HISTORY OF VERMONT. 399 



Refinement, and the arts, soften and relax the 

 mind ; philosophy debiUtates the body, while it 

 aims to correct all rudeness and excess in the 

 mind, and to give it a just habit and tone of 

 thinking and acting : But in the rudeness of 

 ' the savage state, every thing concurs to give an 

 unaltered firmness to the body, and to the 

 mind ; the principle of honour has nothing to 

 oppose or rehix it : And it will be in the most 

 hardy body and mind, that nature and honour 

 "will act with the greatest force and vigour. 

 The principles of religion only, have ever pro- 

 duced a similar phenomenon. The heroic spir- 

 it of the martyr, undaunted and triumphant in 

 the torture, and in the flame, has alone exceed- 

 ed or equalled ilie fortitude and magnanimity of 

 the man of nature. 



Favourable to Political talents, 

 AND Virtues. The savage state was also 

 friendly to some of the political talents and vir- 

 tues. The love of his country, derived from 

 nature, cherished by education, ambition, pre- 

 cept, and example, became a very pov/erfui 

 principle in the breast of a savage. His affec- 

 tions were confined to the limits of his o^vn 

 tribe, and his views never extended any further. 

 His glory terminated in the services he could 

 reader to it : And the createst of all attainments 

 was to expand the national fame, reputation, 

 and conquests. To this he became attached by 

 birth, education, and interest ; by ambition, 

 honour, and a thirst for glory. Every passion 

 that glowed in the breast of the savage, served 

 to increase and add strenc-th to the love of his 



O 



country. No motives cf ambition, gain, le- 



