On National Character. 331 
hawk chief is not less honored than an Eng- 
lish magistrate. ; 
Were there an universal standard of 
taste, the customs of a people might be 
scrutinized by its laws; but even taste 
does not govern character; this last rises 
above and is independent of those things over 
which taste has any influence. Objects of taste, 
when applied to character, are what the cor- 
nice is to a building ; they beautify; but if the 
people of every country hastily and on insuffi- 
cient grounds estimate the character of others, 
the subject has not been overlooked, or neg- 
lected, but has exercised the talents of men of 
yast capacities. Voltaire gives the subject the 
title of the Philosophy of History; Lord 
Kaimes, Montesquieu, and Adam Smith, 
have aided the enquiry ; and every historian 
and political economist, have made national 
character a leading object of their researches : 
among whom, Hnme holds a conspicuous 
place. 
Every one conversant with the writ- 
ings of these philosophers, will recollect 
that they derive national character from reli- 
gious opinions, civil government, and the 
state of industry, The subject may be 
branched into many particulars; but they all 
resolve themselves into these three points; 
Tt2 
