The writer of this letter had afterwards an interview with Pfalmanazar at Oxford, in the prefence of feveral gentlemen and ladies, to whom, upon their request, he gave an account of the diabolical facrifices, (See page 10G. much more ample than he has inferted in his book; for, on a scarcity of A boys, they take girls, under the age of nine, whom they purity with much ceremony, that is, twelve times thro' each of the four elements, before they are held fit for facrifice.

I asked, fays the writer, if their parents were willing to refign their children? He faid, No; but if they refufed, it was death by the law, and not fave their children neither; and, on fuch occafions, their priests used to expoftulate after this manner. Have

B

C

you any thing but what is given you by God? Does not he blefs you with the fruit of the womb, as well as the fruits of the earth? Why then should you fcruple to part with one more than the other, when he is pleased to require it? I asked, if they beheld the flaughter of their children? he faid, No; the temple was fhut up while D they performed the facrifice."

The

79

if any fuffer death for breaking the laws, I know not why we may not difpofe of the dead bodies as we fee he, to eat human flesh; but I must fitting. I think it no fin, continued lady faid, the fuppofed their flaves were own it is a little unmannerly. The all Blacks, and afked if they eat well? He replied, they had fome from Africa, but they had more white flaves; and that he once eat part of a black; but they being always kept to hard work, their flesh was tough and unufually lived in Formofa: he said, mafavory. He was asked, how long men ny times to 120, but 100 years was counted very moderate. His grandfather, he said, was 117, and as fresh, plump, and vigorous as a young man, occafioned by fucking the blood of a viper warm every morning and, in all probability, might have lived many years longer, if they had not been forced to kill him. How, faid the lady, kill him! Yes, returned he; it is a custom with us, when our friends are in pain, and defire that remedy, to ftab was his cafe in a violent fit of the cho, them with a poifon'd dagger, which lick. You tell us, faid I, your countrymen are born poets, pray what subjects do they chufe for their wit? Devotion, replied he; our service is performed in verfe. What fort is yours, faid I, blank verfe or rhime? The ther the fame with yours, but we nummeasure, returned he, is not altogeber the fyllables, we are careful in placing the accent, and the end of one line clinks to that of another, like your poetry. Do you never ufe it for any thing but religion, faid MrHayes? but fays he, do not you court your Quoth the ftranger, for hiftory. Ay, wives in rhime? No, no, quoth the other, we never do that, but we write verfes fometimes in praife of ladies, when we meet with fome that are dethe governor of a certain province ferving and exemplary. For instance, had a very beautiful young lady for one of his wives, which the king hearing, fent to defire her of her husband who being unwilling to difoblige his fovereign, told her, he was forry to he might refign his right, if he pleated, part, but the muft go. She replied, but it was not in his power to transfer her fidelity; however, fhe did obey his commands, and go. She came to the king, he received her very graciously, and bid her ask any thing that was in his power. She thanked him, and only begged four days to prepare bec

F

chief priest cut off their heads, the facrificator ript up their bellies, & their bodies were thrown into a pit in the fanctuary where they were killed. Į was more than ordinarily curious to enquire what became of the dead bodies: He faid, the priests might eat E them. I faid, fo vaft a number drawn out every year was enough to unpeople a country. He replied, with us it might, but in his country the poorest men had two or three, and the nobles twelve or fifteen wives each. For fup. pofe, faid he, one of the ordinary fort, with two or three wives, fhould have four fons, and out of these four, three fhould be taken, might not the furviving boy, with the like number of wives, fupply the lofs? He said also, they had an abfolute power over their G women, and when they grew weary, it was but faying they fulpected them of adultery, & without more ceremony, they cut off their heads and eat them. A lady prefent was shocked, & cried, Barberous! I must own, faid he, it is barbarous to accuse them wrongfully, and I wish that custom were abolished. But as for eating the dead bodies, it is another thing; we do not kill men for their riches, but if they forfeit their estates to the law, I hope it is no afence to poffefs the forfeit; fo neitheir do we kill men to eat them; but

Telf for the honour of his embraces,
and that the might have food and
plenty of tobacco fent her every day
to the door, and not be forced to ad-
mit of any company or attendants till
that time was expired: Which the
king readily granting, the had the
best of the womens apartments given A
ber, and he took great care in lend-
ing her daily from his own table the
choiceft meat and frongest tobacco,
(for you must know, the ladies there
moak perpetually, and one of Pfal-
manazar's mothers fmoaks fix pounds
every day; the bole of their pipes
trolds a pound at once, and the fhank
is fome yards in length) which the
received from the flaves at the door,
with a cheatful countenance, till the
third day, when not coming as ufual,
they forced in, and found her dead on
the floor, and all the provisions in
one corner of the room untouched.
The king was much affected, and com-
manded the most famous poets to ce-
Jebrate the memory of fo rare a vir-
tue: And thus, Madam, quoth he,
you may fee we know how to commend
ladies when they deferve it.

