248 THE WHALEMAN'S ADVENTURES, 



entious practical regard to right. But with 

 how many, it is to be feared, is it like the Jews 

 building the sepulchres of the prophets, or 

 like the base Athenians giving the hemlock to 

 the virtuous living Socrates, and decreeing a 

 statue and panegyric to upright Phocion, whom 

 they had themselves put to death. 



For it has come to pass that an institution 

 which our fathers held in highest reverence, and 

 kept with strictest care, is now, both by precept 

 and political statute and example, sadly dese- 

 crated ; and that, too, with a boldness and pub- 

 licity that prove how wide arid general is our 

 departure, both from their stern principles and 

 severe Christian morals. A noble New England 

 ancestry is justly a nation's boast ; nor can the 

 praise of our pious forefathers ever become too 

 popular, or their memory be held in too high 

 regard ; but we would like better to witness a 

 revival of their grave manners, and to see a 

 holier regard paid to that sacred institution 

 which they prized and guarded above all others, 

 and therefore have we endeavoured to draw at- 

 tention to one form of its desecration, which is 



