourable 

 thing for Christians io fght and ijijure 

 one another, and as though the greater 

 the injury, the greater (he glory. 



Some circumstances relating to the 

 quarrel I have omitted to mention. 

 The habitations of the two families 

 were separated by a navigable lake, 

 and both families were concerned in 

 commerce. During their conflict they 



ve of Two Families. [March I> 



fitted out gun-boats, and practised 

 piracif on each other's merchandize. 

 Several captures were made on each 

 side ; and in several instances the gun- 

 boals of the diflVrent (arailies met on 

 the lake, — in which cases the most 

 horrible fighting ensued. Perhaps na 

 Algerines or Bucaniers ever fought 

 with more deadly animosity than did 

 these professed Christians ; and, on 

 which side soever a victory was gain- 

 ed, the event was celebrated by a 

 festival with savage and inhuman joy. 

 Even since the professed reconcilia- 

 tion of the two families, these piracies 

 and victories on the lake have been 

 openly made the subjects of exultation 

 and triumph ! 



Nor does the inconsistency of these 

 families stop here ; there are men in 

 each of tliem who talk and write about 

 a .future quarrel, as though a succes- 

 sion of these savage conflicts were as 

 unavoidable, and as much to be ex- 

 pected, as a succession of winters la 

 the natural world. They accordingly 

 mention on each side the advantages 

 they are likely to possess in the next 

 quarrel, which they had not in the 

 last ; what greater means of annoyance 

 or defence. 



Indeed, while professed friends to 

 each other, they go so far as actually 

 to prepare fur another fjuarrel. This 

 they do with as much deliberation and 

 as little shame as they in summer 

 prepare for winter. It would astonish 

 an intellij;ent and unprejudiced stran- 

 ger, to hear with what indiflerenee, or 

 rather with what pleasure, they talk 

 about these future contests, as though 

 fighting, injuring, and killing one ano- 

 ther, were as free from crime as the 

 purest acts of justice and beneficence. 

 So complete is their delusion, tliat 

 they seem to have no idea that such 

 fightings result from their own lusts 

 and passions, or that the most peace- 

 able dispositions and conduct on their 

 part couM have any tendency to pre- 

 vent the recurrence of hostilities. 



The extraordinary conduct which I 

 have jnst mentioned is in perfect 

 accordance witli a popular article of 

 their political creed,— an article for 

 which they evince much more respect 

 than they do for the precepts of their 

 Saviour. The article referred to is 

 this, — that preparing fr <juarrels is 

 the best means Jar preventing- them. In 

 reducing this article of faith to prac- 

 tice, they do not, — as some might be 

 led to imagine, — cultivate in their 

 ftimilics 



