90 Of the Checks to Population in Bl*. i. 



sequently there is less labour. When we consider 

 the incessant toil to which the lower classes of 

 society in civilized life are condemned, this can- 

 not but appear to us a striking advantage; but it 

 is probably overbalanced by much greater disad- 

 vantages. In all those countries where provisions 

 are procured with facility, a most tyrannical dis- 

 tinction of rank prevails. Blows and violations of 

 property seem to be matters of course ; and the 

 lower classes of the people are in a state of com- 

 parative degradation, much below what is known 

 in civilized nations. In that part of savage life 

 where a great degree of equality obtains, the dif- 

 ficulty of procuring food and the hardships of 

 incessant war create a degree of labour not in- 

 ferior to that which is exerted by the lower 

 classes of the people in civilized society, though 

 much more unequally divided. 



But though we may compare the labour of 

 these two classes of human society, their priva- 

 tions and sufferings will admit of no comparison. 

 Nothing appears to me to place this in so striking 

 a point of view, as the whole tenor of education 

 among the ruder tribes of savages in America. 

 Every thing that can contribute to teach the most 

 unmoved patience under the severest pains and 

 misfortunes, every thing that tends to harden the 

 heart, and narrow all the sources of sympathy, is 

 most sedulously inculcated on the savage. The 

 civilized man, on the contrary, though he may be 

 advised to bear evil with patience when it comes, 

 is not instructed to be always expecting it. 



