ed. They might fucceed better, perhaps in every fenfe, with more patience and moderation; but thefe qualities may be more difficult to acquire in proportion to the finallnefs of the fociety, and defective form of its conftitution. This is not a government of laws, but of perfons, which ufually degenerates into tyranny. They can hardly indeed be faid to have any laws, except a few orders of council, and fome vague and uncertain old cuftoms, which are naturally neglected and forgotten by an arbitrary government. But fince colonel Campbell, their lieutenant-governor, in 1761, first encouraged an oppofition to the reigning magiftrates, their minds and views have been gradually opening, and they have caught a little of that fpirit of freedom and difcuffion which furrounds them in Europe; and it feems rather surprising, that our government has not yet encouraged their efforts, nor feconded that gentleman's benevolent endeavours, and has been fo remifs in granting them more of our laws and conftitution. However, their legislative ideas feem to be advancing by their contentions, more than for centuries before. The principles and improvements of the age muft probably, in time, reach these islands. "Though they may yet be confidered as children in politics, and unfit to govern themfelves; though they may not all fufficiently confider the long gradation, neceffary to perfection in domeftic policy, nor the difficulties, or rather impoffibility of adopting, at once, all the laws and conftitution of England, which have required the progreffion of ages to attain the prefent degree of excellence, and which their ftate is not yet ripe for; this perhaps ought to coft them much time and

pains, and muft prove the result of gradual experience. However, fome of them are fenfible of this, and wish it to be gradual. You might begin either by granting them the juries they defire, or by improving their conftitution only by a fmall alteration in its form; by feparating the ftates into two houfes, with a governor only; and the other neceffary changes would gradually follow of courfe. To do this in the wifeft and moft temperate manner, fend them proper commiffioners firft to examine and report.

Many think the form of government immaterial, if the people are contented. You know I do not think fo; but even that excufe for ftanding ftill, or for checking the natural human progrefs, will probably foon be removed; for much of the world feem now to be changing their ideas very fast on these fubjects. In this progrefs, the wifeft rulers will give way to fome of the inevitable innovations, and will attempt only to limit the degree, and reftrain the impetuofity, but not forcibly oppofe the carrying of fome fpeculations into practice. If any of them are really great, these will step forward and become the leaders of temperate reformation; they will establish and repair, but not deftroy fyftems, and will become great legiflators, and the refounders of lafting nations. The gradual improvement of man, of the fociety or the fpecics, is an interesting progrefs, in which the knowledge of his own errors is the first step; and to which the theories, and even hints of fpeculation, and the facts of experience, are equally neceffary and conducive. In this progrefs, political and legiflative knowledge feems to be the most necessary, and hi erto the most deficient. But all E 3 the

the affiftance of fuch knowledge can not perhaps be expected till education is better understood, nor till theory is more generally joined with practice, ftudy with exprience and travel. I could fometimes with no man to be admitted as a magiftrate, more than a paftor, who had not paffed some certain degree or examination at an univerfity, if we did not fee that numbers may take that road and bring away very little ufeful fcience and yet fome of these may become even minifters of state long before they know on what the profperity of a nation depends. Such knowledge is not to be found ready for ufe in books and college lectures, nor in the huge volumes of the law, however neceffary thefe may be, as a foundation for experience to build upon. Hence our political and commercial principles have been fo often deficient. It may require yet much more time, and a more general information, to banish all the remains of our monopolizing corporation ideas of commerce and balance of trade, founded on opinions and fentiments unworthy a Jew pedlar, viz. on a mean jealoufy of all the world, and wifhing no nation to have a profit or favourable balance but ourselves; and it was fhameful to fee minifters, not very long ago reafoning from the ideas of the meaneft monopolift, defirous that other nations fhould take our manufactures, and make nothing for themfelves that fhould enable them to pay us: whereas it might eafily be fhewn that the highest cultivation and induftry of the world would proportionally increafe the commerce of all nations. From the fame kind of na row pinciples have proceeded much of our politics of late, endeavouring to engrofs the trade and dependence of colonies and diftant

