MEMOIR OF THOMAS BEWICK. 305 



improvement may be looked for in vain, while 

 self-interest and pride continue so powerfully to 

 guide the actions of mankind. 



Time, indeed, may bring about wonders, and 

 the example and influence of North America can 

 perhaps alone be looked up to to lead the way as 

 the regenerator of the Old World. There they 

 have none of the old protecting laws, nor the old 

 prejudices of Europe, Asia, and South America, 

 to contend against, and must see the errors these 

 have fallen into, and may move forward upon 

 clear ground. "The Rites and Ceremonies of all 

 Nations" will serve them as a kind of text, and 

 also as a beacon and a guide-post, to show them 

 the way they ought to pursue, so as to steer clear 

 of the absurdities to say no worse of them 

 by which mankind have been so long led, hood- 

 winked, into so many egregious follies. 



It must, furthermore, be observed and conceded 

 on behalf of the present religious establishment 

 of this enlightened and comparatively happy land, 

 notwithstanding the spots and blemishes which 

 bar the approach to rationality and perfection, 

 that the regular clergy, with few exceptions, and 

 taken as a whole from their learning, their ac- 

 quirements, and their piety are real and valuable 

 ornaments to our country, without whose help and 

 the example they set, it is to be feared the people 

 would soon retrograde into barbarism, or, into what 

 is nearly as bad fanaticism. To keep down or 

 prevent this latter growing evil from rising to a 

 height will require the utmost exertions of the 

 regular clergy, as well as the united wisdom and 

 prudence of the legislature to discountenance it. 

 To attempt using force would only serve to unite 



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