HISTORY OF VERMONT. 115 



and laws. Their society, in all its pursuits and 

 t)perations, appears to be a society of peace and 

 mutual afiection ; guided by one principle, and 

 under the same direction. No contention, dis- 

 agreement, contrary interests, or pursuits, arc 

 eyer seen among them ; but perfect harmony 

 and agreement, preyails through their whole 

 dominions. The jiiinciple of this union and 

 regulation, is not the superior strengdi, art, or 

 actiyity of any indiyidual : Nothing has the 

 appearance, among them, of the authoiity, or 

 iniiuence of a cliief, or leader. Their association 

 and management, has the aspect of a pure and 

 perfect democracy ; founded on the principle of 

 perfect equality, and the strongest mutual at- 

 tacliment. This nrincicle seems to be sufficient 

 to preserve the most perfect harmon}-, and to 

 regulate all the proceedings of their largest so- 

 cieties. 



When these animals are collected together, 

 their first attention is to the public business and 

 affairs of the society, to which they belong. 

 The beayers are amphibious animals, and must 

 spend one part of their time in the water, and 

 another upon the land. In conformity to this 

 /laAV of their natures, their first employment is to 

 find a situation, conyenient for both these pur- 

 poses. With this view a lake, a pond, or a 

 running stream of water, is chosen for the scene 

 of their habitation, and future operations. If it 

 be a lake, or a pond that is selected, the water 

 is always of such depth, that the beayers may 

 haye sufficient room to swim under the ice ; 

 and one, of \\ hich they can haye an entire, and 

 undistyrbed possession. U a stream of water is 



