ARTES
LIBRARY
1837
SCIENTIA
VERITAS
OF THE
:
:
UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
SE FURIOUS
1
SIHII
TUEBOR
SI-QUÆRIS PENINSULAM-AMŒNAM
CIRCUMSPICE
;
}
HN
389
·B88
1757
AN
ESTIMATE
OF THE
MANNERS
AND
PRINCIPLES.
OF THE
TIME S.
By the AUTHOR of
ESSAYS on the CHARACTERISTICS, &c.'
Quamvis Pontica Pinus,
Silvæ Filia nobilis,
Jactes & Genus & Nomen inutile.
LONDON,
Printed for L. DAVIS, and C. REYMERS, in
Holborn; Printers to the ROYAL SOCIETY,
MDCCLVII,
1
HN
387
B88
1757
ADVERTISEMENT.
TH
Tthro the
HE leading Principles, which run
thro' the following Eſtimate, make
a fmall Part of a much more extenfive
Work, planned on the general Subject of
Manners. In the mean time, the Writer
thought it not amifs to offer his Sentiments
on the preſent State and Situation of his
Country, at a Crifis fo important and
alarming.
a 2
CON-
(5)
CONTENT S.
PART I.
·A Delineation of the ruling Manners and
Principles.
SECT. I.
Of the Spirit of Liberty.
The Defign,
Page 11
SECT. II.
P. 17
SECT. III.
P. 20
Of the Spirit of Humanity,
SECT. IV.
Of the civil Administration of Justice. p. 22
SECT. V.
Of the Ruling Manners of the Times. p. 23
SECT.
6
CONTENT S.
SÈ C T. VI.
Of the Principles of Religion, Honour, and
public Spirit.
p. 52
PART II.
Of the public Effects of thefe Manners and
Principles.
SECT. I.
What conftitutes the Strength of a Nation.
p. 71
SECT. II.
Of the national Capacity.
P. 73
SECT. III.
Of the national Spirit of Defence.
.SECT. IV.
Of the national Spirit of Union.
SECT. V.
p. 87
p. 102
Of the Confequences of National Difunion.
1
Page 123
CO.NTENT S.
7.
SECT. VI.
An Objection, drawn from the Manners of,
the French Nation, confidered.
SECT. VII.
P. 134
Of the most probable Tendency of thefe Effects.
p. 142
PART III.
Of the Sources of thefe Manners and Prin-
ciples.
SECT. I.
Of a general Mistake on this Subject. p. 149
SECT. II.
Of the Effects of exorbitant Trade and Wealth,
on Manners.
P. 151
SECT. III.
Of the Effects of exorbitant Trade and Wealth
on the religious Principle
Page 161
SECT.
8
CONTENTS.
SECT. IV.
Of their Effects on the Principle of Honour.
SECT. V.
p. 170
Of their Effects on public Spirit.
P. 173
SECT. VI.
Farther Remarks on this Subject.
SECT. VII.
P. 175
A Review of the Argument.
p. 181
SECT. VIII.
An Objection confidered.
p. 182
SECT. IX.
Another Objection confidered.
p. 202
SECT. X.
Conclufion.
p. 209
PART I
PART I.
A
DELINEATION
OF THE
RULING MANNERS
AND
PRINCIPLES.
B
CONE
( II )
J X X X X X
PART I.
A
DELINEATION
OF
The RULING MANNERS and
PRINCIPLES.
SU
SECT. I.
THE DESIGN.
C
UPERFICIAL, though zealous, s E c T.
Obfervers, think they fee the Source
of all our public Miſcarriages in the parti
cular and accidental Miſconduct of Indivi-
duals.
This is not much to be wondered
at, becauſe it is ſo eaſy a Solution.
I.
B 2
THIS
12
An Eftimate of the Manners
SECT.
I.
THIS pretence, too, is plaufibly urged
upon the People by profligate Scribblers,
who find their Account in it. It is a fort
of Compliment paid the Public, to per-
fuade them, that they have no Share in
the Production of theſe national Misfor-
tunes.
BUT a candid and mature Confideration
will probably convince us, that the Malady
lies deeper than what is commonly ſuf-
pected: and, on impartial Enquiry, it will
probably be found fpringing, not from va-
rying and incidental, but from permanent
and eſtabliſhed Caufes.
It is the Obfervation of the greateſt of
political Writers, that "it is by no means
"Fortune that rules the World: for this
"we may appeal to the Romans, who
"had a long Series of Profperities, when
<<
they acted upon a certain Plan; and an
"unin-
and Principles of the Times.
13
re
uninterrupted Courſe of Misfortunes, sECT.
"when they conducted themſelves upon I.
"another. There are general Cauſes, na-
«tural or moral, which operate in every
"State; which raife, fupport, or overturn
" it *."
cr
AMONG all theſe various Cauſes, none
perhaps fo much contributes to raiſe or ſink
a Nation, as the Manners and Principles
of its People. But as there never was any
declining Nation, which had not Cauſes of
Declenfion peculiar to itſelf, fo it will re-
quire a minute Inveſtigation into the lead-
* « Ce n'eſt pas la Fortune qui domine le Monde :
66 on peut
le demander aux Romains, qui eurent une
"fuite continuelle des Profperités quand ils fe gou-
vernerent fur un certain Plan, & une fuite non in-
"terrompue de revers lors qu'ils fe conduifirent fur
"un autre. Il y a des Caufes generales, foit morales,
" ſoit phyſiques, qui agiffent dans chaque Monarchie,
"l'elevent, la maintiennent, ou la precipitent."
Grandeur, &c. des Romains, c. 18.
B 3
ing
14
An Eftimate of the Manners
SECT. ing Manners and Principles of the preſent
Times, to throw a juft Light on the pecu-
liar Cauſes of our calamitous Situation.
I.
To delineate theſe Manners and Princi-
ples without Aggravation or Weakneſs, to
unravel their Effects on the public State and
Welfare, and to trace them to their real
though diftant Sources, is indeed a Tafk
of equal Difficulty and Importance.
It may be neceffary therefore to apolo-
gife even for the Attempt; as being ſup-
pofed to lie beyond the Sphere of him who
makes it. To this it can only be replied,
that a common Eye may poffibly diſcover
a lurking Rock or Sand, while the able
and experienced Mariners overlook the
Danger, through their Attention to the
Helm, the Sails, or Rigging.
HE
and Principles of the Times.
15
I.
He will be much miſtaken, who expects S ECT.
to find here a Vein of undiſtinguiſhing and
licentious Satire. To rail at the Times at
large, can ſerve no good Purpoſe; and ge-
nerally ariſeth from a Want of Knowledge
or a Want of Honeſty. There never was
an Age or Nation that had not Virtues and
Vices peculiar to itſelf: And in fome Re-
ſpects, perhaps, there is no Time nor
Country delivered down to us in Story, in
which a wife Man would fo much wiſh
to have lived, as in our own.
NOTWITHSTANDING this, our Situa-
tion ſeems moſt dangerous: We are rolling
to the Brink of a Precipice that muſt deſtroy
us,
AT fuch a Juncture, to hold up a true
Mirroir to the Public, and let the Nation
fee themſelves as the Authors of their own
B 4
Mis-
16
An Eftimate of the Manners.
SECT. Misfortunes, cannot be a very popular De-
I. fign. But as the Writer is not follicitous
about private Confequences, he can with
the greater Security adopt the Words of an
honeft and fenfible Man.
"MOST commonly, fuch as palliate
"Evils, and reprefent the State of Things
"in a founder Condition than truly they
"are, do thereby confult beſt for them-
"felves, and better recommend their own
"Bufinefs and Pretenfions in the World:
"But he who, to the utmoſt of his Skill
"and Power, fpeaks the Truth, where
"the Good of his King and Country are
"concerned, will be moſt efteemed by
• Perfons of Virtue and Wiſdom: And to
"the Favour and Protection of fuch, theſe
* Papers are committed *."
* Dr. Davenant, on Trade.
SECT,
and Principles of the Times.
17
SECT. II.
Of the Spirit of Liberty.
BEFORE We enumerate the concurrent s E C T.
Cauſes of our prefent Misfortunes and De- II.
cline; let us, by way of Contraft, muſter
the few remaining Virtues we have left;
to which, in part, it is owing, that our
Misfortunes are not heavier, and our De-
cline more rapid.
AMONG thefe, the firſt and moſt im-
portant, is the Spirit of Liberty. This,
happily, ſtill ſubſiſts among us: Not in-
deed in its genuine Vigour; for then, it
would work its genuine effects. Yet, that
the Love of Liberty is not extinguiſhed,
appears from the united Voice of a divided
People. It ftill animates their Converfa-
tion, and invigorates their Addreffes: tho'
in
18
An Eftimate of the Manners
SE CT.in their Conduct it appears no more. But
II. it is remarkable, that in Proportion as this
Spirit hath grown weak in Deeds, it hath
gained Strength in Words; and of late run
out, into unbounded Licenſe,
THIS, however, appears beyond a
Doubt: that we all wiſh to continue free;
tho' we have not the Virtue to fecure our
Freedom. The Spirit of Liberty is now
ſtruggling with the Manners and Principles,
as formerly it ſtruggled with the Tyrants
of the Time. But the Danger is now
greater, becauſe the Enemy is within;
working fecretly and fecurely, and deſtroy-
ing all thoſe internal Powers, from which
alone an effectual Oppofition can ariſe.
WHEREVER this Spirit of Liberty ſub-
fifts in its full Vigour, the Vigilance and
Power of impotent Governors are vain: A
Nation can neither be furpriſed nor com-
pelled
and Principles of the Times.
19
11.
pelled into Slavery: When this is extin-s E C T.
guiſhed, neither the Virtue nor Vigilance
of Patriots can fave it. In the Reign of
JAMES the Second, Great Britain was free,
tho' a defpotic Prince was on the Throne:
At the Time when CESAR fell, Rome
was ſtill inflaved, tho' the Tyrant was no
more.
THIS great Spirit hath produced more
full and complete Effects in our own
Country, than in any known Nation that
ever was upon Earth. It appears indeed,
from a Concurrence of Facts too large to
be produced here, that whereas it hath been
ingrafted by the Arts of Policy in other
Countries, it ſhoots up here as from its natu-
ral Climate, Stock, and Soil. From this
Diſtinction, if laid in Nature, two or three
Confequences will fairly arife. Its Ef-
fects muſt, of courſe, be more vigorous
and
20
An Eftimate of the Manners
· *
SECT. and full. It's Deſtruction, by external
II. Violence, will probably be no more than
SECT.
temporary. It's chief Danger muſt ariſe
from fuch Cauſes, as may poiſon the
Root; or attack, and deſtroy the natural
Spirit itſelf: Theſe muſt be fuch Cauſes,
as can ſteal upon, and fubdue the Mind:
that is, they muſt be "fome Degene-
cc
66
racy or Corruption of the Manners and
Principles of the People."
SE C T. III.
Of the Spirit of Humanity.
LET us now trace the Spirit of Liberty
III. through fuch of its Effects, as are not yet de-
ſtroyed by oppofite Principles and Mailers.
THE firſt that occurs, is Humanity. By
this, is not meant that Smoothneſs and re-
fined Poliſh of external Manners, by which
the prefent Age affects to be diftinguiſhed:
for
and Principles of the Times.
21
meant,
for this, it is apprehended, will belong to s E c T.
another Claſs. By Humanity, therefore, is III.
"that Pity for Diftreſs, that Mo-
"deration in limiting Puniſhments by their
proper Ends and Meaſures, by which
"this Nation hath always been diftin-
guiſhed.
cc
cr
THE Lenity of our Laws in capital Ca-
fes; our Compaffion for convicted Crimi-
nals; even the general Humanity of our
Highwaymen and Robbers, compared with
thoſe of other Countries; theſe are concur-
rent Proofs that the Spirit of Humanity is
natural to our Nation.
THE many noble Foundations for the
Relief of the Miferable and the Friendless;
the large annual Supplies from voluntary
Charities to theſe Foundations; the frequent
and generous Affiftance given to the Unfor-
tunate, who cannot be admitted into theſe
Founda-
4.
22
An Eftimate of the Manners
SECT.
Foundations; all theſe are fuch indifputa-
III. ble Proofs of a national Humanity, as it
SECT.
were the higheſt Injustice not to acknow-
ledge and applaud.
SECT. IV.
Of the civil Administration of Justice.
ANOTHER Virtue, and of the higheſt
IV. Confequence as it regards the immediate
and private Happineſs of Individuals, yet
left among us, is the pure Adminiſtration
of Juſtice, as it regards private Property.
MANY Cauſes may be affigned, for the
Continuance of this public Bleffing. The
Spirit of Liberty and Humanity beget a
Spirit of Equity, where no contrary Paffion
interferes: The Spirit of Commerce, now
predominant, begets a kind of regulated
Selfiſhneſs, which tends at once to the In-
creaſe and Preſervation of Property. The
Difficulty of corrupting Juries under the
Checks
and Principles of the Times.
23
Checks of their preſent Eſtabliſhment, in's E C T.
moſt Cafes prevents the very Attempt. IV.
