On National Character. 389 
maxims adopted by a people influenced their 
character.; but the present is sufficient for our 
purpose. One general remark it may. how- 
ever not be improper to make: the maxims 
adopted by a people carry us Leyond the pe- 
riod of their authentic history, and are there- 
fore entitled to much consideration, because 
they have not their origin, and cannot be en- 
forced by religion or civil government; but 
they are opinions and voluntarily received by 
the people, and are an expression of their dis- 
position and character. Heuce it appears much 
safer to argue from the maxims than from any 
enactment of the legislature, or from any 
custom that may be followed, and yet they 
have been almost wholly neglected by en- 
quirers into national character. But with all 
the aid: that can be obtained from history, 
assisted by the early maxims of a people, the 
subject, is still) involved in difficulty; for, 
there. is a striking contrast of character in 
nations under similar circumstances at. the 
remotest period of their histery. To remove 
this difficulty we must go baek to the period 
when a nation consisted of a small number, 
and was hut as one family; and such a period 
many nations have known.. Thus circum- 
stanced, the father, the patriarch of the fa- 
amily, would inculcate-his principles and infuse 
Uu2 