countries, to our mutual difadvan tag. It is to be feared there are ftili fome who think we were wrong in permitting to our colonies fuch good forms of governinent by which they profpered fo fast, and became more independent on our caprices; but chiefly by our own folly and tyranny they were feparated from us before their time. Thofe people would have had us imitate Spain and fecure the dependence of our colonies by their poverty and depopulation. Will it be believed by pofterity, that fuch feutiments prevailed in the first nation of the world during the eighteenth century? Such maxims and events are certainly of historical importance, and fhould be held up to pofterity in their proper colours. But let us hope our public councils will now improve, as general knowledge and more liberal legislative principles gradually prevail in the world, and that the times are nearly past which produced ftamp acts, Quebec bills, and fuch proceedings as loft us an empire. Let us give way, or rather take the lead in the improvements of the age. Mystery and oppreffion cannot long fubfift, nor fuc ceed as hitherto, in these investigating and enlightened times, and must probably be gradually relinquished, and banished from the art of noverning mankind. How much better to lead than be driven, and to bestow in time with a good grace what must at length be, as it were, extorted by the general voice? Even when a Conway fhall be no more, though virtue and fcience fhall then drop a tear, other friends to liberty and juftice will arife, to fupport and extend their reviving principles, and who will lead your long-neglected iflanders into the general legiflature, or to all the benefits of the British laws, and go

vernment.

vernment. There is a kind of liberallity, which is the higheft wifdom, in politics, and though not yet much known, may in time prevail. Let us be timely wife, and grant profperity to the remoteft parts of the empire, at prefent difinterestedly, for their benefit, but which will in time refult to the good of the whole. The political heart, that fhall freely circulate blood and life to the extremities, will have it returned with double vigour and advantage. Grant them, by de grees, all the freedom, immunities, and good government they defire; you will reap the profit in the course of time, and of their natural progrefs, without any of the mercantile infidious arts or monopolizing ftipulations.

"I think I find here most of my old political principles confirmed by experience, and on a fcale neither too fmall for fair experiment, nor too large for the eye to take in by comparative views, nor too full of uncertainty from the complication of different causes. In most old establishments, in all unfair modes of government, but especially in ariftocracies, there is a natural tendency to keep things as they are, and hence to exclude almost all improvements by which the rulers fear they may chance to lofe fome power or influence. They are naturally jealous of the merchant, the manufacturer, the rich bourgeois or parvenus, and of every innovator or improver. Here, they are accordingly jealous even of the commerce that would finally enrich themselves, and of the very learning and the schools that would enlighten and improve all. This is the fmall working model of a great nation. We fee human nature at work as we do bees through the glafs hive. There doubtless must always

be a difference of rank among men in fociety; but on the proper regulation and limitation of that difference will depend much of their progrefs and political happiness. Whether the people are most happy in

flavery or in freedom, was once difputed in the countries that are now the freeft and most civilized, and is difputed ftill in Ruffia, Poland, the Weft Indies, &c. That they are more active and induftrious with liberty and security, can now hardly be doubted. In every fociety there is a natural tendency and progreffion towards an injurious difference, an increafing inequality in rank and riches. The beft governments will be known by their contriving juft and gentle limits and obftruétions to this evil, and that fhall raife and fupport the poor and helpless against the rich and powerful, between whom there is always a fecret, but very unequal war and enmity. We may doubt if there be any government yet established, that is completely adequate to this task, but we may prefume that our own comes the neareft to it, and may hope it will come nearer ftill. But I am perhaps too eafily led into general reflections, in fearch of practical truths, and principles of importance. You know I confider the art or fcience of legiftion as yet in its infancy.

"The things that are wanting to make these poor iflanders as happy as nature allows, may be few though effential. A mediocrity, rather bordering on poverty, with a purity and fimplicity of manners, feem to prevail here. A divifion of property, uncommonly minute, provides a fort of independent fubfif tence for a greater number than is almoft anywhere to be found on an equal space of territory. The ancient flavish conditions of fome

of their tenures should be abolish ed, as the labour due to the feigneur, and the corn rents, &c. The fe few fmall alterations, with the trials by jury, fome English laws, and perhaps members of parliament, may form nearly the fum of what they want at prefent; as thefe would gradually bring the other requifites towards making them more induftrious, populous, and more important iflans to England. Their poor and parfimonious appearance, and modes of living, of drefs, of farming, their utensils, manners, &c. feem all as yet a little too much in the Frenca ftyle. They ought furely, by this time, to have been more like English people. Our government has certainly been the moft to blame in this. I doubt we are constitutionally inadequate or unfit for the management of foreign poffeffions, till they are incorporated in our legiflature, and thence all become gradually fubject to the fame laws. A large proportion of the men here go to fea, while their fmall poffeffions are but indifferent ly cultivated. Under better go vernment, laws, and tenures, this uncommon junction of the trades of failor and farmer might be feperat ed, and both fucceed better; with many other beneficial effects, as more activity, education, &c.