And the long-continued Example of a
great Perfon on the Seat of Equity, hath
diffuſed an uncorrupt Spirit through the
inferior Courts, and will ſhine to the lateſt
Pofterity.
SECT. V.
Of the Ruling Manners of the Times.
HAVING made this prefatory Eſtimate s E C T.
of thoſe remaining Manners which may V.
demand Eſteem and Applauſe, let us now
proceed to the ruling Manners of the
Times; from which this Age and Nation
derives its preſent and particular Complex-
ion.
It may be neceffary to remark, that this
defigned Eſtimate extends not to the com-
parative Excellence of Manners and Prin-
I
ciples,
24
An Eſtimate of the Manners
V.
SECT. ciples, confidered in every View, and in
all their Variety of near and remote Effects.
It relates not to the immediate Happineſs
or Miſery, which Individuals, Families, or
Nations, may derive from the Force of
prevailing Principles and Manners. Theſe
Effects branch out into an Infinity of in-
tricate Combinations, which cannot be
comprehended in the preſent, but will
make a material Part of fome future En-
quiry. This Eftimate, therefore, confines
itſelf to fuch Confequences only, as affect
the Duration of the public State: So that
the leading Queſtion will be, "How far
the prefent ruling Manners and Principles
" of this Nation may tend to its Continu-
"ance or Deſtruction."
IN Confequence of this Reſtriction, the
Manners and Principles of the common
People will ſcarce find a Place in the Ac-
count. For though the Sum total of a Na-
tion's
and Principles of the Times.
25
1
S
V.
tions immediate Happineſs muſt ariſe, and s E c T.
be eſtimated, from the Manners and Prin-
ciples of the Whole; yet the Manners and
Principles of thoſe who lead, not of thoſe
who are led; of thoſe who govern, not of
thoſe who are governed; of thofe, in ſhort,
who make Laws or execute them, will ever
determine the Strength or Weakneſs, and
therefore the Continuance or Diffolution,
of a State.
FOR the blind Force or Weight of an
ungoverned Multitude can have no ſteady
nor rational Effect, unleſs fome leading
Mind rouze it into Action, and point it to
its proper End: without this, it is either a
brute and random Bolt, or a lifeless Ball
fleeping in the Cannon: It depends on
fome fuperior Intelligence, to give it both
Impulfe and Direction.
INDEED, were the People remarkably
corrupt, they might properly make a Part
C
of
26
An Eftimate of the Manners
V.
SECT. of this Enquiry: But in moſt of thoſe im-
portant Circumſtances to which this Efti-
mate refers, they are in general much more
irreproachable than their Superiors in Sta-
tion; eſpecially, if we except the lower
Ranks of thoſe who live in great Towns.
It will therefore be unneceffary to mark
the Character of their Principles or Man-
ners, unleſs where they appear evidently
poiſoned by the Example or other Influence
of the higher Ranks in Life.
Now the flighteſt Obfervation, if at-
tended with Impartiality, may convince us,
that the Character of the Manners of this
Age and Nation, is by no means that of
abandoned Wickedness and Profligacy. This
Degree of Degeneracy, indeed, is often
imputed to the Times: But, to what
Times hath it not been imputed? Preſent
Objects are naturally magnified to the hu-
man
and Principles of the Times.
27
man Eye, while remote ones, though lar-s E CT.
ger in Dimenfions, vanish into nothing. V.
Hence the Speculative and Virtuous, in eve-
ry Age, confining their Views to their own
Period, have been apt to aggravate its Man-
ners into the higheſt Degree of Guilt; to
fatyrize, rather than defcribe; to throw
their reſpective Times into one dark Shade
of Horror, rather than mark their peculiar
Colour and Complexion.
HERE, a large Field of Compariſon and
Debate would open, were it neceffary or
even expedient to enter upon it. We
might caſt our Eye upon the Manners of
ROME, CARTHAGE, and many other
States, in their laft declining Period; where
we ſhould behold fuch tragic Scenes of
Cruelty, Impiety, and Oppreffion, as would
confound the moſt fanguine Advocate for
the Manners of Antiquity. But, in Truth,
there can be no Occaſion for this Difplay
C 2
of
28
An Eſtimate of the Manners
V.
SECT. of Profligacy: For if the previous Eſtimate,
already given, be juft; if the Spirit of Li-
berty, Humanity, and Equity, be in a cer-
tain Degree yet left among us, fome of the
moft effential Foundations of abandoned
Wickedneſs and Profligacy can have no
Place: For thefe are Servility, Cruelty,
and Oppreffion. How far we may be from
this laſt Period of Degeneracy, it were
Preſumption to affirm: At preſent, it is
certain, we are not arrived at it. When-
ever this fatal Time approaches, it will
come diſtinguiſhed by its proper and pecu-
liar Characters; and whoever ſhall eftimate
fuch Times, will find himſelf under the
fame Circumſtance with the great Hifto-
rian, who, in the profligate Period of de-
clining ROME, tells us he had nothing to
relate, but "falfe Accufations, bloody
<<
Profcriptions, treacherous Friendſhips,
2
"and
and Principles of the Times.
29
"and the Deftruction of the Inno-S E C T.
"cent *'
THIS, we may truly affirm, is far from
the Character of the Manners of our Times:
which, on a fair Examination, will pro-
bably appear to be that of a "vain, luxu-
"rious, and felfifh EFFEMINACY."
THIS will be evident from a fimple Enu-
meration of acknowledged Facts: many of
them indeed in Appearance, too trite to
merit Notice, and too trifling for Rebuke;
were they not, in their Tendency, as fa-
tal to the Stability of a Nation, as Maxims
and Manners more apparently flagitious.
As the firſt Habits of Infancy and Youth
commonly determine the Character of the
*❝Sæva juffa, continuas accufationes, fallaces
"amicitias, perniciem innocentium." Tacit. An-
nal. 1. iv.
C 3
Man,
L
V.
30
An Eftimate of the Manners
SECT. Man, we might trace the Effeminacy of
V. modern Manners, even to the unwhole-
ſome Warmth of a Nurſery. As foon as
the puny Infant is fuffered to peep from
this Fountain of Weakness and Diſeaſe, he
is confirmed in the Habits already contract-
ed, by a miſtaken Tenderneſs and Care.
The "School Boy's Satchel, and ſhining
Morning-Face," once the Characteriſtic
of the Age itself, are now only to be ſeen
among the Sons of Villagers and Peaſants;
while the Youth of Quality and Fortune is
wrapt up from the wholefome Keenneſs of
the Air: And thus becomes incapable of
enduring the natural Rigours of his own
Climate.
re
"Tis odds, indeed, but the Prevalence
of Faſhion places him in fome public
School, where the learned Languages are
taught: And, to do Juſtice to the Times,
the moſt confiderable among theſe Semi-
naries
and Principles of the Times.
31
naries were never more ably fupplied than s
at prefent. But whatever be the Maſter's
Ability, the Scholar's can in general reach
no farther than to Words; this firſt Stage of
Education, therefore, can only be prepa-
ratory to a higher; without which, the
other is defeated of its Purpoſe.
HERE, then, lies an effential Defect in
modern Education. The Pupil is not
carried on from Words to Things. The
Univerfities, where the Principles of Know-
ledge fhould be imbibed, are growing
daily thinner of young Men of Quality and
Fortune. Inſtead of being initiated in
Books, where the Wiſdom of Ages lies re-
pofed, our untutored Youth are carried
into the World; where the ruling Objects
that catch the Imagination, are the Sallies
of Folly or of Vice.
E c T.
V.
C 4
THUS
32
An Eſtimate of the Manners
SECT.
V.
THUS like Plants haftily removed
from their firſt Bed, and expoſed to the
Inclemencies of an unwholfome Air, with-
out the Intervention of a higher and more
enlarged Nurſery where ftronger Shoots
might be obtained, our rifing Youth are
checked in their first Growths; and either
die away into Ignorance, or, at moſt, be-
come Dwarfs in Knowledge.
But here, it muſt not be diſguiſed; that
an Abuſe, through Time, hath infenfibly
crept upon the Univerfities themfelves, and
greatly impaired their Ufe and Credit. The
public Fountains of Inftruction are at length
dried up; and the Profefforfhips, founded
as the Means of general Inftruction, dege-
nerated into gainful Sine-cures. Inſtead of
thefe, where, by a proper Choice, every
Department would naturally be filled with
Ability in its reſpective Science; the pri-
vate
and Principles of the Times.
33
vate Lectures of College-Tutors have ufurped s
and occupied their Place.
E c T.
Thus the great V.
Thus the
broken, and the
Lines of Knowledge are
Fragments retailed at all Adventures, by
every Member of a College who chufeth to
erect himſelf into a Profeffor of every Sci-
ence. What can be the Confequence of
this Practice, but a partial and fuperficial
Inftruction? "Tis true, there are in this
Sphere, who would do Honour to the high-
eft Academical Station: But what an Ac-
ceffion of Luſtre, Fame, and Knowledge,
would our Univerſities receive, were theſe
few, now confined to the narrow Sphere of
particular Colleges, ordained and appointed
to illuminate the whole?
THE next Error that preſents itſelf to
Obfervation, is that of ſending our ignorant
Youth abroad. A Mind ftored with Tafte
and Knowledge, will indeed naturally re-
fine
34
An Eftimate of the Manners
SE C T.fine that Tafte, and increaſe that Know-
V.
}
ledge, by ſeeing and judging of foreign
Countries. For thus he acquires a large
Addition of new Experiences and Exam-
ples, which may confirm or rectify his
prior Obfervations. On the contrary, we
may affirm, with Truth, that no Circum-
ſtance in Education can more furely tend
to ſtrengthen Effeminacy and Ignorance,
than the preſent premature, and indigeſted
Travel. For as the uninftructed Youth
muſt needs meet with a Variety of Exam-
ple, good and bad, vile and praiſe-worthy, as
his Manners are childiſh, and his Judgment
crude, he will naturally imbibe what is
moſt conſentaneous with his puerile Ha-
bits. Thus, while Wiſdom and Virtue
can find no Place in him, every Foreign
Folly, Effeminacy, or Vice, meeting with
a correfpondent Soil, at once takes Root
and flouriſh.
BUT
and Principles of the Times.
35
V.
BUT fuppofe him not of that Rank or SECT.
Fortune, which may demand or admit of
the grand Tour; he is then brought up to
London, and initiated in the Pleaſures of
the Metropolis. Here then let us view
him, inſpired with every faſhionable Am-
bition; while we take an impartial Efti-
mate of thoſe Amuſements, or rather Em-
ployments, which attract the Attention of
the Town, and form the Genius and Cha-
racter of the preſent and rifing Genera-
tion.
THE firft and capital Article of Town-
Effeminacy is that of Dress: which, in all
its Variety of modern Exceſs and Ridicule,
is too low for ferious Animadverfion. Yet
in this, muft every Man of every Rank and
Age employ his Mornings, who pretends
to keep good Company. The wifeft, the moſt
virtuous,
36
An Eftimate of the Manners
SE C T. virtuous, the moſt polite, if defective in
V.
}
theſe exterior and unmanly Delicacies, are
avoided as low People, whom Nobody knows,
and with whom one is afhamed to be ſeen.
How would he have been derided in
the Days of ELIZABETH, when a great
Queen rode on Horfeback to St. Paul's,
who ſhould have foretold, that in leſs than
two Centuries no Man of Faſhion would
croſs the Street to Dinner, without the ef-
feminate Covering and Conveyance of an
eafy Chair?
YET thus accoutred, the modern Man
of Faſhion is conveyed to Company. Where-
ever he goes, he meets the fame falfe De-
licacy in all: Every Circumftance of mo-
dern Uſe conſpires to footh him into the
Exceſs of Effeminacy: Warm Carpets are
fpread under his Feet; warm Hangings
furround
and Principles of the Times.
37
V.
furround him; Doors and Windows nicely s E c T.
jointed prevent the leaft rude Encroach-
ment of the external Air.
VANITY lends her Aid to this unmanly
Delicacy: Splendid Furniture, a fumptu-
ous Sideboard, a long Train of Attendants,
an elegant and coftly Entertainment, for
which Earth, Air, and Seas, are ranſacked,
the moſt expenſive Wines of the Continent,
the childish Vagaries of a whimfical Deſert,
theſe are the fupreme Pride of the Mafter,
the Admiration or Envy of his Guefts.
LUXURY is not idle in her Province
but ſhares with her Sifter Vanity, in the La-
bours of the Day. High Soups and Sauces,
every Mode of foreign Cookery that can
quicken Tafte, and fpur the lagging Ap-
petite, is affiduouſly employed. The End
of Eating is not the allaying of natural Hun-
ger,
38
An Eftimate of the Manners
SECT.ger, but the Gratification of fordid and de-
bafing Appetite. Hence the moſt inflaming
V.
Foods, not thoſe which nourish, but thoſe
which irritate, are adopted; while the cool
and temperate Diets that purify the Blood,
are baniſhed to inferior Tables.
every Man of Taſte now afpires, as to the
true fçavoir vivre.
To this
Do you expect in theſe faſhionable
Meetings, to hear fome Point of Morals,
Tafte in Arts or Literature, difcourfed or
canvaffed? Alas! theſe are long fince ex-
pelled from every modiſh Affembly. To
ſpeak any thing that carries Weight and
Importance, is an Offence againſt Good-
breeding. The fupreme Elegance is, to
trifle agreeably.