E

will but give him the hearing from
the beginning to the end, he does not
queftion but to convince him of the
trath of the Christian religion, and,
with God's bleffing, many others
. I urged to him the hazards and the
cruelties they ufed to all Chriftians;
but he feemed nothing affected with
it; and faid, if it were his fate to
fuffer for his religion, he could not die
in a better caufe. If he be real, who
knows the defign of Providence? for,
fetting afide inspiration, the Apostles
were more unlikely to convert na-
tions than this man.

He is allowed by all to have good
parts, both natural and acquired;
he is mafter of fix languages, has an
acute apprehenfion, tenacious memo.
ry; and, confidering how he was edu-
cated in Pagan fuperftition, it is me-
thinks little less than a miracle to hear
him already difcourfe with fuch clear-
nefs and strength of argument on the
fublimeft articles of our faith, as might
fhame Christians, who, tho' baptized
into this church in their infancy, and
have all their lives profeffed its doc.
trine, are yet, nevertheless, more ig-
Dnorant of the fundamentals than this
poor Pagan, who was fo lately admit-
ted a member of it. Pfalmanazar is
thought to be a fictitious name, which
he has chofen for a difguife, & feems
a ground for belief to what the Je-
fuit (who kidnapped him from his fa-
ther) gave out, viz. that he was a
king's fon; certain it is, he makes no
brags of his family, and is not very
eafy in being examined much about
it. He was one day with Dr Burnet,
Bishop of Sarum, who, after his warm
manner, cried, Ay, you fay fo; but
what proof can you give, that you are
not of China, Japan, or any other
country? The manner of my flight,
replied he, did not allow me to bring
credentials; but fuppofe your Lord-
fhip were at Formofa, and fhould fay
you were an Englishman, might not the
Formofan as justly reply, You fay you
are an Englishman, but what proof can
Gyou give that you are not of any o-
ther country, for you look as like a
Dutchman as any that ever traded
to Formofa. This filenced his Lord.
fhip, and you fee our Afiatick is an apt
fcholar at raillery. He has the bole
of a pipe, with about an inch and half
of thank, which he conftantly carries
in his pocket, and is black & shining
like jet, not only within and without,
but quite through, tho' it is an ordi-
nary clay pipe. This you must know

Very generous and pretty, faid I; your exemplary ladies must hang or tarve themfelves, before you will allow them a panegyrick. Such is our custom, faid he, we seldom flatter them to their faces. I begged for a fight of his bofom fnake, but he af. fured me he had none; the English fnakes would not live above two or three days, and he was at a great lofs for one of thofe fweet beaits. They breed them and ferpents tame in Formofa, and have them of fuch a length, that they will twine themselves feveral times round their waifts, are very, loving and grateful to their benefac- F fors, and of such fidelity, that they will faffer no body to offer violence to their owners, and are of more service than maltiffs; and befides, faid he, they keep their masters fresh and cool in travelling, and wonderfully revive them. They also breed up toads tame in their houfes, to draw away any infection, and think it very wholesome to put a toad for fome time in a pot before they use it for victuals.

I atked, if he was not reconciled to our diet? He faid, No; nor he believed never fhould; for raw flesh was certainly moft wholesome. He feems poitively bent to return into his own country, and if he can but get to his faber's houfe, betore his converfion is known in the inland, his father is, a man of fuch good fenfe, that if he

Rules for diftinguifbing Liberty from Licentioufnefs. 81

is as good as tobacco, and better hufbandry, for this will relish his mouth in company, where finoaking would be thought indecent; and when his pockets are low, he can, with a live coal put into it, give himself the fatisfaction of his beloved odour, without the expence.

This, I think, was the most remarkable that occurs to my memory, either of what he told us, or of what I heard from others; which, to avoid tautology, I have joined to our perTonal conference.

A

than that which is promiscuoudy aimed at bodies of men.

Of the firft characteristick mark of Licentioufnefs and Faction.

I. The leaders of faction (being naturally of the higher ranks) would aim to establish an ariftocratic power; and inflave both prince and people to

⚫ their own avarice and ambition."

Thus if any fet of men had in former times been in power; and while in power, had oppreffed embarrassed majefty; had threatened the prince B with a general refignation; had thus intimidated him to their own purpofes; had by these means ufurped the legal prerogatives of the crown; and applied them rather to the fupport of their own influence, than to the public welfare :

T "deavour to preferve that C

"just balance of divided power, esta. "blished by law, for the fecurity of "freedom."-Because the public wel. fare is the leading object of his wishes; and can only be effectually obtained by the prefervation of such a balance.

