CHA P. IX.

SECT. I

Of Laws with reference to Man

TH

ners.

HOUGH in point of Morality we may boast of a delicacy and refinement, which does honour to the age we live in, yet, with refpect to our Manners, we cannot perhaps lay claim to any distinguishing excellence.

Though we have, in a great measure, worn off the reproach of our national character, yet we ftill continue referved, morofe, and gloomy, to a degree incompatible with focial enjoyment. Though civilized, we are not refined: We are more courteous than polite, more gentle than affable.

The bulk of our people have more goodnature than good-breeding, they are ready T

to

to do kind offices, but know not how to confer obligations with a becoming grace; their gifts lofe their value by the aukwardnefs of the benefactor. They are more hearty than free; more fincere than fociable:

The liberty of our political conftitution contributes greatly to occafion a disagreeable afperity of Manners. Proud of our freedom and independence, we are unwilling to acknowledge a fuperior. We fubmit to the rules of fubordination with fullen acquiefcence; and are more anxious to gain refpect ourselves, than to pay it to others.

The fenfe of Liberty being early inftilled into Britons, they naturally contract ideas of felf-importance. They have none of that obfequiousness of address, that flattering affiduity, which diftinguish people in lefs moderate Governments, where the distance of rank is obferved with greater punctuality.

But

But we fhould not be ignorant, that there is à becoming medium between ábject fervi lity and fullen referve. It is no doubt à dé testable meanness to flatter vice, or footh fol ly with fupple condefcenfion; but it is no way inconfiftent with manly freedom, to treat our fuperiors with that refpect and de ference which the rules of political fubordi nation require.

Though the excellence of our conftitution favours political independence, yet there is a moral impoffibility of eftablifhing focial in dependence. However, as Men we may be equal, yet as Citizens we must be mutually dependent.

Society must be fupported by a reciprocal interchange of kind and agréeable offi ces; we should alternately fervé each other with our power, and pleafe each other by our complaifancé.

There is a certain delicacy of Manners and complacency of behaviour, which preferves the decorum of fociety, and forms

the beauty of polished life. In this pleafing requifite, which our more courtly neighbours aptly call bienfeance, we are most of us greatly deficient.

The fevere fyftem of our Criminal Laws feems calculated to obftruct improvement in this particular; for the rigour they inflict, tends to render the public Manners more harsh and untractable.

This rafhnefs of character, however, which is often the companion, and fometimes the mover of delinquency, may be foftened and improved, by framing more mild and moderate inftitutions.

Mankind, under civilized governments, are not to be led by violence. The fenfe of shame, when ufed with caution and difcretion, is a better inftrument of government, than the dread of pain.

To fuppofe that the vulgar have no sense of fhame, is a mistaken opinion, harshly conceived, and vainly adopted. The defire

of

of distinction, and dread of infamy, beat as ftrong in the breast of the Peasant, as of the Senator.

The effence of ambition and shame are alike in both. The modes vary according to the difference of education, and the accidental circumstances of birth and fortune: The honour of the Gentleman would be wounded by injuries of which the Peasant would be unfusceptible; and the latter would be fenfible of reproaches, to which the former would be totally indifferent.

Should you put a negative on the Gentleman's veracity, he would think himself bound to revenge the indignity at the hazard of his life. The Peafant perhaps would fmile at the imputation: But if you were to queftion his prowess, he would probably avenge the infult by immediate violence.

The former would be afhamed to be thought deficient in any of the modes of politeness, to which the latter is an entire