’ 
Sa 
ment could not have done. Emancipation 
from the fervile dread of fupernatural 
evils, and from the burthenfome and de- 
grading practices by which they were to 
‘be averted, is a gain in point of happinefs 
which cannot be too highly prized. Jt 
enters deep into the comfort of private 
life, and makes all the difference between 
a freeman and a flave. And that increafed 
Jenity in governments and liberality in in- 
dividuals, which renders the profeffion of 
a different religious faith from the efta- 
blifhed one, no longer dangerous cr de- 
erading, is a moft important advantage to 
all diffidents. 
The great diffufion of knowledge, though 
perhaps of a fuperficial kind, among ranks 
of people who formerly poffeffed fcarcely 
the {mallef portion of it, has certainly 
added much to the pleafure and variety of 
life; and if it has tended to foften and 
humanize the manners, and introduced a 
greater love for fedentary amufements, 
and the purfuits of cultivated leifure, I 
own I am one of thofe who think this a 
good exchange againft the rough vigour 
and rude fimplicity of former ages. Nor 
can it efcape any obferver, that even the 
amufive writings of the prefent day are al- 
moft invariably friendly to decency, hu- 
manity, generofity, and all the finer and 
nobler feelings of the heart. And asa 
confequence of the propagation of fuch 
fentiments, the virtues of charity, benefi- 
ficence, and affability, were certainly never 
more confpicuous. From thefe confidera- 
tions I am not willing to accept the con- 
ceflion of a very zealous believer in the 
progreffion of the human race, the late 
Condorcet, who afferts, “* that though 
much has been done for the glory of man- 
kind, fcarcely any thing. has yet been done 
for its happinefs.”” It is true, that the 
continuance of deftructive wars, and of the 
immen(e inequality of conditions, perpe- 
tuates a valt mals of evils in fociety ; yet 
thefe evils, which at no period did not 
exift, are undoubtedly foftened by modern 
manners ; and private life has in various 
refpeéts been made happier to all ranks of 
people. _ 
But I own that the very circumftance of 
fome improvement in thefe points, leads 
me to de/pair of thofe radical and effectual 
meliorations which many expeét from vi- 
porous {chemes of reform, conduéted upon 
principles of general intereft and public 
virtue. Our fituation has too many ad- 
vantages to be readily hazarded; and the 
exertions requifite to maintain thofe advan. 
¢ages too much occupy our minds to allow 
of the application of much time and atten. 
Enquirer, 
No. XVI. ¥2 
tion to matters remotely concerning our- 
felves. Our tempers, too, with theftern- 
nefs, have loft the force, of the heroic ages; 
nor do I conceive that any confiderable~_ 
number of us would be capable of going. . 
through the rough work of a reformation 
when brought from theory to practice. If 
the infiance of a neighbouring nation be 
brought to refute the notion ot a neceffary 
connexion between advancement in civili- 
zation and effeminacy of character; it 
may be urged, on the other hand, that the 
fhocking calamities which have attended 
its revolutionary exertions will with cer- 
tainty for a long time render its hiftory 
more a warning than an example to other 
nations. Melioration, according to its 
warmeft advocates, cannot be effected 
without overthrowing all ufurpations in 
governments, all impofitions in religion, 
rooting up all prejudices, levelling all ar- 
tificial diftinétions, and equalifing man- 
kind fo far as can be done confiftently with 
the fundamental principles of focial union. 
But where are the engines by which thefe 
mighty operations are to be brought about? 
The pulpit, the bar, the fword, are already 
engaged in fupport of exifting inftitutions; - 
and the prefs, on which the chief reliance 
of reformers is placed, is- at leaft half 
bought by the fame powerful bidders. Not 
a fingle axiom on which the rights of man. 
are founded, has been able to fix itfelf be- 
yond the reach of affault. Allis difputed 5 
and where argument fails, authority is 
called in to give fuccour; while wit and 
eloquence fight indifcriminately on either | 
fide. 
i fhall conclude with one more reflexion 
which forcibly preffes upon me. All the 
proofs that have been adduced of the 
amendedc-ttate of mankind, and all that ¥ 
have admitted as real or probable, relates 
only to Europe and her immediate con- 
nexions, and not even to the whole of that. 
But what a fimall portion of the humar 
race does this comprehend! The laff ac- 
counts of China ftate the population of 
that empire alone at upwards of 300 mil- 
lions, of which fum all Europe can only 
fhow a trifling fraction. Who can with 
the leaft probability fugegeit improvement 
in that ancient, vain and prejudiced peo- 
ple, who only know enough of us and our 
inftitutions to fulpect and defpife us? Who 
pretends to fee lefs ferocity in the Africans 
lefs pride in the Turk, lefs rapine in the 
Arab, lefs perfidy in the Indian, lefs cru- 
elty in the Perfan? Alas! while we are 
overwhelmed at home with bufinefs enough 
to occupy reformation for centuries, -all 
thefe vaft regions have not as yet heard the 
word 
é 
