12 Enquirer, 
‘The new order of things which feemed 
opening uporEurope, afforded no profpest 
more flattering to the lovers of mankind, 
than that of a probable extinétion of the 
wars which from the earlieft records have 
never ceafed to ravage the world. It was 
very plaufibly argued, that fince nothing 
was more demonftrable than the prepon- 
derance of evil which a war brought even 
upon the fuccefsful party, as foon as na- 
tions fhould become capable of purfuing, 
as well as difcovering their true interefts, 
the {word would no longer be reforted to 
~ for the decifion of their differences. But 
the firft confequence of the French Revo- 
lution has been a very extenfive and moft 
bloody war, entered into with as much 
eagernefs and animofity by the feveral par- 
ties as any former one; and, in the mean 
time, three potentates have joined unmo- 
lefted in a fcheme of fharing between them 
one of the principal portions of Europe, 
and abolifhing a rifing liberty which had 
every plea of juftice in its favour. Nor 
does it appear, that a temporary peace 
can be reftored without leaving abundant 
feeds of future difcord; or that even the 
greateft fufferers by the war, are likely to 
be cured of the fatal propenfity to rufh 
again into quarrels on the flighteft occa- 
jions of ambition or contention. War is 
in fo many ways the author of mifery, and 
the obftacle of melioration, that unlefs 
fomewhat decifive fhall be effeéted for abo- 
lifhing it from the ordinary courfe of hu- 
ynan affairs, it may be affirmed, that ze- 
thing comparatively is done towards a bet- 
ter ftate of things. 
national hoftility has already withftood all 
the efforts of a religion apparently pro- 
mulgated for the expre/s purpofe of reftor- 
ing peace on earth. Jt did not, even 
when its influence was ftrongeft, beftow 
the fhorteft breathing-time on mankind ; 
~ and its minifters. have long been, and are 
at the prefent day, fome of the moft aétive 
promoters of the horrid fpirit of mutual 
enmity. The banner is confecrated at the 
altar before it is dipped in blood; and 
prayers are folemnly offered up in every 
church in Chriftendom for fuccefs in every 
act of public violence that the fovereign of 
each country fhall pleafe to engage in. 
The fpirit of commerce too, which fo 
much diftin nguifhes the prefent age, inftead 
af binding the nations in a golden chain of 
mutual peace and friendfhip, feems only 
to have given additional motives for war. 
Each ftate aims at a monopoly,,only to be 
eftablifhed by an armed force ; and the im- 
Seoeaincnth of navigaticn have contracted 
the dimenfions of the world fo as not te 
‘The propenfity to: 
No. AL a B ¢ [Jan. 
allow {pace enough for the fchemes of a 
merchant’s counting-houfe. Further, the 
prefent fyftem of trade can only be main- 
tained by the flavery or fubjugation of great 
numbers of mankind; and while.the Eaft 
and Weft Indies compofe links in the chain 
of European commerce, cruelty and in- 
juftice muft be the means by which ey 
are made to hold together? 
From thefe confiderations, I féar, we 
have very infufficient grounds to fuppofe, 
that the defired melioration of the world 
upon public principles is as yet commenced, 
All that a comparifon of this century 
with the laft will allow us with certainty 
to infer, is greater lenity and regularity 
in the adminiftration of government in 
fome countries; more encouragement to 
the exertions of induftry ; and a defire in 
governors to participate in the improve- 
ments made by art and {cience, which has 
the good effect of inciting them to encour- 
age the means of advancing ufeful know- 
ledge, though often from narrow and {el- 
fifh motives. If, in oppofition to thefe 
advantages, be fet the prodigious increafe 
of ftanding armies; the vaft accumulation 
of national debts and burthens; and the 
extinction of a {pirit of independence in 
numbers of the middle and fuperior ranks 
of fociety, while the loweft are doomed-to 
ceafelefs toil in order to gain a mere fubfift- 
ence, I queftion if the moft fanguine friend 
of mankind can ftrike a fair balance which 
will give him much fatisfaction. 
But not to dwell entirely upon the dark 
fide of the profpeét, I fhall ftate a few cir- 
cumftances of grivate improvement, on 
which I think we may fafely place fome 
reliance. 
It is impoffible to doubt that, in all the 
more civilized parts of the world, fuper- 
ftition and bigotry, thofe bitter fee of hu- 
man happinels, have loft much of their 
power ; and that this has been owing to 
that progrefs of good fenfe and knowledge 
which may be expected to go on ftill further 
diminifhing their influence. It is true, the 
connexion between old fyftems of belief 
and old claims of authority, may for a 
while maintain the ftrigele of falfhood and 
violence, againft truth and equity; but I 
would fain hope that impofture and perfe- 
cution have received their death wound in 
Europe, and will never again be ble to 
produce the follies and “miferies under 
which men fo many ages groaned. Reli- 
gious fyftems are ftill, “indeed, full of error, 
and are little, if at Ap ended in their 
principles ; but the fpirit of the times has 
been too potent for them, and doubt or 
ee ence have effected what mere argu- 
meng. 
