^ PREFACE. 



manners, and enraged by their barbarities, the 

 men of Europe never looked for any thing good 

 in such men : And while interest and revenge 

 joined to destroy that unhappy race, but few 

 were able to consider their customs or rights 

 with calmness, or dared to say any thing in their 

 favor. It is not more than half a century, since 

 this subject has been properly attended to by 

 philosophers : And their conclusions have been 

 of the most opposite and contrary kinds. Some 

 have with great zeal advanced, that the perfec- 

 tion of man was to be found in the savage state ; 

 while others have as warmly contended, that this 

 was the lowest state of degradation and abase-- 

 ment, to which the human race can possibly be 

 reduced. Such opposite and contrary systems 

 make it necessary to examine this part of the 

 natural history of man, with gre?.t care and im- 

 partiality ; that we may distinguish what was 

 valuable in that stage of society, and what was 

 disadvantageous and degrading. 



An object of still higher magnitude and im- 

 portance, has been presented to our view by the 

 American Revolution. The first settlers in the 

 British colonies were left in a great measure by 

 their sovereigns, to take care of themselves. The 

 only situation which they could take, while they 

 were clearing the woods and forming their set- 

 tlements, was that of equality, industry, and 

 economy. In such a situation ever}'- thing ten- 

 ded to produce, and to establish the spirit of 

 freedom. Their employments, customs, man- 

 ners, and habits ; their wants, dangers, and in- 

 terests, were nearly the same ; these, with every 

 other circuhistance in their situation, operated 



