56 ANTIENT METAPHYSICS. Book I. 



There are fome, I know, who think that their hofpitality and 

 kindnefs to us, was only a device to lull us into fecurity, that rhey 

 might have an opportunity of murdering us, and feizing our iron 

 tools, of which they were very fond, and the other inftruments of 

 art which we ufed. But, as Mr Pope fays, 



1 who think more highly of our kind, 



(And furely heaven and I are of a mind), 



believe, that their behaviour to us proceeded from that worth and 

 goodnefs which is natural to man. Nor indeed can I be perfuaded, 

 that they would adt fo nobly, and with fuch heroic greatnefs of mind 

 to their profeft enemies, and behave fo bafely and treacheroufly 

 to us, whom they had received fo kindly and hofpitably, and 

 ivith whom they were living in the greateft friendfhip and confi- 

 dence *. 



There 



* There is an account of this people publiflied by Mr Keate, which is one of the 

 mod entertaining books I ever read. I have done it an honour which I have done 

 very few modern books; for I have read it twice, and both times with very great 

 pkafure and inftrudlion. It prefents a moft agreeable pidlure of human nature in 

 the tirft ages of fociety, uncorrupted by the crimes and vices of luch focieties as 

 thole of Europe are at prefent. And it confirms me in an opinion which I have al- 

 ways had, but which was never before fo verified by fa£t and experience, that man is, 

 by his nature, a generous, noble Uiinded animal, full of benevolence and kindnefs to 

 his fpecies, and moft ready to relieve men in diflrefs, though not only altogether 

 Grangers, but of a race of men entirely different from them, and fuch as they had 

 never feen before. They are brave and magnanimous, ready to encounter danger 

 and deith upon all occafions for their country and their friends, antl at the fame time 

 living in the greateft peace and good order with one another, under a government 

 which, as it is moft natural, fo I think it is the beft, by a king, a council, and an or- 

 der of nobles, out of which the council and the great officers of ftate are chofen. 



Our 



