"travels in North America. 247 



they look upon as the effential Property of the eminent Rank 

 they poffefs, the grcateft Part of them live in a proud and incu- 

 rable Ignorance of what concerns them the moH to know, and 

 never enjoy the true Pleafures of Life. 



In this Country all Men think themfelves equally Men ; and 

 in M^n what they efteem moil, is the Man. Here is no Di-- 

 ftinélion of Birth ; no Prerogative allowed to Rank, which hurts 

 the Rights of private Perfons ; no Preheminence given to Me- 

 rit, that infpires Pride, and which makes other People feel too 

 much their Inferiority. There is perhaps lefs Delicacy of Sen- 

 timents than among us, but more Juflnefs ; lefs of Ceremonies, 

 and of what may render them equivocal ; lefs of Confideration 

 to ourfelves. 



Religion alone can bring to Perfeélion the good Qualities of 

 thefe People, and correct their evil ones ; this is common to 

 them with others, but what is peculiar in them is, that they ilart 

 fewer Obftacles when they begin to believe, which can only be 

 the Work of fpecial Grace. It is alfo true, that to eftablilh perfed:- 

 ly the Empire of Religion over them, they ought to fee it pra<5lifed 

 in all its Purity by thofe who profefs it ; they are very apt to be 

 fcandalized at the Behaviour of bad Chrifiiam, as all thofe are, 

 who are inftrudled for the firft Time in the Principles of the 

 Gofpel Morality. 



You v/ill afk me. Madam, if they have any P^eligion ? to 

 this I reply, that we cannot fay they have none, but that it is 

 pretty hard to define what they have. I will entertain you more 

 fully on this Article, at my firft Leifure ; for though I am not 

 much employed here, I am fo often interrupted, that I fcarce 

 get two Hours in the Day to myfelf. This Letter, as well as 

 moft of the preceeding, will inform you, that I do not write re- 

 gularly. I content myfelf at prefent. with adding, to finifn the 

 Portrait of the Savages, that even in the moft indiiferent Ac- 

 tions, we find fome Traces of the primitive Religion, but which 

 cfcape the Obfervation of thofe, who do not confider them witk 

 Attention, becaufe they are ftill more eifaced through the Want 

 of Inftrudlion, than altered by the Mixture of a fuperftitious 

 Worlhip, or fabulous Traditions, 



.I,ETTEa 



