tongue, manners: and are equally at a lofs about the Ruffian which, notwithstanding the barbarity of the people, is fmooth and fonorous. All that can be faid is, that the operation of a general cause may be disturbed by particular circumftances. Languages resemble the tides: the influence of the moon, which is the general caufe of tides, is in feveral instances overbalanced by particular causes acting in opposition. There may be obferved in fome favage tribes, a certain refinement of language that might do honour to a polished people. The Canadians never give a man his proper name, in speaking to him. If he be a relation, he is addreffed to in that quality: if a ftranger, the fpeaker gives him fome appellation that marks affection; fuch as, brother, coufin, friend. From fpeech we advance to action. Man is naturally prone to motion; witness children, who are never at reft but when asleep. Where reafon governs, a man restrains that reftlefs difpofition, and never acts without a motive, Savages have few motives to action when the belly is full: their huts require little industry; and their covering of skins, still lefs. Hunting and fishing employ all their activity. After much fatigue in hunting, reft is fweet ; which the favage prolongs, having no motive to action till the time of hunting returns. Savages accordingly, like dogs, are extremely The favaactive in the field, and extremely indolent at home *. ges Quotiens bella non ineunt, non multum venatibus; plus per otium tranfigunt, dediti fomno, ciboque. Fortiflimus quifque ac bellicofiffimus nihil agens, delegata domus et penatium et agrorum cura feminis fenibufque, et infirmiffimo cuique ex familia, ipfi hebent; mira diverfitate naturæ, cum iidem homines fic ament inertiam, et oderint quietem. Tacitus, De moribus Germanorum, cap. 15.- [In Englifb thus: "While not engaged in war, they do not often fpend their time in "hunting, but chiefly in indolence, minding nothing but their fleep and food. "The bravest and most warlike among them, having nothing to do, pass the time. " in ges of the torrid zone are indolent above all others: they go naked; their huts coft them no trouble; and they never hunt except for vegetables, which are their only food. The Spaniards who firft landed in Hifpaniola, were furprifed at the manners of the inhabitants. They are described as lazy, and without ambition; paffing part of their time in eating and dancing, and the reft in fleep; having no great share of memory, and still less of understanding. The character given of these favages belongs to all, especially to favages in hot climates. The imperfection of their memory and judgement is occafioned by want of employThe fame imperfection was remarkable in the people of Paraguay, when under Jefuit government ; of which afterward (a). In early times, people lived in a very fimple manner, ignorant of fuch habitual wants as are commonly termed luxury. Rebecca, Rachel, and the daughters of Jethro, tended their fathers flocks: they were really fhepherdeffes. Young women of fashion drew water from the well with their own hands. The joiner who made the bridal bed of Ulyffes, was Ulyffes himself (b). The Princess Nausicaa washes the family-cloaths; and the Princes her brothers, upon her return, unyoke the car, and carry in the cloaths (c). Queens, and even female deities, are employ'd in fpinning (d). Is it from this fashion that young women in Eng "in a fluggish ftupidity, committing the care of the house, the family, and the "culture of the lands, to women, old men, and to the most weakly. Such is "the wonderful diversity of their nature, that they are at once the most indolent "of beings, and the most impatient of rest."] (a) Book 2. fketch 1. (b) Odyffey, book 23. (c) Book 5. & 7. (4) Book 10. land land are denominated fpinfters? Telemachus goes to council with no attendants but two dogs: "Soon as in folemn form th' assembly fat, "From his high dome himself defcends in state; ODYSSEY, book 2. Priam's car is yoked by his own fons, when he went to redeem from Achilles the body of his fon Hector. Telemachus yokes his own car (a). Homer's heroes kill and dress their own victuals (b). Achilles entertaining Priam, as now mentioned, flew a fnow-white fheep; and his two friends flea'd and dreffed it. Achilles himself divided the roasted meat among all *. Not to talk of gold, filver was scarce in England during the reign of the third Edward. Rents were paid in kind; and what money they had was locked up in the coffers of the great barons. Pieces of plate were bequeathed even by kings of