exhibited by their Conquerers have moft effectually prejudiced them against their Religion. Tyranny has in this inftance proved an antidote to fuperftition.

It was one part of the profeffed defign of fettling America,to endeavour the converfion of the natives, and it muft not be forgot that fome very zealous and well meant endeavours have been used, by men who had neither wealth nor power in view. But it is equally true that the numbers who have been converted from Paganism to the rational worship of the Deity, and a regular practice of morality, is not by far equal to thofe, who have either retained their native fuperftitions, or changed them for fome more glittering and refined. The AmeriCans have more fancy than judgment, their ancient prejudices are fixed and inveterate; and they are jealous of the attempts of strangers to remove them: nor are they void of penetration, for while they fee diverfities of opinions among those who call themselves Chriftians and fome of the more zealous endeavouring to propagate the peculiarities of their refpective fets among them, they are ready to fay, "Go Chriftians, and agree among

yourselves what Religion is, be"fore you pretend to teach it to us."

The N GHORS OF AFRICA have experienced the moft fatal DISADVANTAGES by the discovery of America. Before that event, they either enjoyed domeftic peace, or if taken captive in war, were facrificed at once at the shrine of victorious despotism. But the AURI SACRA FAMES has changed their fate; the wars which before rarely raged among them have been increased, and the defire of taking victims for Mammon exceeds the horrid thirst of blood. They are deftined to be tranfported to the American Iflands, and linger out a wretched life in fervitude. Iflands! did I fay?

Ah, the American continent, and that part of it, where the love of Liberty has burned with a bright flame, is tinged with the horrid inconfiftency of fighting for its own Liberty with one hand, and holding faft its flaves with the other!

How fhall thefe difadvantages be remedied?

Will the Europeans who have tafted the fweets of refined luxury and extenfive commerce, forced out of the earth by the labour of the unhappy flaves, permit the restoration of them to their native country, or difallow the future transportation of them? Not fo long as the love of gain is such a prevailing principle in the human mind. But has not the American Congrefs advanced a ftep in this defirable reformation? Is not the future importation of blacks, by their folemn act prohibited? Let us wait till time and experience shall prove this regulation as politic, as it is juft.

Shall we liberate thofe who are already here? Juftice would plead for the measure, but let juftice be guided by wifdom and benevolence. The aged flave, who has exhaufted his ftrength in the fervice of a mafter, has a natural claim on him, for a fupport during the remainder of his life; have ing never been used to provide for himfelf in his younger years, he is now too old to learn that art; having always been under the restraints of authority, he would fcarcely know how to govern him elf. Letthefe therefore experience the lenity of a gradual releafe from their labours, but let the hand which has upheld them all along, not be allowed to withdraw its fupport from their infirm old age. Let the young and vigorous be indulged with the profpe&t of freedom, at a certain age, but let care be taken, that this freedom do not plunge them into licentioufnefs. Let there be not only wages, but rewards for industry, and let the return to flavery, be the fanction of thefe laws, whofe direct end is the prefervation of their liberty, and their morals. By fome indulgence of their native inclinations, to mirth and feftivity on proper occafions, their labours might be fo fweetned, that they might never have reafon to complain of their transportation from another country, and even in time their pofterity, might lofe the remembrance of it.

What fhall be done to civilize and improve the morals of the SAVAGE AMERICANS?

If we are to judge from experience, a plan fimilar to that adopted by the Jefuits in Paraguay bids the fairest

for

for fuccefs. Nothing can contribute more to this defirable event, than a perfuafion in the minds of theSavages that those who attempt it have no finifter Views, but are folely intent on their benefit. This muft not be endeavoured by requiring an implicit deference to fublime and myfterious Doginas, but by a fimple appeal to their understandings, and to the fenfe they have of their own happiness. For want of fuch a conduct much well meant zeal has been misplaced, and fome charitable funds mifapplied.

Next to the defign of ere&ing them into an independent and civilized community, which thefe Fathers have proved to be practicable, perhaps the mode adopted by fome French Miffionaries deferves regard, viz. to conform to their manners and follow them in their peregrinations through the wilderness with the benevolent intention of inftilling principles of religion into their minds. The Savages are always pleafed with the conformitý of other people to their language and cuftoms but this requires a peculiar conftitution both of body and mind. . A third method which has been attempted is the educating their chil dren and fitting them for the work of teaching their countrymen. The attempts to introduce this method among the tribes on the northern Continent, who have room to expatiate and connect themfelves with diftant nations, have not been found fo fuccelsful as, on fome fmall Islands near the coaft, where they are circumfcribed within natures limits, and can be under the controul of perfons of a fuperior character. Civilization is fuch a perpetual reftraint on the native genius of the American, that he takes the first opportunity to throw it off and return to a favage life.