'
BUT as Infipidity of Converfation is foon
worn out, and as Intemperance in Wine is
not
and Principles of the Times.
39
V.
not of the Character of refined Luxury; fo, s E c T.
to prevent the Stagnation of Folly, fome
awakening Amuſement is naturally fought
for.
WE read in ancient Story, that in the
moſt poliſhed Court of the moſt refined Pe-
riod, a Reward was proclaimed to him,
who ſhould invent a new Pleaſure. This
may juſtly be ſtyled, the laſt wretched Ef-
fort of bungling and deſpairing Luxury.-
The great Defideratum is at length found:
A Pleaſure which abſorbs the whole Man
a Pleaſure in which there is no Satiety;
which cloys not by Ufe, but gains new
Vigour from Enjoyment. The Vulgar
only can need to be informed, that the
Pleaſure here alluded to, is that of GAM-
ING.
BUT
40
An Eftimate of the Manners
SECT.
V.
BUT as the prefent increaſing Splendor
of Drefs, Equipage, Furniture, Enter-
tainments, is enormouſly expenſive; what
can ſo naturally create a Luft of Gold, as
the vain Ambition of Equality or Superio-
rity in this Syſtem of effeminate Shew?
Hence, Rapacity attends Profufion; till the
Spirit of Avarice glides fecretly into the
Soul; and impels the Man of Faſhion to
that Gaming, as a Trade, which he had be-
fore adopted as a Pleaſure. But as we read
that CESAR's Luft was only the Servant,
of his Ambition, fo this Luft of Gold is no
more than the Handmaid to vain Effemi-
nacy.
THUS We fee Gaming eſtabliſhed on the
two great Pillars of Self Intereft and Pleaſure:
and on theſe Foundations ſeems to reſt the
midnight Riot and Diffipation of modern
Affemblies.
BUT
and Principles of the Times.
41
V.
BUT tho' Gaming be now the capitals E C T.
Pleaſure, as well as Trade, of moſt Men
of Faſhion; yet other incidental Amuſe-
ments intervene at vacant Times. Neither
can it be affirmed with Truth, that all are
immerſed in this faſhionable Folly. Nor
let any one imagine, that he ftands clear
of the ruling Manners of the Times, be-
cauſe not infected with the Rage of Gaming.
Let us then proceed to examine the other
reigning Amuſements of the Age; and ſee
how far they are, or are not, fubject to the
Charge of unmanly Delicacy.
A KNOWLEDGE of Books, a Tafte in
Arts, a Proficiency in Science, was for-
merly regarded as a proper Qualification in
a Man of Faſhion. The Annals of our
Country have tranfmitted to us the Name
and Memory of Men, as eminent in
Learning and Taſte, as in Rank and For-
D
tune.
42
An Eftimate of the Manners
SECT.
4.
tune. It will not, I prefume, be regarded
as any kind of Satire on the preſent Age,
to fay, that among the higher Ranks, this
literary Spirit is generally vanifhed. Reading
is now funk at beft into a Morning's Amufe-
ment; till the important Hour of Dreſs
comes on. Books are no longer regarded
as the Repofitories of Taſte and Know-
ledge; but are rather laid hold of, as a
gentle Relaxation from the tedious Round
of Pleaſure.
BUT what kind of Reading muſt that
be, which can attract or entertain the lan-
guid Morning-Spirit of modern Effemi-
nacy? Any, indeed, that can but pre-
vent the unſupportable Toil of Thinking;
that may ſerve as a preparatory Whet of In-
dolence, to the approaching Pleaſures of the
Day. Thus it comes to paſs, that weekly
Effays, amatory Plays and Novels, politi-
1
1
cal
and Principles of the Times.
43
V.
cal Pamphlets, and Books that revile Re-s E c T.
ligion; together with a general Haſh of
theſe, ſerved up in fome monthly Mefs of
Dulness, are the meagre literary Diet of
Town and Country.
TRUE it is, that amidſt this general De-
fect of Tafte, and Learning, there is a
Writer, whofe Force of Genius, and Ex-
tent of Knowledge might almoſt redeem
the Character of the Times. But that Su-
periority which attracts the Reverence of
the few, excites the Envy and Hatred of
the many: And while his Works are tran-
flated and admired abroad, and patronized
at Home, by thoſe who are moſt diſtin-
guiſhed in Genius, Tafte, and Learning,
himſelf is abuſed, and his Friends infulted
for his Sake, by thoſe who never read his
Writings, or, if they did, could neither
taſte nor comprehend them: while every
D 2
little
1
1
f
An Eſtimate of the Manners
44
SE C T. little aſpiring or defpairing Scribler eyes
V.
him as Caffius did CESAR, and whiſpers to
his Fellow,
{
Why Man, he doth beftride the narrow World
Like a Coloffus; and we petty Men
Walk under his huge Legs; and peep about,
To find ourſelves difhonourable Graves.
No wonder then, if the Malice of the Lil-
liputian Tribe be bent againſt this dreaded
GULLIVER; if they attack him with poi-
foned Arrows, whom they cannot fubdue
by Strength.
BUT in Juftice to the prefent Age, ano-
ther Obfervation muſt be added. As Ex-
cefs of Delicacy hath deſtroyed our Force
of Tafte, it hath at least had one laudable
Effect: for along with this, it hath
carried off our Groffness of Obscenity.
A ſtrongCharacteriſtic, this, of the Man-
ners of the Times: The untractable
Spirit
and Principles of the Times.
45
Spirit of Lewdneſs is funk into gentle Gal- SECT.
lantry, and Obscenity itfelf is grown effemi-
nate.
BUT what Vice hath loft in Coarfeneſs of
Expreffion, the hath gained in a more eaſy
and general Admittance: In ancient Days,
bare and impudent Obscenity, like a common
Woman of the Town, was confined to
Brothels: Whereas the Double-Entendre,
like a modern fine Lady, is now admitted
into the beſt Company; while her transparent
Covering of Words, like a thin faſhionable
Gawze delicately thrown acrofs, difclofes,
while it ſeems to veil, her Nakedneſs of
Thought.
No wonder, if theſe leading Characters
of falfe Delicacy influence our other En-
tertainments, and be attended with a low
and unmanly Tafte in Mufic. That divine
D 3
Art,
V.
46
An Eftimate of the Manners
SECT.
V.
Art, capable of infpiring every thing that
is great or excellent, of rouzing every no-
bler Paffion of the Soul, is at length
dwindled into a Woman's or an Eunuch's
effeminate Trill. The chafte and folemn
Airs of CORELLI, of GEMINIANI, and
their beſt Diſciples; the divine and lofty
Flights of CALDARA and MARCELLO; the
elegant Simplicity of BONONCINI; the
manly, the pathetic, the aftoniſhing
Strains of HANDEL, are neglected and
deſpiſed: While inſtead of theſe, our Con-
certs and Operas are difgraced with the
loweſt Infipidity of Compofition, and un-
meaning Sing-Song. The Queftion now
concerns not the Expreffion, the Grace,
the Energy, or Dignity of the Mufick:
We go not to admire the Compofition,
but the Tricks of the Performer; who is
then ſureſt of our ignorant Applaufe, when
he runs through the Compaſs of the Throat,
of
and Principles of the Times.
47
or traverſes the Finger-board with the SECT
Swifteft Dexterity.
WHILE Mufic is thus debaſed into Effe-
minacy, her Sifter-Art of Painting cannot
hope a better Fate: For the fame Dignity
of Manners muft fupport; the fame Indig-
nity depress them. Connoiffeurs there are,
indeed, who have either Tafte or Va-
nity: Yet even by thefe, the Art is confi-
dered as a Matter of Curiofity, not of In-
fluence; a Circumſtance which proves their
Taſte to be ſpurious, undirected, or ſuper-
ficial. But with regard to the public Eye;
this is generally depraved. Neither the
comic Pencil, nor the ferious Pen of our
ingenious Countryman *, have been able
to keep alive the Tafte of Nature, or of
Beauty. The fantaſtic and groteſque have
baniſhed both. Every Houſe of Faſhion is
1
* Mr. Hogarth's Treatife on the Principles of
Beauty.
V.
D 4
now
48
An Eftimate of the Manners
SECT. now crowded with Porcelain Trees and
V. Birds, Porcelain Men and Beaſts, croſs-
legged Mandarins and Bramins, perpen-
dicular Lines and ſtiff right Angles: Eve-
ry gaudy Chinese Crudity, either in Colour,
Form, Attitude, or Grouping, is adopted
into faſhionable Ufe, and become the
Standard of Taſte and Elegance.
LET us then fearch the Theatre for the
Remains of manly Tafte: And here, ap-
parently at leaſt, it must be acknowledged
we ſhall find it. A great Genius hath
arifen to dignify the Stage; who, when it
was finking into the loweſt Infipidity, re-
ſtored it to the Fulneſs of its ancient Splen-
dor, and with a Variety of Powers beyond
Example, eſtabliſhed Nature, Shakeſpear,
and Himfelf.
BUT as the Attractions of the Theatre
arife from a Complication of Cauſes, be-
yond
and Principles of the Times.
49
V.
yond thoſe of any other Entertainment; fo s E C T.
while the judicious Critic admires his ori-
ginal Excellencies, it may well be queſti-
oned whether the Crowd be not drawn by
certain fecondary Circumſtances, rather
than by a Difcernment of his real Powers.
Need we any other Proof of this, than the
Conduct of his faſhionable Hearers? who
fit with the fame Face of Admiration at
LEAR, an OPERA, or a PANTOMIME.
THESE feem to be the main and leading
Articles of our unmanly Winter-Delica-
cies. And as to our Summer-Amuſements,
they are much of the fame Make, only
lighter, and if poffible more trifling. As
foon as the Seafon is grown fo mild, as
that the Man of Faſhion can ftir abroad, he
is feen lolling in his Poft-Chariot, about
the Purlieus of the Town. The manly
Exerciſe of Riding is generally difuſed, as
tog
50
An Eftimate of the Manners
V.
SE CT. too coarſe and indelicate for the fine Gen-
tleman. The Metropolis growing thin as
the Spring advances, the fame Rage of
Pleaſure, Drefs, Equipage, and Diffipa-
tion, which in Winter had chained him to
the Town, now drives him to the Coun-
try. For as a vain and empty Mind can
never give Entertainment to itſelf; ſo, to
avoid the Tædium of Solitude and Self-
Converſe, Parties of Pleaſure are again
formed; the fame Effeminacies, under
new Appearances, are acted over again, and
become the Buſineſs of the Seaſon. There
is hardly a Corner of the Kingdom, where
a Summer Scene of public Diffipation is not
now eſtabliſhed: Here the Parties meet,
till the Winter fets in, and the feparate So-
cieties are once more met in London.
1
THUS We have attempted a fimple Deli-
neation of the ruling Manners of the Times.
2
If
and Principles of the Times:
51
If any thing like Ridicule appears to mixs ECT.
itſelf with this Review, it arifeth not from V.
the Aggravation, but the natural Diſplay
of Folly.
IT
It may probably be aſked, why the rul-
ing Manners of our Women have not been
particularly delineated? The Reafonis, be-
cauſe they are effentially the fame with thoſe
of the Men, and are therefore included in
this Eſtimate. The Sexes have now lit-
tle other apparent Diſtinction, beyond that
of Perfon and Drefs: Their peculiar and
characteriſtic Manners are confounded and
loft: The one Sex having advanced into
Boldneſs, as the other have funk into Effe-
minacy.
SECT.
52
An Eftimate of the Manners
1
SECT.
SECT. VI.
Of Principles.
MOST Writers, who have attempted to
VI. prove the Efficacy of Principle, have fup-
pofed it to be the great and univerſal Foun-
tain of Manners: They who have eſpouſed
the oppofite Syſtem, obferving this Theory to
be at variance with Fact, have raſhly con-
cluded that Principle is void of all real In-
fluence.
THE Truth feems to lie between theſe
two Opinions. Principles cannot be the
Fountain of Manners, becauſe - Manners
precede Principles: That is, in our Pro-
grefs from Infancy, Habits of Acting are
prior to Habits of Thinking. Yet on the
other Hand, Principles, early and deeply
ingrafted in the Mind, may grow up
with
Manners
and Principles of the Times.
53
VI.
Manners; may be at variance with Man-SE CT.
ners; may yield to Manners; or, gathering
Strength by Cultivation, may check, con-
troll, or deſtroy them.
THIS Diſtinction is proper for many
Reaſons. One is evident: It fhews the Pro-
priety of treating of the Manners firſt, and
then the Principles of the Times.
THE Principles here to be eſtimated,
are fuch only as tend to counterwork the
felfish Paffions. Theſe are, the Principle of
Religion, the Principle of Honour, and the
Principle of public Spirit. The firſt of theſe
has the Deity for it's Object; the ſecond,
the Applaufe of Men; the third, the Ap-
probation of our own Heart. Let us exa-
mine the preſent Influence of theſe ſeveral
Principles on the Manners already de-
lineated.