England, so trifling in our estimation, that a gentleman of a moderate fortune would be afhamed to mention fuch in his will. We next take under confideration the progress of such manners as are more peculiarly influenced by internal disposition; preparing the reader by a general view, before entering into particulars. Pope judging it below the dignity of Achilles to act the butcher, fuppreffes that article, impofing the task upon his two friends. Pope, it would appear, did not confider, that from a lively picture of ancient manners proceeds one of the capital pleasures we have in perufing Homer. (a) Odyffey, book 15. (b) Odyffey, book 19. & 20. VOL. I. Hh Man Man is by nature a timid animal, having little ability to fecure himself against harm: but he becomes bold in fociety, and gives vent to paffion against his enemies. In the hunter-state, the daily practice of flaughtering innocent animals for food, hardens men in cruelty they are worse than bears or wolves, being cruel even to their own kind The calm and fedentary life of a fhepherd tends to foften the harsh manners of hunters; and agriculture, requiring the union of many hands in one operation, inspires a tafte for mutual good offices. But here comes in the hoarding appetite to disturb that aufpicious commencement of civilization. Skilful husbandry, producing the necessaries of life in plenty, paves the way to arts and manufactures. Fine houses, fplendid gardens, and rich apparel, are desirable objects: the appetite for property becomes headstrong, and to obtain gratification tramples down every obftacle of justice or honour (a). Differences arife, fomenting difcord and refentment: war is raised, even among thofe of the fame tribe; and while it was lawful for a man to take revenge at his own hand (b), that fierce paffion fwallow'd up all others. Inequality of rank and fortune fostered diffocial paffions: witness pride in particular, which produced a custom, once univerfal among barbarians, of killing men, women, dogs, and horfes, for ferving a dead chieftain in the other world. Such complication of felfish and stormy paffions, tending eagerly to gratification, and rendering fociety uncomfortable, cannot be stemmed by any human means other than wholesome laws: a momentary obstacle inflames defire; but perpetual restraint deadens even the moft fervid paffion. The authority of good government gave vigour to kindly affections; and appetite for fociety, which acts inceffantly, tho' not violently, gave a currency to mu (a) See fketch 3. (b) See Hiftorical Law-tracts, tract 1. tual tual good offices. A circumftance concurred to blunt the edge of diffocial paffions: the first focieties were small; and small states in close neighbourhood produce difcord and resentment without end the junction of many fuch states into a great kingdom, remove people farther from their enemies, and render them more gentle (a). In that fituation, men have leifure and fedateness to relish the comforts of focial life: they find that selfish and turbulent paffions are fubversive of society; and through fondness for fociety, they patiently undergo the fevere discipline of restraining paffion, and smoothing manners. Violent paffions that disturb the peace of fociety have fubfided, and are now feldom heard of: humanity is in fashion, and social affections prevail. Men improve in urbanity by converfing with women; and however selfish at heart, they conciliate favour, by affuming an air of disinterestednefs. Selfishness thus refined becomes an effectual caufe of civilization. But what follows? Turbulent and violent paffions are buried, never again to revive; leaving the mind totally ingroffed by felf-interest. In the original state of hunters and fishers, there being little connection among individuals, every man minds his own concerns, and selfishness governs. The discovery that hunting and fishing are best carried on in company, promotes fome degree of society in that state: it gains ground in the fhepherd-state, and makes a captital figure where husbandry and commerce flourish. Private concord is promoted by focial affection; and a nation is profperous in proportion as the amor patriæ prevails. But wealth, acquired whether by conqueft or commerce, is productive of luxury and fenfuality. As thefe increafe, focial affections decline, and at last vanifh. This is visible in every opulent city that has long flourished in extensive commerce. Selfishness becomes the ruling paffion: friendfhip is no more; and even blood-relation is (a) See this more fully handled, book 2. fketch 1. |