1 79 1- LIFE OF SIR JAMES STEUART. 47 



and the God of battles ratified her pretenfions by his 

 over-ruling providence. 



Thefe times are pafl %. 



Sir James after having obtained his pardon, retired 

 to Coltnefs, in the county of Lanark, the paternal eflatc 

 of his family, where he turned his attention to the im- 

 provement of his neighbourhood by public works and 

 police, and drew the firfl: good plan for a turnpike bill, 

 fuited to the circumftances of Scotland, which has 

 been fmce generally adopted. He repaired his houfe, 

 planted, improved, and decorated his eftate, and in 



^ Notwithftanding the refpeift due to the very ingenious writer of thefe 

 memoirs, it is not poffiblc to pcrufe thefe remarks without feeing that 

 they muft have been written at an unguarded moment. Where, I 

 would a(k, is the people whofe morals are more pure than thofe of 

 Great Britain ? If we confider individuals, does not every man know, of 

 his acquaintance, perfons of the moft refpe Aable charafter; and if foreign- 

 ers are to decide, what nation is more rcfpedted than Britons, as indivi- 

 duak ? In their dealings as merchants who has heard the Britilh charac- 

 ter ever impeached ? And where is a more generous and liberal fpirited 

 enemy to be found ? In what nation is private charity carried to a greater 

 height? Was not Howard a Briton, and where elfe could we look for 

 the developement of fuch a charafter ? Is not beneficence the flrlking 

 feature of the Britifh charadler, and has not the exuberance of that dif- 

 pofition given rife to innumerable charities; many of which tho' well-in- 

 tended have been produdlive of very ferious evils ? Are not the Britifh 

 more fertile in devices, from motives of kindnefs, for refcuing, even the 

 iiicioiis, from the jaws of deftruilion, than any other nation ? Did not 

 the idea of Sunday fchools originate here ? Is not the philanthropii; 

 fociety, that moft beneficent of all inftitutions, intirely of Britilh origin ? 

 And fhall we dill fay that this people who areconftantly bufied in fuch 

 refearches are deftitute of virtue ? 



As a nation, where isjuftice more faithfully adminiftered ? Where are 

 the rights of nations more refpeilcd ? Where is the public faith more 

 facred ? Where are the perfons and property of foreigners, as well as na- 

 tives, more elTciftually fcoured ? Has ever Britain, like that ftate which 

 is here hcl.l up to view as a'modcl of purity of morals. — Has ever Britain 

 like that ftate protctJted her fubje(fts againft the juft demands of her fo- 

 reign creditors, and by a public law, cnciuiragcd individuab to praiSice 

 ij!j:rflhc .' If this be the morality we arc bid to imitate, long may we 

 remain at a diftancc behind! 



]^ National prejudices ought not to be fomented. Let us ftrive univer- 

 Tally to extirpate error, and to dilTemlnate ufeful knowledge, without 

 drawing invidious parallels, which have an oppolite tendency, and we 

 ihall beft dif.h.irge our duty to the public. 