DID
54
An Eftimate of the Manners
SECT. DID the Writer court the Applauſe of
VI. his polite Readers (if any fuch peradven-
ture may honour him with their Regard)
he would preface this Part of his Subject
with an Apology, for the Rudeness of hint-
ing at religious Principle. To fuppofe a
Man of Faſhion ſwayed in his Conduct by
a Regard to Futurity, is an Affront to the
Delicacy and Refinement of his Tafle.
Hence the Day fet apart by the Laws of
his Country for religious Service, he derides
and affronts as a vulgar and obfolete Inftitu-
tion: Should you propofe to him the Re-
newal of that Family Devotion, which con-
cluded the guiltleſs Evening Entertainments
of his Anceſtry? You would become an
Object of his Pity, rather than Contempt.
The fublime Truths, the pure and fimple
Morals of the Goſpel, are deſpiſed and trod
under foot.
Can we wonder, if that Pro-
feffion
and Principles of the Times.
55
feffion which afferts theſe Truths, and sECT.
preaches theſe Morals, be treated with a VI.
fimilar Contempt? But Irreligion knows
no Bounds, when once let looſe: and
Chriſtianity herſelf hath been obliquely in-
ſulted within thoſe confecrated Walls, where
Decency and Policy, in the Abfence of
Reaſon and Virtue, would for ever have
held her in legal Reverence.
BUT notwithſtanding the general Con-
tempt of Religion among the faſhionable
World, the uninformed Reader is not to
imagine, that the prefent Age is deep in
the Speculations of Infidelity. No fuch
Matter: for that would imply a certain At-
tention to theſe Subjects; a certain Degree
of Self-Converſe and Thought; and this
would claſh with the ruling Manners of the
Times. Indeed there have not been want-
ing laborious Huſbandmen, who have pain-
fully
56
An Eſtimate of the Manners
VI.
SE C T. fully fown their Tares; not in the Night
Seaſon, but in broad Day-light. Thefe
have at length ſhot up into a large and fruit-
ful Crop of irreligious implicit FAITH: For
implicit Faith is Belief or Difbelief, without
Evidence; and why they difbelieve, Itrow,
few of the preſent Age can tell. They
have other Attentions, than the meagre
Sophiſms of Irreligion; and are therefore
well content with the Conclufions, without
the Premifes. This Diſtinction will lead
us to the plain Reaſon, why in an Age of
Irreligion, fo capital a Book as the Writings
of Lord BOLINGBROKE, met with fo cold a
Reception in the World. Had they ap-
peared under the inviting Shape of "Es-,
"SAYS philofophical and moral," they might
have come within the Compaſs of a Break-
faſt-reading, or amuſed the Man of Faſhion
while under the Diſcipline of the curling
Tongs: But five huge Quarto Volumes (like
five
and Principles of the Times.
57
VI.
five coarſe Diſhes of Beef and Mutton) tho's E C T.
fraught with the very Marrow of Infide-
lity, what puny modern Appetite could
poffibly fit down to?
IN Confirmation of theſe Truths, we
may conclude this Part of our Subject with
a not incurious Anecdote. A certain Wri-
ter of our own Times, bent upon Popula-
rity and Gain, publiſhed a large Volume,
and omitted no Opportunity that offered,
to difgrace Religion: A large Impreffion
was publiſhed, and a ſmall Part fold. The
Author being afked, why he had fo larded
his Work with Irreligion, modeftly re-
“He had done it, that his Book
might fell."—It was whiſpered him, that
he had totally miſtaken the Spirit of the
Times: that no Allurements could engage
the fashionable infidel World to travel
through a large Quarto: And that as the
plied,
CC
E
་
few
58
An Eftimate of the Manners
VI.
SEC T. few Readers of Quarto's that yet remain,
lie moſtly among the ferious Part of Man-
kind, he had offended his beſt Cuſtomers,
and ruined the Sale of his Book. This In-
formation had a notable Effect: for a fe-
condVolume, as large and inftructive as the
firſt, hath appeared; not a Smack of Irre-
ligion is to be found in it; and an Apo-
logy for the first concludes the whole.
THIS being the State of religious Prin-
ciple, let us next examine how it fares
with the Principle of Honour. By this is
meant, "The Defire of Fame, or the Ap-
<<
<<
plaufe of Men, directed to the End of
public Happineſs." Now this great Am-
bition, which in other Times or Nations
hath wrought fuch wonderful Effects, is
no longer to be found among us. It is the
Pride of Equipage, the Pride of Title, the
Pride of Fortune, or the Pride of Dreſs, that
have
and Principles of the Times.
59
have affumed the Empire over our Souls, s E CT.
and levelled Ambition with the Dirt. The VI.
honeſt Pride of Virtue is no more; or, where
it happens to exiſt, is overwhelmed by in-
ferior Vanities. A Man who ſhould go
out of the common Road of Life, in Pur-
fuit of Glory, and ferve the Public at the
Expence of his Eaſfe, his Fortune, or his
Pleaſure, would be ftared or laughed at in
every faſhionable Circle, as a filly Fellow,
who meddled with Things that did not be-
long to him: as an Ideot, who preferred
Shadows to Realities, and needlefs Toil
to pleaſurable Enjoyment. The laurel
Wreath, once afpired after as the high-
eſt Object of Ambition, would now be
rated at the Market-price of its Mate-
rials, and derided as a three-penny Crown.
And if its modern Subſtitutes, the Ribbon
or the Coronet, be eagerly fought for, it is
not that they are regarded as the Distinctions
E 2
of
60
An Eftimate of the Manners
SEC T. of public Virtue, but as the Enfigns of Va-
nity and Place.
VI.
!
BUT what implies or proves the gene-
ral Extinction of the Principle of Honour,
is a peculiar Circumftance, which at firſt
View feems to challenge Praiſe. It hath
been weakly attributed to the moderate and
forgiving Spirit of thefe Times, that no
age ever ſo patiently fuffered its ruling
Follies to be laughed at. But this, in truth,
is a fuperficial and inadequate Repreſenta-
tion, as well as Solution, of the Fact. We
not only ſuffer our ruling Vices and Follies
to be ridiculed, but we cordially join in the
Laugh. Was there ever a juſter Picture
drawn, than of modern Effeminacy and
Nonchalance in the Characters of FRIBBLE
and Lord CHALKSTONE? Did ever dra-
matic Characters raife louder Peals of
Laughter and Applaufe even among thoſe
who
and Principles of the Times.
61
who fat for the Likeneſs? They hear with s E c T.
Pleaſure, they acknowledge the Truth of VI.
the Repreſentation, they laugh at the Picture
of their own Follies; they go home, and
without a Bluſh repeat them. The Truth is,
therefore, that we can fee and own our Vices
and Follies, without being touched with Shame :
a Circumſtance which ancient Times juftly
regarded as the ſtrongeſt Indication of de-
generate and incorrigible Manners.
Ir appears then, that the Principle of
Honour is either loft, or totally corrupted:
That no generous Thirſt of Praiſe is left
among us: That our Ambitions are trifling
and unmanly as our Pleaſures: That
Wealth, Titles, Drefs, Equipage, Sagacity
in Gaming or Wagers, fplendid Furniture
and a Table, are the fole Fountains, from
which we defire to draw Refpect to our-
felves, or Applaufe from others: We af-
E 3
pire
62
An Eftimate of the Manners
SE C T.pire to Folly, and are proud of Meanneſs :
VI. Thus, the Principle of Honour is perverted,
and dwindled into unmanly Vanity.
CAN it be imagined, that amidſt this
ge-
neral Defect of Religion and Honour, the
great and comprehenfive Principle of pub-
lic Spirit, or Love of our Country, can gain
a Place in our Breafts? That mighty Prin-
ciple, ſo often feigned, ſo ſeldom poffeffed;
which requires the united Force of upright
Manners, generous Religion, and unfeigned
Honour, to fupport it. What Strength of
Thought or confcious Merit can there
be in effeminate Minds, fufficient to ele-
vate them to this Principle, whoſe Ob-
ject is, "the Happineſs of a Kingdom?"
To fpeak therefore without Flattery, this
Principle is perhaps lefs felt among us, than
even thoſe of Religion and true Honour.
So infatuated are we in our Contempt of
this powerful Principle, that we deride
the
and Principles of the Times.
63
the Inhabitants of a Sifter-Kingdom, for s E CT.
their national Attachments and Regards. VI.
So little are we accuſtomed to go, or even
think, beyond the beaten Track of private In-
tereft, in all Things that regard our Country;
that he who merely does his Duty in any
confpicuous Station, is looked on as a Pro-
digy of public Virtue. But in other Times
and Nations, when this Principle was in
Force, Enterpriſes were formed, and Deeds
done, which it would now be thought
Phrenzy to attempt. Think what a
a Friend will do for a Friend; a Sifter for
a Brother, a Lover for his Miſtreſs, a Pa-
rent for his Child; even that, in all its Fulneſs
of Affection, in other Times and Nations,
hath been the Aim and the Work of pub-
lic Virtue, doing or fuffering for its Country's
Welfare.
DOMESTIC Affections are not yet gene-
rally extinguiſhed: There are kind Fa-
E 4
thers,
64
An Eftimate of the Manners
SECT. thers, kind Mothers, affectionate Children,
VI. Sifters, Brothers: Humanity to Diſtreſs,
we have already marked as another Cha-
racter of the Times: But whether our very
Effeminacy be not one of its Sources, might
probably be a Queſtion more curious in its
Progreſs, than agreeable in its Solution.
HOWEVER that be, let us be modeſt in
our Claims, and confefs, that our Affecti-
ons feldom reach farther than our Relati-
ons, our Friends, or Individuals in Di-
preſent) it is for us,
ftrefs. Happy (in the
that they reach ſo far. Happy were it for
us, or our Pofterity, that they were of more
inlarged Extent. In the mean Time, let
us with due Abaſement of Heart acknow-
ledge, that the Love of our Country is no
longer felt; and that, except in a few
Minds of uncommon Greatneſs, the Prin-
ciple of public Spirit EXISTS NOT.
.N
IT
and Principles of the Times.
65
VI.
It is not affirmed or implied, in this S E C T.
general Review, that every Individual hath
affumed the Garb and Character of falfe'
Delicacy, and uncontrolled Self-Love:
As in manly Ages, fome will be effeminate;
fo, in effeminate Times, the manly Cha-
racter will be found: As in Times of Prin-
ciple, fome will be void of Principle; fo, in
Times when Principle is derided, in ſome
fuperior Minds Principle will be found.
But from the general Combination of Man-
ners and Principles, in every Period of
Time, will always refult one ruling and
predominant Character; as from a con-
fufed Multitude of different Voices, refults
one general Murmur, and ftrikes the di-
ftant Ear; or from a Field covered with
Flocks, Herds, or Armies, though vari-
ous in themſelves, refults one general and
permanent Colour, and ſtrikes the diſtant
Eye:
Nam
66
An Eftimate of the Manners
SECT. Nam fæpe in Colli tendentes pabula læta
1
V.
Lanigeræ reptant Pecudes, quo quamque vocantes
Invitant Herbæ gemmantes Rore recenti;
Et fatiati Agni ludunt, blandeque conifcant:
Omnia quæ nobis longe confufa videntur,
Et veluti in viridi Candor confiftere Colli *.
It is enough, then, if from a proper
Point of View, we have fixed the ruling
Colour of the Manners and Principles, for
on this will depend the ruling Character of
the Times.
As it appears therefore, from this De-
lineation, that SHOW and PLEASURE are
the main Objects of Purfuit: As the gene-
ral Habit of refined Indulgence is firong, and
the Habit of induring is loft: As the
neral Spirit of Religion, Honour, and pub-
lic Love, are weakened or vaniſhed; as
ge-
*Lucretius, 1. ii.
thefe
and Principles of the Times.
67
VI.
theſe Manners are therefore left to their own SECT.
Workings, uncontrouled by Principle;
we may with Truth and Candour con-
clude, that the ruling Character of the
prefent Times is that of "a vain, luxuri-
of"
rious, and felfiſh EFFEMINACY.
PART II.
PICKAS
Lawves
PART II.
OF THE
PUBLIC EFFECTS
O F
THESE MANNERS
AND
PRINCIPLE S.
QOLYK #CONS
(71)
PART II.
OF THE
PUBLIC EFFECTS
OF
Theſe MANNERS and PRIN-
CIPLES.
SECT. I.
What conftitutes the Strength of a Nation.
H
I.
ITHERTO, we have done little s E C T.
more than delineate the ruling Man-
ners and Principles of the Times: we muſt
now affume a feverer Tone, and reafon
the Facts thus eſtabliſhed.
upon
THERE
72
An Eftimate of the Manners
SECT.
I.
THERE are three leading Circumſtances,
on which the internal Strength of every
Nation moſt effentially depends: Theſe
are, the Capacity, Valour, and Unian, of
thoſe who lead the People. The firſt may be
called, "the national Capacity; the fecond
"the national Spirit of Defence; the third,
"the national Spirit of Union."
THE next Step, therefore, will be, to
confider all that Variety of Refpects, in
which the ruling Manners and Defect of
Principle, already delineated, muſt natu-
rally weaken or deftroy theſe Sources of
internal Power.