"This island may be confidered as a model in fome effentials, and worthy the imitation of greater states; as in the military arrangements, and system of defence, which have been fo highly improved, and almoft formed de novo, by the prefent go vernor, general Conway, whom these people style their father and defender. The whole of the inhabitants, of all ranks, have been formed into an excellent militia, in which there are many points that thew the very rare degree of milita

ry fcience of the inftitutor, as well as his towers, and the whole fyfte matic defence of the coaft. I think the uniform he has given them here, the jacket ard long trowsers, is the beft military dress I have yet feen, and anfwers all the purposes we want. These, with the artillery part of each corps, and several other regulations, are highly wor thy of imitation. To complete the system, a place of ftrength is wanting; one that should stand a fiege of a certain time, and that could be readily fupplied and relieved by fea, which is a chief object in every fortification for us, and indeed the only circumftance that can now render a place impregnable, fuch as Tyre, Bergenopzoom, Gibraltar, might be made. A harbour, protected by the fort, might likewife be formed, for frigates at leaft, as these might be of fignal fervice fo ftationed, particularly at the beginning of a war. The importance of these iflands to England, as advanced pofts, &c. need not, I hope, be here demonftrated to you. In the civil wars, you know they remained firmly loyal, and by their annoyance of the parliament's forces by fea, fhewed what mischief they might do us in the hands of an enemy. Charles II. knew their importance, and always obftinately refufed, when in the greatest want of affiftance, to fell them to France for that purpose.

"It appears that the Druids reforted much to these islands, as well as to Anglefea. The ruins of above fifty of their monuments or temples have been discovered here; one lately, very complete, which is going to be fent to their Governor's at Park Place. The Druids were right. These fecluded ifles were then well fuited for ftudy and meditation, and probably for their myfterious

myfterious worship, and for fafety. This beautiful ifland, I think, even now well adapted for study, and for education, and poffeffes many advantages for a good fchool, being the only place we know where French and English are spoken equally well by all ranks above the common and country people. The courts of juftice, and law pleadings in French; the preaching in both

languages, alternately; a pleafant retired and healthy country; innocency and fimplicity of manners; great economy, with a mediocrity of wealth and condition, the inhabitants all proteftants; little economical tours to France with the scholars might be easily made. I know of no place abroad poffeffing fo many advantages for an early education."

Ν

"IN travelling through Pennfyl.

vania you meet with people of almost every different perfuafion of religion that exifts; in fhort, the diverfity of religions, nations, and languages here is aftonishing; at the fame time the harmony they live in no lefs edifying; notwithstanding every one, who wishes well to religion, is hurt to fee the diverfity that prevails, and would by the moft foothing means, endeavour to prevent it; yet, when the misfortune once takes place, and there is no longer an union of fentiments, it is nevertheless glorious to preferve an union of affections; and certain ly it must be highly pleafing to fee men live though of fo many different perfuafions, yet to the fame Chriftian principles, and though not of the fame religion ftill to the great end of all, the profperity and welfare of mankind. Among the numerous fects of religion with which this province abounds, for there are Churchmen, Quakers, Calvinifts, Lutherans, Catholics, Methodifts, Menifts, Moravians, Independents,

Anabaptifts, there is a fect which

perhaps you never heard of, called the Dumplers. This fect took its origin from a German, who, weary of the world retired to a very folitary place, about fifty miles from Philadelphia, in order to give up his whole time to contemplation; feveral of his countrymen came to vifit him in his retreat, and by his pious, fimple, and peaceable manners, many were induced to settle near him, and in a fhort time adopting his modes, they formed a little colony, which they named Euphrates, in allufion to that river upon whofe borders the Hebrews were accustomed to fing pfalms.

"Their little city is built in the form of a triangle, and bordered with mulberry and apple trees, very regularly planted. In the centre of the town is a large orchard, and between the orchard and the ranges of trees that are planted round the borders, are their houtes, which are built of wood, and three ftories high in thefe every Dumpler is leit to enjoy his meditations with

out