II. He will be attached to mea"fures, without respecting men." Because the paffious and interests of individuals ought to yield to the public weal.

D

III." He will be generally felf-con"fiftent both in fpeech and action."Because, the public welfare being the uniform object of his purfuits, this E can only be fteadily and effectually promoted on clear and uniform principles,

IV." He will not attempt to in" flame an ignorant populace against "their legal governors."-Becaufe an ignorant populace are, in all cafes, unqualify'd to decide on the measures of government.

F

V." His Debates, either in the "Senate, or from the prefs, will be "void of undiftinguishing and inju"rious imputations on any whole bo"dies of men, who may differ from G "him in opinion."-Becaufe, truth and the public welfare being his defired end, he will clearly fee, that o thers have the fame right of approving, as himself hath of difapproving the meafures of government.

VI." He will not induftriously and H "indifcriminately defame the pri "vate characters of the individuals "who differ from him in opinion."Because calumny thrown on individuals is a ftill more aggravated crime, (Gent, Mag, FEB. 1765.)

<

had fared no better in their hands:If the legal privileges of the people if these, too, had been fwallowed up in the great gulph of aristocratic power: -If the members of the lower house, while they feemed to be the free reprefentatives of the people, had been in truth, a great part of them, no more than the commiffioned deputies of their refpective chiefs, whofe fentiments they declared, and whose interests they purfued:

If fuch a set of men, as soon as they had loft their influence, fhould now rail at the privileges of the crown as the engines of defpotifm, though they had formerly been allowed by the wil dom of the ftate, as the occafional fecurities of freedom :

If they fhould now abfurdly magnify and exalt the privileges of the lower houfe, beyond the limits prefcribed by a free conftitution:-If their pretence fhould be the vindication of the peo ple's rights, while their real motive was "the refloration of their own exorbitant power, founded on an expected majority of their own dependents :—”

If this conduct was purfued by any of a clear mark of licentiousness and faction fet of men, they would stand convicted

A fecond Mark of Licentioufness and·
Faction.

"The patrons of faction would be
"attached to men, to the neglect
"measures.'

If the fame men, when formerly in power, fhould have obftinately adhered to each other in every public debate and opinión; should have execrated every man as the enemy of his coun try, who diffented even in the flightest article of political belief

If on any fudden change in the fountain of power a more generous fyftem of government fhould have ta ken place. If the fovereign had aimed to unite all honeft men of all parties, and had invited them to co operate for the welfare of their country:

If these men, determined (till to engrofs all public power, fhould threaten the fovereign, as they had effectually threatened his royal predecessor) with a general refignation:

If their leaders fhould be taken at their word, and unexpectedly stripped of all power and influence :

If on this the clamours of their attendant populace fhould arife, and for the fake of the public tranquillity overtures fhould be made by the prince to the difcontented :-If the fame principle fhould ftill predominate, and demands in favour of men should be the leading object of accommodation :

A

B

If there demands fhould be not only irrational in their kind, but exorbitant and oppreffive in their degree, requiring a general refloration of all the difcontented, and a general difmission of all who are in power, tho' of known fidelity to their king and country:D

If fuch fhould be the conduct of any fet of men, they would stand evidently convicted of licentioufnels and faction.

third mark of licentioufness and faction. "The patrons of faction would be felf-contradictory and inconfiflent, not "only on different, but on parallel occafions."

Thus, if the exercise of a privilege fhould be quietly allowed to one officer of ftate,and by the fame perfons should be clamoured against in his fucceffor; the perfons thus acquiefcing and clamouring by turns, would ftand con- F victed of a felf-contradictory and inconfiftent conduct: And without deciding on the propriety or impropriety of the privilege in queftion, would carry upon them a clear mark of licentioufnefs and faction.

A fourth mark of licentiousness and faction. "The patrons of faction would en"deavour to delude and inflame an "ignorant and licentious populace a

gainst their legal governors."

G

Å blind and unprincipled populace. have ever been the most effectual en- H gines of fedition; And above all, those of the capital being near to the grand fcene of political contention, muft ever be a ready and dangerous engine e hands of licentioufnefs & faction

But in a nation like this, to make the populace of the capital a more fuccessful inftrument of fedition, a degree of art would be neceffary. The firft step, therefore, that faction would take as the fureft method of fuccefs, would be, to dignify the clamour for the popu lace, by filing it the voice of the people.

The fury of fuch a populace, thus awakened by vanity, vice, and ignorance, would arife in a variety of fhapes.

If an order of the fenate fhould be given for the burning of a paper legally declared feditious, fuch a populace would be incited to rescue it from the fire; and they who had thus incited them would boaft that it was refcued by the hands of the people.