As this Enquiry will of courfe lead to a
particular View of thofe feveral Ranks,
Departments, Employments, or Profeffi-
ons, into which ſuch a Nation is divided;
it
and Principles of the Times.
73
it is prefumed, that no Inftances alledged, s ECT.
or Facts alluded to, will be weakly con- II.
ftrued into the Wantonnefs of licentious
Satire. Every Profeffion is honourable,
when directed to its proper End, the Pub-
lick Welfare: And the Intention of this
Eftimate is not to defame; but to enquire
how far the feveral Departments or Profef
fions, on which the internal Strength of this
Nation depends, are properly or improperly
directed.
SECT. II.
Of the national Capacity.
LET us then firft enquire, how far the
falſe Delicacy and Effeminacy of preſent
Manners may have weakened or deſtroyed
the national Capacity.
F
IT
74
An Eftimate of the Manners
SECT.
II.
It was a ſhrewd Obſervation of a good
old Writer, "How can he get Wiſdom,
"whofe Talk is of Bullocks *?" But Ruf-
ticity is not more an Enemy of Knowledge,
than Effeminacy: With the fame Pro-
priety therefore it may now be asked,
"How can he get Wiſdom, whoſe Talk
"is of Drefs and Wagers, Cards and
Borough-jobbing, Horfes, Women, and
"Dice ?" The Man of Faſhion is indeed
cut off from the very Means of folid In-
ftruction. His late Hours occafion a late
rifing; and thus the Morning, which
fhould be devoted to the Acquifition of
Knowledge, is devoted to Sleep, to Dress,
and Ignorance.
(C
How weak then must be the national
Capacity of that People, whofe leading
Book of Wiſdom.
Members
and Principles of the Times.
75
II.
Members in public Employ fhould, in SECT.
general, be formed on fuch a Model? If
inſtead of a general Application to Books,
inſtead of inveſtigating the great Principles
of Legislation, the Genius of their national
Conſtitution, or its Relations and Depen-
dencies on that of others, the
great Ex-
amples and Truths of Hiftory, the Maxims
of generous and upright Policy, and the
feverer Truths of Philofophy, on which all
thefe are founded;-if inftead of theſe,
they ſhould ſeldom riſe in political Study
higher than the fecuring of a Borough;
inftead of Hiſtory, be only read in Novels;
inſtead of Legiſlation, in Party Pamphlets ;
inſtead of Philoſophy, in Irreligion; inſtead´
of manly and upright Manners, in trifling
Entertainments, Drefs, and Gaming:
this ſhould ever be their ruling Character,
what muſt be expected from fuch eſta-
F 2
bliſhed
If
76
3
An Eſtimate of the Manners
SECT. blifhed Ignorance, but Errors in the firft
II.
Concoction?
In a Nation thus circumftanced, it is
odds but you would fee even ſome of its
moſt public and folemn Affemblies turned
into Scenes of unmanly Riot; inſtead of
the Dignity of Freedom, the Tumults of
Licentioufnefs would prevail. Forward-
nefs of young Men without Experience,
intemperate Ridicule, diffolute Mirth, and
loud Peals of Laughter, would be the
ruling Character of fuch an Affembly.
THIS Reflexion, fome how or other,
calls up the Memory of a Circumſtance or
two, peculiar to the public Meetings of the
Athenians. In the Court of Areopagus, fo
little was Ridicule regarded as a Teſt of
Truth, that it was held an unpardonable
Offence, for any Member to laugh while
the
and Principles of the Times,
77
the Affembly was fitting.---Another wifes E C T.
and prudent Regulation was the Practice II.
of the Cryer in the Senate; who before
Buſineſs began, called out aloud, "Who
"will speak, that is turned of Fifty?"
It is true, that in every Affembly of
this Kind, the public Meaſures will gene-
rally be determined by the Few, whoſe Su-
periority is approved and acknowledged:
By the Few, who have been ſo unfaſhio-
nable as to defpife the ruling Syſtem of
Effeminacy and before they had ap-
peared on a higher Stage, had laboured and
fhone in a College. But what an Increaſe of
national Capacity muſt ariſe, if thoſe Maſter-
Spirits were aided, and their Plans of
Government examined and improved, by
Men of the like Application and Ability?
F 3
BUT
78.
An Eftimate of the Manners
SECT.
II.
BUT if, in any Nation, the Number of
theſe ſuperior Minds be daily decreafing,
from the growing Manners of the Times;
what can a Nation, fo circumftanced, have
more to fear, than that in another Age, a
general Cloud of Ignorance may over-
fhadow it?
How much or how little, in this Par-
ticular, we reſemble the declining State of
the Roman Republic, let any one determine
from the following Paffage: Where the
great Author, after celebrating the general
Ability of thoſe who were formerly in pub-
lic Station, concludes thus: "Nunc con-
"tra, plerique ad honores adipifcendos, et
"ad rempublicam gerendam, nudi veniunt
atque inermes, nulla cognitione rerum,
❝ nulla fcientia ornati *."
<<
* Cic. de Oratore, 1. iii.
LET
and Principles of the Times.
79
LET us next confider the natural EffectsS E CT.
of theſe effeminate Manners, on Fleets and II.
Armies. And here, 'tis fuppofed, it will
be readily acknowledged, that the Con-
duct and Fate of Fleets and Armies
depend much on the Capacity of thoſẹ that
lead them, through every Rank of Office.
Chiefly, indeed, of thoſe who are highest
in Command; but in Part too, of thoſe
who fill the lower Stations: the more, be-
cauſe they in inferior Rank afpire, and by
Degrees afcend, to the higheſt,
Now, I apprehend, it would be ill
taken, to fuppofe, that the faſhionable and
prevailing Manners abound not in the
Army and Navy. The Gentlemen of
theſe Profeffions are even diftinguished by
their Taſte in Dreſs, their Skill at Play,
their Attendance on every Amuſement, pro-
vided
F 4
80
An Eftimate of the Manners
II.
|
SE CT. vided it be but fashionable. And fure, it
muſt be by Miracle, if this trifling and
effeminate Life conduct them to Know-
ledge, or produce Capacity. It were unjuft
to deny, that Men of Ability in this Order,
are yet among us, But it would be Matter
of great Pleaſure and Expectation to the
Public, to find Ignorance, in this Profef
fion, either uncommon or difgraceful.
WOULD thefe Gentlemen pleaſe to look
into Hiſtory, they would find, that in
polished Times, few have ever diſtinguiſhed
themſelves in War, who were not eminent
or confiderable in Letters. They would
find PISISTRATUS, PERICLES, ALCIBIA-
des, Dion, AGESILAUS, EPAMINONDAS,
among the Greeks: in the Roman Lift, both
the SCIPIO'S, CATO the elder and the
younger, LUCULLUS, POMPEY, Brutus,
CESAR, diſtinguiſhed in Letters as in War.
"TIS
and Principles of the Times.
81
"Tis true, indeed, that in barbarous s E CT.
Ages, there want not Inftances of unlearn-
II.
ed Leaders, who have done mighty Acti-
ons in Battle. But we muſt obſerve, that
theſe were, at leaſt, practiſed in their own
Profeffion. It is farther to be obſerved,
that in fuch Times, the Fate of War
depends little on Stratagem or Difci-
pline. But it is chiefly to be obſerved,
that no general Rule can be drawn from a
few Inſtances. A Man of great natural
Talents takes mighty Strides in any Science
or Profeffion: He is felf-taught: While
the common Run of Men, whom Nature
hath deſtined to travel on to Improvement
by the beaten Track of Induſtry, through
a blind and ill-understood Imitation of his
fuperior Conduct, muft for ever fall the
Victims of their Vanity and Ignorance.
HERE then we find another ruling De-
fect in the national Capacity of an effemi-
nate
82
An Eftimate of the Manners
SECT. nate People. How few can arife, amidſt
II. this general Diffipation of Manners, capa-
ble of conducting its Fleets and Armies?
Or even fuppofe a Man of Application and
Ability poffeffed of the chief Command;
yet, in Caſe he falls in Battle, how ſmall
muſt be the Chance that the next in Suc-
ceffion, upon whom his Command natu-
rally devolves, can be equal to the Impor-
tance of his new Station?
THERE is another Profeffion, which, un-
der this Article of the national Capacity,
the vulgar Reader will naturally expect to
find confidered. I mean, that of the Clergy.
But the general Defect of religious Principle
among the higher Ranks, hath rendered
this order of Men altogether uſeleſs, except
among thoſe in middle Life, where they ſtill
maintain a certain Degree of Eftimation.
The Contempt withwhich not they, but their
Profeffion
and Principles of the Times.
83
II.
Profeſſion is treated by the Ignorant and s E c T.
Profligate, is equally common indeed to
high and low Life: A Circumſtance, which
may be an Occafion of Pride in the one,
but ought rather to be Matter of Humilia-
tion to the other. 'Tis true, a modern
Writer felicitates the prefent Times, and
makes it their Boaft, that "the Clergy
"have loft their Influence *." By which
he evidently means, that Religion hath loft
its Influence. Yet of this, at leaſt, one of
the Order may decently remind his Coun-
trymen; that when the Engliſh Proteftant
Clergy, and that Chriſtianity which they
teach, were moft honoured and refpected
at Home, England was then moſt honoured
and refpected Abroad.
AND although the preſent faſhionable
Contempt that is thrown upon their
* See Mr. Hume's Effays.
Profef
84
An Eftimate of the Manners
SECT. Profeffion, preclude the Clergy from
II. the Opportunity, had they the Will, to
practice that Chriftian Duty of "over-
tr
coming Evil with Good;" yet they need
not bluſh to find, that they have fallen
with the Fame, the Manners, and Princi-
ples of their Country: Nor can the worthy
Part of them, fure, afpire to truer Glory,
than to have become the Contempt of thofe,
who are become the Contempt of EUROPE.
BUT while I defend and honour the Pro-
feffion, I mean not to flatter the Profeffors.
As far, therefore, as the Influence of their
Conduct and Knowledge can be fuppofed
to affect the national Capacity; fo far, they
feem falling into the fame unmanly and
effeminate Peculiarities, by which their
Contemporaries are diſtinguiſhed: Such of
them, I mean, as have Opportunity of
converfing with what is called the World,
I
and
and Principles of the Times.
85
and are fuppoſed to make a Part of it. In s ECT.
their Conduct, they curb not, but promote II.
and encourage the trifling Manners of the
Times: It is grown a faſhionable thing,
among theſe Gentlemen, to defpife the
Duties of their Pariſh; to wander about,
as the various Seaſons invite, to every Scene
of falfe Gaiety; to frequent and Shine in
all public Places, their own Pulpits ex-
cepted.
OR if their Age and Situation fets. them
above theſe puerile Amuſements, are we
not to lament, that inſtead of a manly and
rational Regard to the Welfare of Man-
kind, the chief Employment of many a
clerical Life is, to flumber in a Stall, haunt
Levees, or follow the gainful Trade of
Election-jobbing?
IF falfe Pleaſure and Self-Intereft thus
take Poffeffion of the Heart, how can we ex-
pect
86
An Eſtimate of the Manners
SE CT.pect that a Regard for Religion and Chri-
II. ftianity ſhould find a Place there?
IN Confequence of thefe ruling Habits,
muſt we not farther lament, that a gene-
ral Neglect of Letters is now creeping even
upon this Profeffion, which ought to main-
tain and ſupport them? Inſtead of launch-
ing into the Deeps of Learning, the fafhi-
onable Divine hardly ventures on the Shal-
lows. The great Works of Antiquity, the
Monuments of ancient Honour and Wif-
dom, are feldom opened or explored: and
even mere modern Books are now gene-
rally read at ſecond Hand, through the falfe
Mediums of bald Tranflations or forry Ab-
ftracts.
THIS feems to be the real State of the
clerical Profeffion, fo far as it hath Influ-
ence on the national Capacity.
THE
and Principles of the Times.
87
II.
THE Writer pretends not in any Cafes E C T.
to impoſe his Opinions; but fubmits them
to the Confideration of the Public. There
is a wide Difference between the Re-
monftrances of Reafon, and the Infults of
Malice or Contempt.
SECT. III.
Of the national Spirit of Defence.
HAVING feen how the Manners of the
Times have levelled the national Capacity;
let us next enquire how it fares with the
national Spirit of Defence.
As this Part of our Subject naturally in-
volves a larger Number of the Commu-
nity than the laſt, it will be neceffary, here,
to take a larger Compaſs.
THE national Spirit of Defence then, to
ſpeak with Preciſion, will always be com-
pounded
88
An Eſtimate of the Manners
SECT. pounded of the national bodily Strength,
II. Hardiness, Courage, and Principle.
THE common People of this Nation feem
poffeffed of the three firſt of theſe four
Qualities, in a Degree fufficient to form
an effectual and national Spirit of Defence.
And though they who are ſelected for pub-
lic Service be commonly moſt profligate in
Manners, yet as their Sphere of Action is
confined, they commonly have a proporti-
oned kind of Principle, which works its
Effect in Battle. In the Land Service,
they are zealous for the Honour of their
Platoon, their Company, their Regiment.
