QUAKERS 139 



victions and examples of the more sober- tliinkiDg pRvt of 

 the community. 



In the meantime, it may be asked, when will our 

 countrymen cease to be worshippers of this too palpable 

 spirit of a charlatan ? "Will education ever secure the 

 mind of the multitude from the inroads or allurements of 

 fashion and of folly, and prevent the senses being capti- 

 vated by the display of gross dramatic misrepresentations, 

 with an unhallowed colloquy, assisted only by stentorian 

 lungs and not very graceful action ? 



The j)reaching of Irving, and the delusive mockery of 

 the unknown tongues, may live in the recollection of some 

 of my readers, who will not fail to compare, when recog- 

 nizino- a similar attraction, the merits of these two 

 religious stars. Both possessed original conceptions, or, 

 rather, misconceptions, but the one displaved a manly 

 eloquence, in which attainments of the highest order 

 shone forth, and maintained a dignified attitude and 

 graceful delivery throughout ; while the other, in order 

 to enforce his doctrine, at all times acceptable to the 

 ignorant, and to j)lease the fancies of his congregation, is 

 obliged, in the absence of genius, to call in the aid of the 

 mountebank. 



It is Avith far different feelino-s we review the vestiires 

 of the infatuation of former days, in the peculiar dress 

 and formal manners of one particular sect, who are not 

 on the increase, nor do they by any of the arts of 

 j)roselytism seek to propagate their singular doctrines ; 

 indeed, among the principal families of this wealthy and 

 hitherto innocuous sect, those outward marks of observance 

 are falling into desuetude ; while thev themselves aim at 