Every talking demagogue, who fhould oppofe the measures of govern ment, would be artfully and indifcriminately obtruded on fuch an ignorant populace as a patriot or a heroe. And they who had thus obtruded him would boat that he was the favourite of the people.

Every distinguished friend to the meafures of government would be artfully obtruded on such a populace as the enemy of his country: And they who had thus obtruded him would boalt that he was the deteflation of the people.

Every act of the legislature which contradicted the paffions or partial interefts of fuch a populace,or their leaders, would be branded by them as arbitrary and oppreffive: And they would boaft that it was branded by the voice of the people.

If daily or periodical papers of intelligence were circulated from the capital through the nation, and thefe were open to the admiffion of every thing which private pique, passion, or intereft might fuggeft, they would of courfe become the general repofitories of popular flander: And as malice is always more eager to accufe, than injured innocence to defend, thefe flanders would often feem to preponderate in the public ear: And hence would be boafted by those who raised them, as the prevailing voice of the people.

A fifth mark of licentiousness and faction.

"The abettors of faction, would "throw injurious and undiftinguifh "ing imputations on every body of

men who differed from them in o"pinion."

Having thus gained an ignorant and licentious populace as the trumpets of

fedition, the patrons of faction would leave no means untry'd to load their adverfaries with the most envenomed calumny.

Thus if any mistaken principle had formerly been maintained, but was A now generally forfaken and derided; a faction could not be detected by any clearer mark than by its attempt to conjure up the ghost of this departed principle, in order to alarm and terrify not only the populace, but the people.

If on this pretence any men fhould attempt to revive animofities which B time had bury'd-fhould attempt to divide and distract the fubjects of an united kingdom, whofe common welfare depended on their union;-should revile all men without distinction who were born in a certain district, and indifcriminately endeavour to exclude them from a participation of thofe C public trufts, honours, and emoluments, to which, with the rest of their fellow fubjects, they might ftand intitled by their capacity or virtue :Who would not discover in this unequal conduct a clear and diftinctive mark of licentiousness and faction?

infinuation, indeed, would not fo much merit detestation, as contempt and ridicule.

A fixth mark of Licentiousness and Faction.

"The abettors and inftruments of "faction would promifcuously calum"niate the private characters of the "principal individuals of the oppo❝fing party."

If a prince, whose words and actions might juttly be given as an example of integrity to all his fubjects, thould be ambiguously accused of such things as his honour would abhor :

If fuch a prince fhould be indirectly charged with ignorance for not diftinguithing in a point of law which even Jome of the ableft lawyers in his kingdom had not attended to:

If neither the virtues nor the condefcenfion of a queen could protect her from the infults of those whom the had never injured:

If any other branch of a royal family fhould be bafely traduced by the groffelt and moft audacious calumnies, ftudiously contrived to inflame an ignorant and unbridled populace :D If the fervants of the crown, and members of the legislature, who had legally exerted themfelves in defence of their injured fovereign, fhould in their private character be impudently vilify'd, mifreprefented, and abufed, and even their unoffending families traduced with study'd and unexampled virulence :

Again: If ever there had been a time when all who prefumed to dissent in any degree from thofe in power, were indifcriminately and unjustly branded with the name of Jacobite or Tory; and if thofe very men who had bestowed fuch appellations, fhould g now deal them as freely round on all who affent to thofe in power:-This were furely a clear indication that the fpirit of faction were abroad.

But if, in the courfe of political revolutions fome of these men's former adherents fhould now be their adver- faries, and fome former adverfàries fhould now be their adherents, another characteristic circumstance would arife; for those whom they had once reviled, they would now applaud, as being the friends of liberty; and those whom they had formerly applauded. they would now revile, as having be- G come Jacobites or Tories. Such a conduct, and such names thus arbitrarily impofed, however fpecioufly coloured over by the pretence and cry of li berty, might feem to ftand, with all impartial judges, as a clear mark of licentiousness and faction.

The views of fuch men would be ftill H more apparent, fhould they infinuate that the prince received thofe very

men as his minifters and favourites whofe principles tended to the fubverSon of his throne and family. This

If neither age nor virtue should be a fecurity against the arrows of public calumny :-If a man of the most diftinguished worth in private life, a known and zealous friend of public liberty, one of the ornaments of his age and country, fhould be overwhelmed by a load of the most unprovoiced and malicious flander, merely be cause he had dared to affert his own right of private judgment, in oppofition to the opinion of another:

If thefe outrages fhould be publicly committed by fome, and winked at, or countenanced, cr patronized by others, furely all boneft men ought to join in declaring their abhorrence of fuch atrocious acts of licentioufnefs and faction, perpetrated in defiance of all laws, both human and divine.