At Sea, there is the fame Emulation, whoſe
Gun, whofe Ship, whofe Squadron, ſhall
be beſt ſerved and fought. It is well known
there are no better fighting Men upon
Earth. They feldom turn their Backs
upon their Enemy, unleſs when their Offi-
cers
and Principles of the Times.
89
Officers fhew the Way; and even then, s E c T.
are eaſily rallied; and return to the Charge III.
with the fame Courage.
THUS Our Villages and Ports are an
effectual Fund of Supplies for the national
Spirit of Defence, in its inferior Depart-
ments.
BUT if we rife, or rather defcend, to an
impartial View of thoſe who are called the
better Sort, we fhall find fuch a general
Defect in the Spirit of Defence, as would
alarm any People who were not loft to all
Senfe of Danger.
OUR effeminate and unmanly Life,
working along with our Ifland-Climate,
hath notoriouſly produced an Increaſe of
low Spirits and nervous Diſorders, whoſe
G
natural
90
An Eflimate of the Manners
SECT. natural and unalterable Character is that of
III. Fear.
1
AND even where this Diftemper is not,
the prefent falfe Delicacy of the faſhio-
nable World effectually difqualifies them
from enduring Toil, or facing Danger.
ENTHUSIASTIC Religion leads to Cori-
quest; rational Religion leads to rational
Defence; but the modern Spirit of Irreligion
leads to rafcally and abandoned Cowardice.
It quencheth every generous Hope that
can enlarge the Soul; and levels Mankind
with the Beaſts that periſh.
CAN the Debility of modern Honour
produce the manly Spirit of Defence?
Alas, if ever it is put in Action by any
thing beyond the Vanity of Shew; it is
rouzed by an Affront, and dies in a Duel.
How
and Principles of the Times.
91
How far this daftard Spirit of Effemi-S E C T.
nacy hath crept upon us, and deftroyed III.
the national Spirit of Defence, may appear
from the general Panic the Nation was
thrown into, at the late Rebellion. When
thoſe of every Rank above a Conſtable,
inſtead of arming themſelves and encourag-
ing the People, generally fled before the
Rebels; while a Mob of ragged Highland-
ers marched unmolefted to the Heart of a
populous Kingdom.
NAY, fo general was this cowardly and
effeminate Spirit, that it was not confined
to the Friends of Liberty and Britain: In
England, it infected even their Enemies:
who, while the hardy Scots riſqued their
Lives in a ſtrange Country, amidſt the In-
clemencies of a fevere Seaſon, fat like
Cowards by the Chimney Corner, tamely
G 2
wiſhing
92
An Eftimate of the Manners
SECT. withing the Succefs of that Miſchief,
III. which their effeminate Manners durft not
propagate.
IT hath been urged indeed, as a Proof
that the national Spirit of Defence is not
yet extinguiſhed, that we raiſed fuch large
Sums during that Rebellion, and ſtill con-
tinue fuch plentiful Supplies for the Support
of our Fleets and Armies. This is weak
Reaſoning: For will not Cowardice, at
leaft as foon as Courage, part with a Shil-
ling or a Pound, to avoid Danger? The
capital Queſtion therefore ftill remains,
"Not who ſhall Pay, but who ſhall
Fight ?"
CC
MONEY, it is true, hath of late more
than ever, been among us regarded as the
main Engine of War: How truly, let our
Succeſſes tell the World. This Point will
hereafter
and Principles of the Times.
93
III.
hereafter be treated more at large *. InsECT.
the mean Time, it cannot be amifs to
obſerve, that a little of the active Spirit of
Courage would do well, in order to give
Play to this boafted Engine, which other-
wife may fink into a dead and unactive
Mafs.
FOR a natural Difplay, therefore, of the
Genius of the Times, commend me to the
frank Declaration of an honeft Gentleman,
during the impending Terror of a French
Invafion. "For my Part, I am no Sol-
dier; and therefore think it no Diſgrace,
"to own myſelf a Coward. Here is my
Purſe, at the Service of my Country: If
"the French come, I'll pay: but-
"take me, if I fight."
<<
<c
* See Part the Third.
G 3
Haw
1
94
An Eftimate of the Manners
III.
SECT. How many modern fine Gentlemen,
notwithſtanding the warlike Weapon at
their Side, would make the fame Decla-
ration, had they the fame Sincerity?
THERE is another Circumftance in
modern Manners, the Confideration of
which muſt not be omitted, becauſe at
firſt View it bids fair for the Spirit of De-
fence among the Great: I mean, the
Spirit of deliberate Self-murder: For this
ran high in ancient GREECE and ROME,
when the Spirit of Defence was ftrong.
FOR the clearing of this Point, it muſt
be premiſed and confeffed, that ſomething
like the Principle of Honour, that is, the
Dread of Infamy and Shame, appears the
leading Motive in both Inftances.
BUT
and Principles of the Times.
95
BUT a farther Diftinction is to be made, s E c T.
with Regard to the different Objects of III.
this Fear: And for this, we muſt refer to a
former Section *. There we have feen,
that the ruling Pride of a modern Man of
Faſhion, lies in the Parade of Dress,
Gaming, Entertainments, and Equipage:
whereas, on the contrary, the Ambition of
an old Roman, was, to excel in military
Virtue. Now this Diftinction at once
clears up the Queſtion we are upon, and
confirms much of what hath been advanced
on modern Principles and Manners. The T
Roman killed himſelf, becauſe he had been
unfortunate in War; the Englishman, be-
cauſe he hath been unfortunate at Whift:
The old Hero, becauſe he had difgraced
his Country; the modern, becauſe he dares
not fhew his Head at Arthur's: That,
* Parti. Sect. 6.
G 4
"
becauſe
96
An Eftimate of the Manners
SECT. becauſe he was deprived of his Glory; this,
III. of his Ortolans and Champaigne : The firſt
was encouraged by a mistaken Principle of
Religion; the latter, by his being void of
all Religion: The one, becauſe he had loft
a Battle or a Province; the other, becauſe
the Bailiff hath ſeized his Equipage: The
Roman was impelled to Self-Deftruction by
the Strength of warlike Honour; the Bri-
ton, by defpicable and effeminate Vanity.
WHERE then ſhall we ſeek for the ge-
nuine Spirit of Defence? Where, in
Truth, fhould we moſt ſeek for it, but
among thoſe who are our Defenders by
Profeffion?
BUT, "what Probability is there, that
"the Spirit of Defence ſhould be ſtrong in
any Profeffion, when the Members of
"that Profeffion are all chofen, without
<<
prior
and Principles of the Times.
97
<<
prior Culture or Preparation, from a sECT.
People among whom the Spirit of De-
" fence is loft ?" The Truth implied in this
Queſtion is fo evident in itſelf, that it is
hard to go about to prove it.
Can a mere
Change of Drefs or Title, or the buckling
on a military Weapon, infufe Strength,
Hardiness, Courage, or Honour? Theſe
are Qualities that muft either be natural,
which feldom happens; or they muſt be in-
fuſed by an early and continued Diſcipline;
or elſe, they come not at all. Schools and
Seminaries of this Kind we have none;
or none that are in any Degree attended to.
The young Men defigned for the military
Profeffion are bred up to the fame effemi-
nate Maxims and Manners, which their
Fathers are proud of: Can we wonder,
if theſe ſhoot into Action, and form parallel
Characters? Well might we wonder if
they did not.
So
III.
98
An Eftimate of the Manners
SECT. So then, if it appear by our preſent
III. Succefs in War, that our naval and military
Spirit of Defence is ftrong, it muſt be
evident at the fame Time, that this great
Spirit is infufed by fome Means altogether
fupernatural.
IN the mean Time, what becomes of
the four great natural Hinges, on which
the true Spirit of Defence muſt hang,
Strength, Hardiness, Courage, and Prin-
ciple?
CAN the modern Syſtem of falfe Deli-
сасу nerve the Warrior with Hardiness and
Strength? Theſe Qualities, I believe, are
hardly boafted, as making any Part of the
modern warlike Character. It is a prudent
as well as a modeft Part, indeed, not to
throw theſe rough and antiquated Weights
4
into
and Principles of the Times.
99
into the preſent military Scale: For every s E c T.
common Eye would detect the falfe Pre-
tenfion.
BUT tho' brutal Strength and unpoliſhed
Hardineſs be gone, are not our Army and
Navy the great Schools of Courage and
Honour; where theſe fhining Qualities are
of Courſe obtained?—Truly, it hath long
been ſo affirmed: So long, that the Affir-
mation hath, till of late, paffed for Proof.
But the Nation is now beginning to grow
Sceptical in this Point; and require fome-
thing more than Affirmation, for the Sup-
port of an Article of fuch Importance.
LET us first weigh the Probability of
this, from the Nature of Things and Men.
True Courage and a Principle of Honour,
if they be not the rare and generous
Growths of Nature, are the Effect of
early
III.
100
An Eftimate of the Manners
III.
SECT.early and continued Habits. Tho' grown
Gentlemen may learn to Dance; yet, their
Movements will be none of the moſt
graceful: And tho' grown Gentlemen
repair to the School of Courage and Ho-
nour: yet, with all their pre-conceived
Maxims of falfe Delicacy, their trifling
Ambitions, and effeminate Manners about
them, I ween, they are like to make a
forry Progrefs. Long before
Long before this, the
Mind hath taken its decifive Caft of Thought,
and can but rarely be brought back from
it's firſt Obliquities.
BUT ſuppoſe the Poffibility of this fud-
den Infufion: It is to be feared, the Con-
fequence would fail us. It is true, that
when Armies take the Field, and Fleets
put to Sea; when Sieges are undertaken,
and Battles fought, and Glory is the Prize
of Toil and Danger; then indeed,
Armies
www
and Principles of the Times.
ΙΟΙ
III.
Armies and Navies become the Schools of sECT.
Courage and warlike Honour: Here is a
ſtrong and continued Bias put upon the
Mind of every Individual, of Force to
conquer it's earlieſt Obliquities. But
where nothing of this happens; where
Land Officers in the Capital are occupied in
Drefs, Cards, and Tea; and in Country
Towns divide their Time between Mil-
leners Shops and Taverns; and Sea Officers,
even in Time of War, inſtead of annoying
the Enemies Fleets, are chiefly bufied in
the gainful Trade of catching Prizes ;---
in ſuch a Cafe, the Army muft of neceffity
be the School, not of Honour, but Effemi-
nacy; the Navy the School of Avarice, to
the Ends of Effeminacy.
How far theſe general Reafonings are
confirmed by a Series of recent Events, the
World is left to judge. It is not the
Writer's
102
An Eſtimate of the Manner's
SECT. Writer's Intention to make perfonal Ap-
III. plications, but to trace acknowledged
Facts to their Principles and Confequences.
SECT. IV.
Of the national Spirit of Union.
THESE accumulated Proofs may con-
vince us, that the national Spirit of De-
fence is not lefs weakened than the national
Capacity, by the Manners and Principles
of the Times. Let us next weigh their
various Effects on the national Spirit of
Union.
be
It may
proper to preface this Part of
the Eſtimate, by obferving, that whereas
a national Capacity and Spirit of Defence
are not neceffarily affected by a nationa
Form of Government; the national Spirit of
Union,
and Principles of the Times.
103
Union, on the contrary, is naturally ftrong s E c T.
under fome Forms, and naturally weak
under others.
Ir is naturally ſtrong in abfolute Monar-
chies; becaufe, in the Abfence both of
Manners and Principles, the compelling
Power of the Prince directs and draws
every thing to one Point; and therefore,
in all common Situations, effectually fup-
plies their Place.
BUT in free Countries it is naturally
weak, unleſs ſupported by the generous
Principles of Religion, Honour, or public
Spirit: For as in moſt Caſes, a full national
Union will require, that the ſeparate and
partial Views of private Intereſt be in ſome
Degree facrificed to the general Welfare ;
ſo where Principle prevails not, the national
Union
IV.
104
An Eftimate of the Manners
SECT. Union muſt ever be thwarted or deſtroyed
IV. by ſelfiſh Views and ſeparate Intereſts.
ANOTHER Circumftance must be re-
marked, by which, in free Countries,
the national Union will accidentally be
often checked, but not deftroyed: I mean,
by the Freedom of Opinion itſelf, urged
into Act by the very Strength of generous
and prevailing Principle.
THIS Diftinction leads us to obferve
what may perhaps be deemed an Over-
fight or Inaccuracy of the celebrated
MONTESQUIEU. He hath often given it
as his Opinion, that Factions are not only
natural, but neceffary, to free Govern-
ments: And this general Rule he gives
without Reſtriction. Thus he ſpeaks of
Rome. "On n'entend parler dans les
"auteurs, que des divifions qui perdirent
"Rome:
and Principles of the Times.
105
y
"Rome mais on ne voit pas que ces SECT.
"Divifions y étoient neceſſaires, qu'elles IV.
❝ avoient toujours été, & qu'elles y devoi-
"ent toujours etre*.”
How far this Propofition is 'true or falſe,
the Diſtinction made above will lead us to
diſcover. When the Spirit of Union is
checked, and Divifions arife, from the
Variety and Freedom of Opinion only; or
from the conteſted Rights and Privileges
of the different Ranks or Orders of a State,
not from the detached and ſelfiſh Views of
Individuals; a Republic is then in its
Strength, and gathers Warmth and Fire
from theſe Collifions. Such was the State
of ancient Rome, in the fimpler and more
difintereſted Periods of that Republic.
