INTRODUCTION. 



THE author of our being intended man for socie- 

 ty and has impressed him with principles of a 

 social nature. A disposition to benevolence is im- 

 planted in his heart, and unless eradicated by the 

 prejudices of education, will extend itself in such a 

 manner as to comprehend the human race, 



The effects of this amiable disposition cannot, 

 however, be exerted in the same manner towards all 

 mankind. Our family, our friends, and our country- 

 men have claims upon our affections prior in order 

 and superior in strength to those that result merely 

 from our common nature. 



Even in particular societies, besides the ties of 

 friendship and family, other circumstances will exist 

 by which indivic^uals find themselves more intim- 

 ately connected with each other than with the rest 

 of their fellow citizens. Thus the graduates of a 

 particular University or the natives of a particular 

 Province consider themselves in all countries as 

 bound to each other by a more immediate relation 

 than that in which they stand to other communi- 

 ties. 



In a country like North America, the inhabitants 

 of which have derived their origin from different 

 parts of Europe, it is not surprising that they should 