Of all the methods of inftru&ting them,that of a formal harrangue with the fiftince of an interpreter, is the moft tedious and undefirable. The Americans indeed are fond of speeches, but abftra& truths delivered at fecond hand do not afet them much. A fenfe of decency (which they always obferve in their councils) will induce them tolifen with fome degree of attention, but fach difcourfes, generally

make but a light impreffion. Whatever be the manner, the greatest care fhould be taken with regard to the matter of their infruction. No party notions, no dubious or uncertain niceties, however fan&ified by antiquity or human authority; no European prejudices nor fubjection to European princes, ftates and prelates fhould ever be propagated among favages. The pure original principles of national and real religion fhould be propounded to them, and their intereft fhewn in receiving them. Such hiftorical facts as tend to illuftrate these principles and engage the attention of the mind to them, may at proper feafons be introduced, this will beget in them a regard to worthy characters, and a particular veneration for the grandeft and pureft haracter that ever appeared in human form. Above all,care should be taken not to inculcate a notion of the partiality of the Deity, towards any particular for cieties or nations of mankind, but his univerfal providence, and equal care, his invariable regard to virtue and difapprobation of vice, will be found to be the best bafis of religion and philanthropy.

How fhall foreigners cultivate the advantages arifing from their commercial intercourfe with America?

By the fame means that a merchant would endeavour to gain the favor of his cuftomers; not by keeping dogs to bark at and bite them, but by using them with politeness, moderation and equity; by extending to American hips in their ports the fame pri vileges with thofe of other nations; by not interrupting the Paffage of the ocean, but leaving commerce free and unfhackled, and deftroying Monopolies.

Perhaps the trade between Acapul co and Manila might be improved, by admiting the North American merchants to the Fair of La Vera Cruz, to purchase Afiatic commodities, and introduce into Mexico the corn and fish of North America.

Thofe European Powers who ftill have dominions in America, fhould learn from the fatal example of Britain that the filken rein is better than the iron rod to govern di ant ter-s ritorie

ritories. Mankind by tranfmigrating into and peopling other Countries acquire ideas of Liberty and Independence and their own importance which homebred jealousy will in vain endeavour to reftrain, and the more and heavier reftraints they impofe,the more violent will be the ftruggle to regain that Liberty which is the gift of nature, especially if a fufficiency of riches aud a thorough knowledge of the rights and interefts of mankind are called to its aid.

Finally how fhall the European Emigrant fecure and perpetuate the Advantages derived from his fettlement in the new World. Let him breed his Son to a love of Knowledge and Virtue: Let him be taught the value and importance of preferving the firft limits between native Liberty and delegated Authority: Let him learn to be governed by Rulers of his own chufing or approving,and always fubmit to the opiniou and advice of the majority of his Brethren except in matters of Confcience; let him learn that to keep his fword ready furbished and fit for war is the beft method to preferve peace and keep enemies at a diftance; let him learn to regard all mankind as Brethren, and to embrace a Turk, a Jew, or an Indian equally with a Chriftian.--In fine let him learn that America is defigned, as the Affylum of Liberty, the Garden of Philanthropy, the Theatre of Virtue, the Temple of Science, and the Seat of Elyfium--If there is Enthufiafm in the Idea, it is fuch Enthusiasm as will impel to the exercife of benevolence and contribute to make that in fome degree real which is the object of its Wifh--If it is a dream, Heaven grant that I may never awake from it.

EL

would not thence conclude, that I have been wholly inactive in your fervice. One caufe of my delay has been, that I could not in confcience fend you very pleafing intelligence: for, to tell you the truth, you have widely miffed the taste of a very im. portant clafs of your readers. fays on education, agriculture, government, &c, may be very inftructive fubje&ts perhaps, but, believe me, gentlemen, they fall the earlieft facrifices on lighting a pipe, or other neceffary occafions. I faw the Treatife on the rights of confcience burned at the flake under an apple pye and there was nothing referved in one number but an enigma, and, to my great mortification, the letter which I wrote you fome time fince. I have often heard of Philofophers whose mental powers were fo acute, that they could difcern the truth or falfehood of a propofition intuitively; but even fuch geniufes would be weak antagonists, compared with the enemies I have to contend with, in your defence; for, the former, in order to underftand, were obliged at least, to take a glance at their fubject; but the latter, by certain very myfterious powers, to which nature has given them an exclufive privilege, can judge & decide, without viewing their fubje& at all. I beg that, in future, you would referve a competent number of your publications, Aruck off in marble pages, like thofe in Triftram Shandy, for the amufement of fuch fupernatural criticks.