BUT when Principle is weakened and
Manners loft, and Factions run high from
* Grandeur des Rom. 1. ix.
H
felfifh
106
An Eftimaie of the Manners
SECT. ſelfiſh Ambition, Revenge, or Avarice, a
IV. Republic is then on the very Eve of it's
Deſtruction: And fuch was the State of
Rome, in the Times of MARIUS and
SYLLA, POMPEY and CESAR, ANTHONY
and AUGUSTUS.
THEREFORE, before we can determine
whether the Factions that divide a free
Country be falutary or dangerous, it is ne-
ceffary to know what is their Foundation
and their Object. If they ariſe from Free-
dom of Opinion, and aim at the public
Welfare, they are falutary: If their Source
be ſelfiſh Intereſt, of what kind foever;
they are then dangerous and deftructive.
It was neceſſary to make theſe Diſtin-
ctions, before we could fay with Preciſion,
how far, in our own Country, a national
Spirit of Union, is in reality a national
GOOD.
THE
and Principles of the Times.
107
THE Point therefore to be examined, is, S ECT.
"how far our national Spirit of Union is IV.
"weakened or deftroyed by felfiſh Views
"of Good, by ſeparate Intereſts, and De-
"fect of Principle ?”
Now, if the Delineation already given
of our ruling Manners and Principles be
true, the Confequence muſt needs follow,
that our national Spirit of Union muſt be
fhaken by them.
NEITHER fhall we need to caft about,
for evident Facts that will confirm this
Theory. Glaring Proofs will meet us at
every Turn; and not only make good this
Conclufion, but throw new Light on the
Delineation already made.
THE Reſtraints laid on the royal Prero-
gative at the Revolution, and the Acceffi-
H 2
on
108
An Eftimate of the Manners
SECT. on of Liberty thus gained by the People,
IV. produced two Effects with Reſpect to Par-
liaments. One was that, inſtead of being
occafionally, they were thence-forward an-
nually affembled: The other was, that
whereas on any trifling Offence given, they
had been uſually intimidated or diffolved,
they now found themſelves poffeffed. of
new Dignity and Power; their Conſent
being neceffary for raifing the annual Sup-
plies.
No Body of Men, except in the fimpleft
and moſt virtuous Times, ever found
themſelves poffeffed of Power, but many
of them would attempt to turn it to their
own private Advantage. Thus the Parlia-
ments finding themſelves of Weight, and
finding at the fame Time that the Difpofal.
of all lucrative Employments was veſted in
the Crown, foon bethought themſelves,
that
and Principles of the Times.
109
that in Exchange for their Concurrence ins E C T.
granting Supplies, and forwarding the
Meaſures of Government, it was but equita-
ble that the Crown fhould concur in veft-
ing Them, or their Dependants, with the lu-
crative Employs of State.
Ir this was done, the Wheels of Go-
vernment ran ſmooth and quiet: But if
any large Body of Claimants was diffa-
tisfied, the political Uproar began; and
public Meaſures were obftructed or over-
turned.
WILLIAM the third found this to be the
national Turn; and fet himſelf, like a
Politician, to oppofe it: He therefore fi-
lenced all he could, by Places or Penfions:
And hence the Origin of MAKING of PAR-
LIAMENTS.
BUT
H 3
110
An Eftimate of the Manners
SECT.
IV.
BUT the Art, as yet, was but in it's infant
State. The ruling Principles, which had
brought about the REVOLUTION, had not
as yet loft their Force: And the firft Ef-
fays of Art are always rude: Time only,
and Variety of Trial and Experiment, can
form them into perfect Syſtems.
In the mean Time, this new Principle
of Self-Intereſt began to work deeper every
Day in its Effects. As a Seat in Parlia-
ment was now found to be of confiderable
ſelfiſh Importance, the Contention for
Gain, which had begun in Town, fpread
itſelf by Degrees into the Country. Shires
and Burroughs, which in former Times
had paid their Repreſentatives for their At-
tendance in Parliament, were now the
great Objects of Requeſt, and political Strug-
gle.
AND
and Principles of the Times.
III
IV.
AND as the Reprefentatives had already s E CT.
found their Influence, and made their De-
mands on the Crown; fo now, the Con-
fituents found their Influence, and made
their Demands on the Reprefentatives.
THUS the great Chain of political Self-
Intereft was at length formed; and ex-
tended from the loweſt Cobler in a Burrough,
to the King's first Minifter.
BUT a Chain of Self-Intereft is indeed no
better than a Rope of Sand: There is no Ce-
ment nor Cobefion between the Parts: There
is rather a mutual Antipathy and Repulfion ;
the Character of Self-Intereſt being in a pe-
culiar Senfe, that of " teres atque rotundus;"
wrapt up wholly in itself; and unconnected
with others, unleſs for its own Sake. Here
then, we ſee even this Chain itſelf ready to
H 4
fall
112
An Eftimate of the Manners
IV.
SECT. fall in Pieces, and on any ſudden Thwart
or Concuffion, break into an Infinity of
Factions.
BESIDES this, the lucrative Employs of
our Country not being near fo numerous
as the Claimants are, in every Degree
of political Power and Expectation; the
Spirit of ſelfiſh Faction aroſe of courſe in
its Strength, from unfatisfied Demands,
and diſappointed Avarice.
IT hath much been debated, whether
the Miniſters or the People have contributed
more to the Eſtabliſhment of this Syſtem
of Self-Intereft and Faction. On En-
quiry it would probably appear, that at
different Periods the Pendulum hath fwung
at large on both fides. It came down,
in former Times, from the Miniſter to the
Repreſentative, from the Repreſentative to
the
and Principles of the Times.
113
the managing Alderman, from the Alder- s E c T.
man to the Cobler. In later Times, the IV.
Impulſe ſeems to have been chiefly in the
contrary Direction: From the Cobler to
the managing Alderman; from him, to
the Member; from the Member, to the
great Man who ruled the Burrough; and
thence to the Minifter. Thus, what was
formerly, in the Miniſter, an Act of fup-
pofed Prudence, has of late grown into an
Act of fuppofed Neceffity. The Cobler by
this Time had found his Strength, fo the
. Preffure went upwards, till it came upon
the Miniſtry.
To fuppofe that the Servants of the
Crown never attempted Meaſures that
were known to be bad, nor ever made
Parliaments, in order to carry their At-
temps into Action, would be ridiculous:
But on the other hand it is equally true,
what
114
An Eftimate of the Manners
SECT. what MACHIAVEL fomewhere delivers as
a Maxim, "That an ill-difpofed Citizen
IV.
<<
"can do no great Harm, but in an ill-
diſpoſed City." Bribery in the Miniſter
ſuppoſes a corrupt People.
AND, to venture a plain, tho' perhaps
an unpopular Truth on this Occafion; it
muſt be owned that a Miniſter is not there-
fore certainly corrupt in his Intention, be-
cauſe he makes a Parliament by indirect
and corrupt Means. This Conduct, how-
ever indefenfible, may ariſe from two op-
pofite Cauſes. He may be afraid of the
Virtue of a Nation, in it's oppofing bad
Meaſures: Or he may not dare to rely on
the Virtue of a Nation, in fupporting him
in good ones.
THERE WAS a noted Miniſter in this
Kingdom, who, during his long Reign,
feems
and Principles of the Times.
115
feems to have put theſe two Maxims in S ECT.
Practice, as Occafion offered. For if it was
his Maxim, "that every Man had his
"Price." It was his Maxim too, "That he
"was obliged to bribe the Members, not
"to vote against, but according to their
"Confcience".
HOWEVER, this is not meant as a Vin-
dication of his Meaſures. On the contrary,
they ſeem generally to have aimed no
higher than to fecure preſent Expedients,
to oblige his Friends and Dependants, and
provide for his own Safety. His Capacity,
even when he meant well, feems to have
been too narrow to comprehend any great
Plan of Legiſlation; and perhaps his Cha-
racter might be drawn in theſe few Words,
"That while he ſeemed to ftrengthen the
Superstructure, he weakened the Founda-
"tions of our Conftitution."
<c
BUT
IV.
116
An Eftimate of the Manners
SECT.
BUT however defective Minifters may
IV. have been in making the public Welfare
the main Object of their Views, we may
be fatisfied by this Eftimate of Things
from the Revolution to the prefent Times,
that the Nation have at leaſt marched
"Pafibus æquis." And tho' this Work is not
intended either as a Defence or an Accufa-
tion of Miniſters; yet for the fake of Truth
it muſt be faid, that the eternal Clamours
of a ſelfiſh, and a factious People, againſt
every Miniſtry that rifes, puts one in Mind
of thoſe Carthaginian Armies, which being
at once cowardly and infolent, ran away
at Sight of an Enemy, and then crucified
their General, becauſe he did not gain the
Victory.
To return therefore to our Subject, (if,
indeed, we have departed from it) evident
it
and Principles of the Times.
117
it is, that the want of Principle hath at s E c T.
length firmly eſtabliſhed a Syftem of poli- IV.
tical Self-Intereſt among us, which muſt
at all times break out into Factions
;
and
prevent the great Effects which a national
Spirit of Union would produce. Former
Times, we plainly fee, have been fatally
infected with this ſelfiſh Spirit. Preſent
Times, in this respect, are facred; and
therefore we ſpeak not of them. But if
the ruling Manners and preſent want of
Principle in this Kingdom be not checked
in their Carriere; we muſt expect that fu-
ture Times will be more ſelfiſh, and there-
fore more factious, than thofe former ones,
we have already deſcribed.
FOR Vanity, Luxury, and Effeminacy,
(increaſed beyond all Belief within theſe
twenty Years) as they are of a felfish, fo
are they of a craving and unfatisfied Na-
I
ture:
118
An Eſtimate of the Manners
IV.
T.
SECT-ture: The prefent Rage of Pleaſure and
unmanly Diffipation hath created a Train of
new Neceffities, which in their Demands
outſtrip every poffible Supply.
AND if the great Principles of Religion,
Honour, and public Spirit are weak or loſt
among us, what effectual Check can there
be upon the Great, to controul their un-
bounded and unwarranted Purfuit of lucra-
tive Employments, for the Gratification of
theſe unmanly Paffions?
AND whenever this happens, what can we
expect as the Conſequence, but a general
Anarchy and Confufion? what, but that
diſappointed Avarice will kindle Faction?
that national Union muſt be thwarted by
ſelfiſh Regards? That no public Meaſure,
however falutary, can be carried into Act,
if
and Principles of the Times.
119
if it claſh with any foreſeen private In-s E C T.
tereft?
NAY, is it not the Duty of every Well-
wifher to his Country, to confider, not
only how foon this may be, but how far it
is our preſent Situation?
WHAT other Effect can naturally ariſe
from the Vanity, Diffipation, and Rapa-
city of a diffolute People? For in a Nation
fo circumſtanced, 'tis natural to imagine,
that next to Gaming and Riot, the chief
Attention of the great World muſt be
turned on the Bufinefs of Election-jobbing,
of fecuring Counties, controuling, bribing,
or buying of Burroughs, in a word, on the
Poffeffion of a great Parliamentary In-
tereft?
IV.
BUT
120
An Eſtimate of the Manners
SECT.
IV.
BUT what an Aggravation of this Evil
would ariſe, ſhould ever thoſe of the higheſt
Rank, tho' prohibited by Act of Parlia-
ment, infult the Laws by interfering in
Elections, by folliciting Votes, or procur-
ing others to follicit them; by influencing
Elections in an avowed Defiance of their
Country, and even felling vacant Seats in
Parliament to the best Bidder?
WOULD not this be a faithful Copy of
degenerate and declining Rome?" Ea de-
"mum Romæ libertas eft, non Senatum,
"non Magiftratus, non Leges, non Mo-
"res Majorum, non Inftituta Patrum ve-
"reri."
AND what, can we fuppofe would be the
real Drift of this illegitimate Waſte of Time,
Honour, Wealth, and Labour? might not
the
and Principles of the Times.
121
the
very
Reaſon publickly affigned for it, s E CT.
be this," That they may ſtrengthen them- IV.
"felves and Families, and thus gain a
lafting Intereft (as they call it) for their
"Dependants, Sons and Poſterity?" Now
what would this imply but a fuppofed
Right or Privilege of demanding lucrative
Employs, as the chief Object of their
View ? And whence can this fuppofed Pri-
vilege of Demand derive it's Force, but
from a foreſeen Power, and determined
Purpoſe, of kindling Faction, and obſtruct-
ing all public Meaſures, in cafe of Difap-
pointment and Diſguſt?
WE fee then, how the political Syſtem
of Self-Intereſt is at length compleated;
and a Foundation laid in our Principles and
Manners for endleſs Diſſentions in the State.
I
THUS
122
An Eftimate of the Manners
IV.
SECT. THUS Faction is eſtabliſhed, not on
Ambition, but on Avarice : on Ava-
rice and Rapacity, for the Ends of Diffi-
pation.
