- 
19 | A PHILOSOPHICAL DISCOURSE. 
It will not from hence follow, that the exertions of different 
nations, dwelling in the fame latitudes and climates, fhould be 
equal: for on the fuppofition of equality of capacity, there may 
be a variety of things, on which their exerting it may depend + 
fuch as education, religion, government, and other circumftances,. 
or the appearance of fome happy genius to inftruct and direct 
them: and as thefe fhould happen to differ and influence. them,. 
their exertions would be proportionably different.. 
— By way of illuftration, * we may inftance in what has taken: 
place among ourfelves ; and afk, whether the people of thefe 
. United States, whofe natural capacity, without doubt, equals: 
that of Europeans in the.fame temperate climates, would in cer- - 
tain different circumftances, have oppofed the unreafonable- 
claims of Britain upon them ? Would they, if at all, have ex- 
erted themfelves fo vigoroufly againft her inflaving domination, 
if they had not been educated in the principles of liberty ; if. 
their religion; like that of fome feéts among them, had not al~- 
lowed them to make ufe of carnal weapons in the defence of 
their liberty ; or if they had lived under a defpotic government, 
and believed in the doctrine of paffive obedience and non-tefift-- 
and ? Or, laftly, if fome among them, well fituated to obferve’ 
the courfé and tendency of Briti/h policy, had not alarmed them: 
of their danger ? 
If all or any of thefe circum {tances had been different from, 
er contrary to, what have in fact taken place, the advantages de~- 
rived. from ajrati in reference to natural wee had proba- 
bly 
* At the time of writing this difcourfe, the fleets and armies of Britain were, and: 
long had been, invading us. "This circum(tance, together with the extraordinary: 
manner, in which fhe conduéted the war, occafioned in one or two of the political 
obfervations, adduced to illuftrate the fubje@, fome little. poignancy of expreflion + 
which, it is apprehended, the occafion juftificdi. 
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