CHAPTER XVII.

Last bad trait is a Disregard of Truth-apparent rise of this trait-falsehood of it probable from considerations on the language of the Quakers : from their prohibition of detraction—their rejection of romantic books-their punctuality to words and engagements-and their ideas with respect to the unlawfulness of civil oaths,

THE last charge against the members of this community will be seen in a vulgar expression, which should have had no place in this book if it had not been a saying in almost everybody's mouth. The expression is, "Though they will not swear, they will lie."

This trait has arisen in part from those different circumstances, which have produced the appearance of evasiveness. For, if people are thought evasive, they will always be thought liars. Evasiveness and lying are almost synonymous terms. It is not impossible also, if Quakers should appear to give a doubtful answer, that persons may draw false conclusions from thence,

and

and therefore may suppose them to have spoken falsely. These two circumstances, of an apparent evasiveness, and probably of a deduction of conclusions from doubtful or imaginary premises, have, I apprehend, produced an appearance, which the world has interpreted into evil.

No trait, however, can be more false than this. I know of no people, who regard truth more than the Quakers. Their whole system bends and directs to truth. One of the peculiarities of their language, or their rejection of many of the words which other people use, because they consider them as not religiously appropriate to the objects, of which they are the symbols, serves as a constant admonition to them to speak the truth.

Their prohibition of all slanderous re ports, as mentioned in a former volume, has a tendency to produce the same effect; for detraction is forbidden, partly on the idea that all such rumours on character may be false.

They reject also the reading of plays and novels, partly under a notion that the subjects and circumstances in these are fictitious, and that a taste therefore for the read

ing of these, if acquired, might familiarize their youth with fictions, and produce in them a romantic and lying spirit.

It is a feature, again, in their character, as we have seen, that they are remarkable for their punctuality in the performance of their words and engagements. But such punctuality implies neither more nor less than that the words spoken by them are generally fulfilled; and if they are generally fulfilled, then the inference is, that all such words have been generally truths.

To this I may add, that their notions on the subject of oaths, and their ideas of the character, which it becomes them to sustain in life, must have a powerful effect upon them in inducing an attention to the truth; for they consider Jesus Christ to have abolished civil oaths, because he meant to introduce a more excellent system than that of old; that is, because he meant it to be understood by his disciples, that he laid such an eternal obligation upon them to speak truth, that oaths were to be rendered unnecessary where persons made a profession of his religion.

CHAP

CHAPTER XVIII.

SECTION I.

this differs a

Character of the Quaker-women little from that of the men-women share in the virtues of the former-but do not always partake of all their reputed imperfections-are not chargeable with a want of knowledge-nor with the money-getting spirit-modesty a feature in their ? character.

HAVING

LAVING now amply inquired into the character of the Men, I shall say a few words on the subject of that of the Women of this Society. For though it might have been supposed at the first sight (all the members being cast as it were in one mould) that the same character would attach to both ; yet must be obvious, on further consideration, that it cannot be wholly applicable to the female sex.

it

It may be laid down as a truth, that the women of this Society share in the virtues. of the men. They possess their benevolence,

2

lence, their independence of mind, and the other good traits in their moral character. But they do not always partake of all their reputed imperfections.

The want of knowledge, which was reckoned among the failings of the men, can have no room as a charge against the wo

men.

For, first, let us compare the Quakerwomen with the Quaker-men. Now it generally happens in the world, that men have more literary knowledge than women; but this is not so generally the case in this Society. As the women here are not taken from their books, like the men, at an early age, and put into trade, they have no bar, like these, to the further improvement of their minds. They advance often in the acquisition of knowledge, while the latter, in consequence of their attention to business, are kept stationary. Hence it happens, that they are generally as well informed, and that they have as great a variety of knowledge, as these; so that they suffer no diparagement, as the women of the world do, by a comparison with the other

sex.

Neither