A of heart and genuine simplicity of manners, the same spirit of benevolence," that he found among their rude inhabitants.* He mentions also having seen mothers punishing obstinacy and disobedience, and, though extremely fond of their children, doing violence to their feelings, that the children might not acquire habits of ingratitude, obstinacy, or immorality. later resident, whose intercourse with the natives gave him every opportunity of judging, observes that their patriarchal mode of life, in which the younger and inferior part always surround the chief, as the father of one large family, is calculated much to refine and improve their mental faculties, and polish their language and behaviour.† In these islands, the want of regular government is the grand existing evil. Among other barbarous tribes, a different disposition supplies the place of law. When the Spanish fathers in Mexico explained to some of the natives, who adhered to their own habits, the security which prevailed in the + Narrative of four Years' Residence at Tongataboo. Christian missions, where an Indian alcalde administered justice, the chief replied, "This order of things may be necessary for you. We do not steal, and seldom disagree: what use have we, then, for an alcalde amongst us?" We are told also by Golberry, that in Africa there is commonly "very little disorder, so that the small number of offences produces a sort of habitual tranquillity."+ Traits of character not less interesting are to be found among the shepherds of Asia. Po Humboldt, vol. ii. 303. "In their intercourse with strangers the Shoshonees are frank and communicative, in their dealings perfectly fair; nor have we had, during our stay with them, any reason to suspect that the display of our new and valuable wealth has tempted them to a single act of dishonesty. While they have generally shared with us the little they possess, they have always abstained from begging any from us." Lewis and Clarke's Travels. + Vol. ii. p. 305, "Charlevoix has observed, that the nations among whom he travelled in North America, never mentioned acts of generosity or kindness, under the notion of duty; they acted from affection as they acted from appetite, without regard to its consequences. When they had done a kindness, they had gratified a desire." Ferguson, p. 11. s. 2. * verty, we are assured, is in no disgrace among them. When a family is unfortunate, the richer members of the tribe unite to set them up again with cattle, as far as three separate times; if their ill fate still pursues them, they become labourers, but no one one ever upbraids them with their humiliation, and they are clothed and fed as well as those whom they serve. Their attention to the rites of hospitality is proverbial, and indisputably proves their acquaintance with the first principles of morals. Of the Kalmucks in particular, it is related, that, though of a warm and sanguine temperament, they live more peaceably among themselves than would be expected of a people in such an independent state. They seldom come to blows, even at their drinking parties, and their quarrels are very rarely bloody. Though their anger is tinged with ferocity, murder is little known among them. In this respect it seems, that their religion, idolatrous * Découv. Russes, of the Barattes, vi. 124. that no argument can be raised against the goodness of the Deity, as if he had placed a portion of mankind in situations inconsistent with the object of their creation. It certainly could not be held just, that a man should be the subject either of punishment or reward, where his condition afforded him no opportunities of virtue. But it appears, that although the degrees of light diffused throughout the world are various, there is no where total darkness; and that although civilization, as originally proved, is the climate most favourable to virtue, there is no state where the seeds of morality are not planted, or refuse to thrive. Before, therefore, any derogation can be made on this score, from the evidence by which the divine goodness is supported, it must be maintained, that the Deity is either unable or unwilling to make compensation or allowance, in his future disposal of mankind, for whatever moral deficiencies arise from that general scheme, by which he has seen it best upon the whole to regulate the world. 417 CONCLUSION. IN the first volume of this work I endeavoured to show, that the evidence in favour of the existence of an independent, eternal, and omnipotent Creator, is such as to demand the assent of mankind. In the considerations, which followed, of the attributes belonging to the Creator, I attempted to point out a remarkable proof of the wisdom with which the Creator has organized our world, and directed its various parts in subservience to his general designs. I also examined the objections which have most commonly been urged against the goodness of the Deity; and have proved, I imagine, at least thus much neither the existence, nor the extent, of natural and moral evil, can interfere with that belief VOL. II. E E that |