Religion and philosophy, are in fafhion among fome people, but, the politer fort muft have fome other kind of SENTIMENTAL SUSTENANCE. Pray, gentlemen, can you not mufter up one téte à téte? Has luft and wickedness wholly deferted the country? Is there not one infignificant beau, whofe gallantry has by accident fucceeded on the wife of his honeft neighbour,whom you could raife to public view? What fignifies it to hold up the heads of virtuous patriots,and grave divines, whose friends, perhaps, after all, may think you under greater obligation to their countenances, than their memories are to the engraver, when it is plain, that we have a thoufand young and beautiful faces, that would captivate

the

the moft unfeeling of your readers. I have not as yet seen a single stroke of Bander, to give a currency to your work. Is it poffible too, that government has conducted rightly for fix months together? In short,gentlemen, you have nothing for polite amufement, and you appear like a man who wears a fuit of cloaths, excellent in quality perhaps, but entirely out of fashion. Pray then let us have fomething, that will make us laugh,or fill us with admiration; fuch, for inftance, as the memoirs of fome Great Magician, who might have conferred upon him, a withing cap, like that of Fortunatus, and made to pafs from one quarter of the globe to another, in a twinkling of an eye, taking along with him, what ever he thould have a liking for, and was moft precious to the owner: or, fome curious travels, wherein the giants and pygmies of different climates might be properly defcribed, their manners fo inconceivable to contracted minds, faithfully delineated; and all the natural and real wonders of their country accurately explained, and accounted for: Poffibly,fomething like the ufeful difcoveries of that obferving navigator, Mr. Gulliver,might fuit us. Thus, gentlemen, I have given you an honeft hint, which I hope you will attribute to any other motive than that of ill nature in your humble fervant

FACETUS.

The JUSTICE of FREDERIC. (Adorn'd with an elegantCopperplate)

Gentleman who lived in the neigh

Abourhood of Cuftrin, wished to Supply his fifh pond with water, and for this purpofe had altered the courfe of a rivulet, that used to turn a mill, known by the name of PommertzigerKrebfmule,in the new Marche of Brandenburgh.---The confequence was,that the miller, whofe name was Arnold, could no longer grind with this mill, for more than 28 days in the whole year, namely 14 in the fpring, and as many in the latter end of autum. His landlord was never thelefs unreafonable enough to expect that he should, notwithstanding the damage he had fuflained by the want of water, pay

the fame rent, that he used to do for his mill, at the time when he was able to make, ufe of it the whole year round. The miller refifted the demands of his landlord, the affair was brought into a court of law at Cuftrin, when judgment was given in favour of the landlord, by which he was empowered to fell the mill, for the rent and arrears due to him.---This iniquitous judgement was upon an appeal, affirmed in the Supreme Court of Judicature in Brandenburgh.

The whole proceeding was at length laid before the King of Pruffia. His fentiments on the fubject, cannot be better expreffed, than in his own words, in a letter which he writ with his own hand, upon the occafion.

"The fentence, faid his Majefty, is founded in the moft fhameful injuftice, it is directly contrary to the paternal intentions of his Majefty, whofe will and defire it is, that equal juftice be fpeedily and impartially diftributed to all his fubjects, whether nobles or plebeians, rich or poor, and without any diftination whatever, of rank or perfons. His Majefty, therefore, in removing and difmifing his judges, in confequence of the unjuft judgement given by them in the cafe of the miller, Arnold, has it in view to let a great and ftriking example, that may ferve, in future, to deter the judges of the Courts of Juftice in his different provinces,from incurring the guilt of fuch like iniquity and injuftice, for they ought to know that the meanest peafant, and even the beggar, are men as well as the king.-A Court of Law, where the judges fwerve from the principles which OUGHT to govern them, is more dangerous to fociety, than a gang of robbers; for men are generally on their guard against the latter, but no precaution can prevail against a banditti, who under the cloak of law and juftice, are guilty of the moft flagrant iniquity, and violate every principle of juftice. His Majefty, therefore, gives notice to all his Courts of Law, that though he has appointed a new Lord High Chancellor, in the room of him whom he has, by difmiffion, made an example to all his Minifters of Juftice, he will always keep a watchful eye over the different provincial tribunals, and fee that they conform