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more enterprising and less fickle, more attentive to order and subordination, but more impatient under real oppression and tyranny. To whom are we indebted for British freedom? to men who could not bear the yoke of ecclesiastical bondage; to men who may have been called puritans and fanatics, but who certainly possessed a sound judgment, and were animated by a noble enthusiasm. "Their views, far from

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being odious, are surely large, and generous, "and noble: to their prevalence and success the "nation owes its liberty; perhaps its learning, "its industry, commerce, and naval power: by "them chiefly the English name is distinguished

among the society of nations, and aspires to "rivalship with that of the freest and most illus"trious commonwealths of antiquity.'

(3.) I have said also that certain prejudices retard the improvement of nations. These have their origin either from political institutions, or from national religion, or from circumstances peculiar to the history of the people who en tertain them all, from the philosopher to the peasant, are, though unconscious to themselves, in a greater or less degree, subject to their influence. There is no profession, no department of life, no literary or trading corporation,

* Hume's Essay on the Coalition of Parties, p. 431.

greater curse heaven in its wrath can inflict on mortals: it takes away the power as well as the inclination of noble and liberal exertion; it destroys some of the most important sources of human happiness; and unlike the tempest which lowers and darkens only to produce a more brilliant sunshine, it spreads a cloud of night over the land, which the brightest rays of genius may long attempt in vain to penetrate, and the clearer light of revelation be scarcely able to remove.

How unlike the rational, and mild, and beneficial, and ennobling religion which nature approves, and which God prescribes. This is

the religion of peace, and joy, and righteous. ness, of mercy, and forgiveness; possessing nothing gloomy or forbidding, but all mildness, and gentleness, and love :-destitute of all local peculiarities, of expensive rites, of unmeaning ceremonies, it has no temple, no altar; it comes like heaven's fairest gift, forcing itself on the attention of none, refusing violence in every instance for its support, but freely offering its benefits to all. How opposed to all the disgusting pomp and bigotry, and cruelty of superstition.

The influence which this religion exerts on civil liberty and national prosperity may be indirect, but it is powerfully efficient. It makes the people more thoughtful and less turbulent,

more enterprising and less fickle, more attentive to order and subordination, but more impatient under real oppression and tyranny. To whom are we indebted for British freedom? to men who could not bear the yoke of ecclesiastical bondage; to men who may have been called puritans and fanatics, but who certainly possessed a sound judgment, and were animated by a noble enthusiasm. "Their views, far from "being odious, are surely large, and generous, " and noble: to their prevalence and success the "nation owes its liberty; perhaps its learning, "its industry, commerce, and naval power: by "them chiefly the English name is distinguished " among the society of nations, and aspires to a "rivalship with that of the freest and most illus "trious commonwealths of antiquity."*

(3.) I have said also that certain prejudices retard the improvement of nations. These have their origin either from political institutions, or from national religion, or from circumstances peculiar to the history of the people who entertain them all, from the philosopher to the peasant, are, though unconscious to themselves, in a greater or less degree, subject to their influence. There is no profession, no department of life, no literary or trading corporation,

* Hume's Essay on the Coalition of Parties, p. 431.

thus combined, they carry on the society, with a silent but irresistible force, through the pro gressive stages of improvement and opulence, to that consummation of moral and political perfection, which perhaps no nation has ever yet attained. For example, how greatly is the prosperity of Scotland owing to the popular opinion of its inhabitants, that it is mean and disgraceful to them, to permit either themselves or their relatives to become dependent on the public! This opinion is strictly national, peculiar to the country north of the Tweed; and to perceive its immense utility, it is only necessary to observe the effects which result from the want of it, not merely in the neighbouring states, but in other parts of our own empire. In England the labouring classes have no such feeling; they have no apprehension of shame and wretchedness arising from a state of absolute dependence; they have not, therefore, the same incentive to industry, the same anxiety to make some provision for sickness and old age: they enter the workhouse, if not with pleasurable emotions, certainly with the absence of such as are painful, and seem to consider themselves as respectable and happy when they receive their food from the parish, as when they procured it by their labour. It is not my business at present to inquire into

those causes which produced this popular opinion in the one case, or into those which occasioned the want of it in the other: I have menthat may

tioned it as one instance out of many be adduced to shew, how inveterate opinions and prejudices may have a favourable or unfavourable influence on national industry and happiness.

That kind and beneficent Being who has so constituted the mind of man as to make some share of individual happiness compatible almost with any state of society, has provided for his comfort by that very principle of his nature which leads him to form strong prejudices, and which, therefore, when under improper direction, leads him astray. While it prompts him to look with affection on every object to which he has long been accustomed, it tends to reconcile him to the evils which necessarily mingle with his lot, and to produce a greater degree of satisfaction and enjoyment, than otherwise, if placed in the same circumstances, he could have possessed. How happy is it when the objects with which he has always been surrounded are good; when the political and religious views and opinions to which he has conformed himself, are conducive to the highest moral attainment of man; and when the prepossessions which are interwoven with the

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