And what shall we fay of thofe pacific primitive Christians, who have, by way of derifion, been called Quakers; and who, though some of their customs may perhaps be ridiculous, are yet remarkable for the virtue and sobriety of their lives, and for having in vain endeavoured to preach peace and good-will to the rest of mankind? There are at leaft an hundred thoufand of them in Pensylvania; difcord and controversy are unknown in that happy spot where they have fettled: the very name of their principal city, Philadelphia, is a continual memento to them, that all men are brethren, and is at once an example and reproach to thofe nations who have not yet adopted toleration.

To conclude, toleration has never yet excited civil wars; whereas its oppofite has filled the earth with flaughter and defolation. Let any one then judge, which of the two is most entitled to our efteem, or which we should applaud, the mother who would deliver her fon into the hand of the executioner, or fhe who would refign all right to him to fave his life.

In all what I have faid, I have had only the intereft of nations in view, and, as I pay all due respect to the doctrines of the church, I have in

this article, only confidered the phyfical and moral advantages of fociety. I therefore hope, that every impartial reader will properly weigh these truths, that he will view them in their proper light, and rectify what may be amifs. Those who read with attention, and reciprocally communicate their thoughts, will always have the ftart of the author +.

Mr. de la Bourdonnaie, intendant of Rouen, fays, that the manufacture for hats at Caudebec and Neufchatel is greatly fallen off fince the refugees left that country. Mr. Foucaut, intendant of Caen, fays, that trade in general is declined through the whole generality; and Mr. de Maupeou, intendant of Poitiers, that the manufactures for druggets is quite loft. Mr. de Bezons complains, that there is now hardly any trade ftirring at Clerac and Nerac. Mr. Miroménil, intendant of Tourain, fays, that the trade of Tours is diminished near ten millions per annum, and all this through the perfecution raised in that part of the kingdom: See the memorials of the intendants in the year 1698. To this if we add the number of land and fea officers, and common failors, who have been forced to engage in foreign fervices, frequently with fatal confequences to their own

country; we shall then fee whether or no perfecution has been fatal to the state.

We will not here presume to offer any hints to thofe minifters, whofe conduct and capacity are fufficiently known, and whofe greatness of foul and nobleness of fentiment do honour to their illuftrious birth: they will of themselves readily perceive, that the restoration of our marine will require fome indulgence at least to be fhewn to the inhabitants of our fea-coafts.

СНАР.

CHAP V.

In what Cafes TOLERATION may be

admitted.

L'

ET me for once fuppofe, that a minister equally noble and difcerning, that a prelate equally wife and humane, or a prince who is fenfible that his intereft confifts in the increased number of his fubjects, and his glory in their happiness, may deign to caft their eyes on this random and defective production. In this cafe, his own confummate knowledge will naturally lead him to ask himself, what hazard fhall I run by feeing the land beautified and enriched by a greater number of industrious labourers, the aids augmented, and the ftate rendered more flourishing?

Germany, by this time, would have been a defart, covered with the unburied bodies of many different fects, flaughtered by each other, had not the peace of Weftphalia happily procured a liberty of confcience.

We have Jews at Bourdeaux, at Mentz, and in Alface; we have Lutherans, Molinifts, and Janfenifts amongst us; can we not then admit proteftants likewife under proper reftrictions, nearly like thofe under which the Roman catholics are permitted in England? The greater the number of different fects, the lefs danger is to be apprehended from any one in particular; they become weaker in proportion as they are more numerous, and are easily kept in subjection by thofe juft laws which prohibit riotous affemblies, mutual infults, and feditions, and which the legiflative power will always properly fupport in their full vigour.

We know that there are feveral heads of families, who have acquired great fortunes in foreign countries, who would be glad to return to their native country. These require only the protection of the law of nature, to have their marriages to remain valid, and their children fecured in the enjoyment of their present property, and the right of fucceeding to the inheritance of their fathers, together with a protection for their perfons. They ask no public

places of worship; they

aim not at the pof

feffion of civil employs, nor do they afpire to dignities either in church or ftate; for no Ro

man