NEED we point out particular Facts, in
Confirmation of theſe Truths? Is not the
Nation even now labouring under this
fatal Malady? Is not the deadly Bow-ftring
already ſtretched, and the Public gaſping
and expiring under the Tugs of oppoſed
and contending Parties?
"Diſtractam, laceratamque Rempub-
licam-magis quorum in manu fit, quam
"ut incolumis fit quæri*."
* Liv.
SECT.
and Principles of the Times.
123
SECT. V.
Of the Confequences of National Difunion.
V.
It is not enough to have ſhewn in whats E C T.
Manner our Defect of Principle and ruling
Manners have compleated the Ruin of the
national Spirit of Union: If we would ob-
tain a full View of our Subject, it is a
neceffary tho' diſagreeable Tafk, to trace
this Difunion thro' it's particular Effects.
Now theſe will always vary along with
the Character of the People thus divided.
If the Nation be warlike, and the Spirit of
Defence be ſtrong, the Danger will gene-
rally ariſe from within. If the Nation be
effeminate, and the Spirit of Defence be
weak, the Danger will generally ariſe from
without.
I 2
THE
124
An Eftimate of the Manners
SECT. THE firſt of theſe was the Situation and
V.
|:
Fate of the ancient Military Republics.
That of Corinth was deſtroyed by the Fac-
tion of the Prætor DIEUS and his Party.
The Athenian Commonwealth was again
and again ſhaken and overturned by the
Weight of oppofing Parties: infomuch that
the Hiſtory of this Republic may juſtly be
ſtyled the Hiſtory of Faction. When de-
generate Manners had deſtroyed the Purity
of the Spartan Conſtitution and Laws of
LYCURGUS, AGIS attempted to reſtore
them, but was murdered in the generous
Attempt by a Faction headed by the Ephori.
The Roman Commonwealth, in its later
Periods, was thrown into perpetual Con-
vulfions by ambitious and warlike Faction,
and died at laſt of the Malady. And, to
paſs by many other Proofs that might be
alledged,
I
and Principles of the Times.
125
V.
alledged, what Rivers of Blood have been s E c T.
fpilt in our own Country, among contend-
ing Factions, while the Spirit of Arms and
Honour remained among us?
BUT to give every Period of Manners
it's due Character, it is confeffed that in
the prefent effeminate tho' factious Times,
we have no Danger of this kind to fear,
For as our Manners are degenerated into
thofe of Women, fo are our Weapons of
Offence.
BUT as this Home-Security arifes only
from the common Impotence; it is probable,
that other Nations may foon know of what
Materials we are made; and therefore our
Danger is likely to ariſe from without,
LET us then examine what Effects this
national Spirit of Difunion must have
I 3
upon
us,
126
An Eftimate of the Manners
SECT. us, as we ſtand affected by any foreign
V. Enemy.
Ir weakens the Confiftency of all public
Meaſures: So that no great national Scheme
of Thought can be carried into Action, if
it's Accompliſhment demands any long
Continuity of Time.
IT weakens not only the Confiftency, but
the Vigour and Expedition of all publick
Meaſures: So that while a divided People
are contending about the Means of Security
or Defence, a united Enemy may fur-
prize and invade them.
THESE are the apparent Confequences
of national Difunion: There is another
not ſo obvious, and therefore more likely
to be fatal.
WE
and Principles of the Times.
127
V.
We have ſeen that in a Nation circum-SE C T.
E
ſtanced like ours, the great Contention
among thofe of Quality and Fortune will
probably lie in the Affair of Election In-
tèreſts: That next to effeminate Plea-
fure and Gaming, this (for the fame End
as Gaming) will of Courſe be the capital
Purſuit: that this Intereft will naturally
be regarded as a kind of Family-Fund,
for the Provifion of the younger Branches:
and that it's Force muft arife from this
Principle, that in Cafe the Head of the
Family is not gratified in his lucrative De-
mands, he and his Dependants will raiſe a
Combuflion in the State.
VIEWING the Affair, then, in this Light;
we ſhall fee that, befides the general ill In-
fluence of Faction, this Principle of Dif-
union muſt farther tend to weaken or de-
ſtroy
I 4
128
An Eftimate of the Manners
SECT. ftroy both the National Capacity and the
v. national Spirit of Defence.
FOR, in a Nation fo circumftanced, thro'
the Strength of this Principle, many high
and important Pofts, in every public and
important Profeffion, muft of Courſe be
filled by Men, who inſtead of Ability and
Virtue, plead this Interest for their beſt
Title.
THUS in a Time when Science, Capa-
city, Courage, Honour, Religion, Public
Spirit, are rare; the remaining Few who
poffefs theſe Virtues, will often be ſhut
out from theſe Stations which they would
fill with Honour; while every public and
important Employ will abound with Men,
whoſe Manners and Principles are of the
newest Fashion.
"Tis acknowledged there are Exceptions
to the Truth of this Remark. Nay, were
it
and Principles of the Times.
129
V.
it neceffary, the Writer could gratify his s E c T.
Vanity, by ranking ſome of theſe Names
in the Number of his Friends. But
notwithſtanding theſe Exceptions, the ge-
neral Obfervation will maintain it's Truth.
How indeed can it be otherwife, while
the Conſciouſneſs of this Principle has any
Place in the Mind? Is not the Parliament-
Intereſt of every powerful Family continu-
ally rung in the Ears of it's Branches and
Dependants? And does not this inevitably
tend to relax and weaken the Application
of the young Men of Quality and Fortune,
and render every Man, who has Reliance
on this Principle, lefs qualified for thoſe
Stations which BY THIS VERY PRINCIPLE
he obtains? For why ſhould a Youth of
Family or Faſhion (thus he argues with
himſelf) Why fhould He fubmit to the
CC
Drudgery of Schools, Colleges, Aca-
CC
demies,
130
An Eftimate of the Manners
SECT." demies, Voyages, Campaigns, Fatigues,
1
V. "and Dangers, when he can riſe to the
ર
higheſt Stations by the ſmooth and eaſy
Path of Parliamentary Intereft?"
"Tis granted, indeed, that the Sons and
Relations of Men of Quality and Fortune,
have not only an equal, but even a prior
Claim to all high Employments in the
State, provided only, they are qualified to
fill them honourably.
We may truly add to this, that in that
WE
Period of a State, when Capacity, Courage,
and Honour, form its ruling Character
thofe of high Quality and Degree, are ge-
nerally of all others the moſt capable, moſt
couragious, moſt honourable.
On the contrary, where Effeminacy and
ſelfiſh Vanity form the ruling Character of
a People;
and Principles of the Times.
131
V.
a People; there we may be no leſs certain, s E c T.
that thoſe of high Rank and Quality will
in general be of all others moſt vain, moſt
ſelfiſh, moſt incapable, moft effeminate.
THE Reaſon is permanent, and the fame
in both Cafes: "Becauſe in
Becauſe in every Period
of every State," the Influence of the lead-
cc
CC
ing People, foon or late, will form it's t
leading Character."
How far thefe Truths are verified by
prefent Facts, it were needless, perhaps
dangerous, particularly to fay. Let it there-
fore be left to the candid Confideration of
every honeſt and impartial Man, how far
feveral recent Events, by which both the
Honour and outward Strength of this
Nation have been impaired, have ariſen
from the prevailing Principle here deli-
neated.
1
WE
132
An Eftimate of the Manners
SECT.
V.
We may conclude this Subject with a
general Remark, which, together with the
Refult of theſe Obfervations, may form a
general Maxim: That " when Factions ariſe
from the Exceſs of military Spirit and the
ambition of Dominion, they increaſe the
national Capacity and Spirit of Defence:
On the contrary, where Factions arife from
self interests
felfiſh Effeminacy, the national Capacity
and Spirit of Defence will certainly be
weakened or deſtroyed *.
Like wise
is affected the
economic
stability.
* WE muſt not omit to obſerve, that there are
two Profeffions which, even in the moft felfiſh and
effeminate Times, will generally maintain their pro-
per Vigour: Theſe are the Profeffions of Law and
Phyfic. For as their Object is the Security of the
Property and Health of Individuals, the moſt ſelfiſh
and effeminate of Mankind will always be more atten-
tive to the Preſervation of thefe, in proportion as they
are less attentive to the public Welfare, and loft to all
generous Affections and Regards. Thus even in the
SUCH
and Principles of the Times.
133
V.
SUCH are the Effects of this prevailing s E c T.
Principle of Self-Intereſt and Difunion, in
high Life. But if we take into the Account
all that defpicable Train of political Ma-
nagers, Agents, and Burrough-Jobbers,
which hang like Leeches upon the Great,
nor ever quit their Hold till they are full
gorged; we fhall then fee this reigning
Evil in it's laft Perfection. For here, to
to Incapacity and Demerit, is generally
added Infolence. Every low Fellow of this
Kind looks upon the Man of Genius, Ca-
pacity, and Virtue, as his natural Enemy.
He regards him with an evil Eye; and
hence undermines or defames him; as one
who thwarts his Views, queftions his Title,
moſt ſelfiſh and effeminate Times, the ableft Lawyers
and Phyſicians will generally be at the Head of their
Profeffion.
and
134
An Eſtimate of the Manners
SELF.
V.
and indangers his Expectations. He muft
have had little Experience in the World,
who has not, among every Order, met with
flagrant Characters of this Kind, and In-
ſtances of this Truth.
THUS the public Body is again weakened,
or rather mutilated in all its Limbs. And
that national Spirit of Difunion which our
Principles and Manners have produced,
comes not only attended with it's proper
and immediate Effects, but hath completed
the Ruin of the national Capacity, and the
national Spirit of Defence.
SECT. VI.
An Objection, drawn from the Manners of
the French Nation, confidered.
WE might here cloſe our Eſtimate of
the public Effects of the ruling Manners
24
and
and Principles of the Times.
135
C
and Principles of the Times; were not the s E c T.
Theory here eſtabliſhed on a Number of VI.
concurrent Facts, apparently liable to an
Objection.
THIS arifeth from the ruling Man-
ners of the French Nation: Which be-
ing as vain and effeminate as our own,
and the very Archetype from which our
own are drawn, fhould of Courſe involve
that Nation in the fame Confequences, the
fame Defect of national Capacity, Defence
and Union: But as thefe Principles of na-
tional and internal Strength are, on all
hands, acknowledged to maintain their
proper Vigour in France, where the ruling
Manners are effeminate; therefore, ſay the
Patronizers of our modern Manners, theſe
cannot be the Cauſe of our national Mif-
carriages and Defects.
"TIS
136
An Eftimate of the Manners
SECT.
VI.
"Tis granted, then, that their Manners
are of the fame Kind: But on Examina-
tion it will appear, that whereas ours (as
we have ſeen) are ſuffered to go on to all
their proper and natural Effects; theirs, on
the contrary, are checked and counter-
acted in their Effects, by a variety of Caufes
and Principles wholly diffimilar.
THEIR effeminate Manners affect not their
national Capacity, becaufe their Youth are
affiduouſly trained up for all public Offices,"
civil, naval, military, in Schools provided
at the national Expence: Here the Candi-
dates for public Employ go thro' a ſevere
and laborious Courſe of Diſcipline, and only
expect to rife in Station, as they rife in
Knowledge and Ability.
THEIR
and Principles of the Times.
137
THEIR effeminate Manners affect nots ECT.
their national Spirit of Defence, becauſe they vI.
are controuled by the Principle of military
Honour. This, for fome Ages, hath been
early inftilled into every rifing Generation;
and is at length become ſo ſtrong and uni-
verfal, as to form the national Character.
It fpreads thro' every Rank; infpires
even the meaneſt in the Kingdom; and
pervades and actuates the whole Machine
of Government, with a Force little inferior
to that of public Virtue.
Ir were no incurious Subject, to inve-
ftigate this peculiar Principle to it's firſt
Cauſes: But that lies beyond the Intention
of the preſent Defign. It may be called
a peculiar Principle, in France, becauſe it
is unconnected, nay even at Variance with it's
Manners; and in no other Country did this
Principle
K
138
An Eftimate of the Manners
SE C T.Principle ever fubfift in it's Strength, when
VI. other Principles were weakened, and Man-
ners loft.
1
It may feem, perhaps, at firſt View, to
have ariſen from the civil Wars that rent
the Kingdom in the Time of HENRY the
Great, to have been transfufed from thence
into the gallant Reign of Louis, and thence
heightened and delivered down to pre-
fent Times.
BUT tho' it received great Heighten-
ings in theſe two Reigns, yet it pro-
duced fignal and peculiar Effects, before
the firſt of theſe Periods. In Proof of this,
we need only alledge the famous Route
called the Battle of Spurs, when HENRY the
Eighth of England invaded France. On this
Occafion, the Body of the French Army
giving Way thro' fome fudden Panic, the
Officers kept their Ground, and rather
choſe
I
and Principles of the Times.
139
VI.
chofe to be flain or taken Prifoners, than S E C T.
give Countenance to fuch an ignominious
Flight.
THIS Principle, fo remarkable at this
Day among the FRENCH, we ftigmatize
with the Name of falſe Honour. Such as
it is, it were to be wifhed we had more of
it. It aims not, indeed, at generous Ends,
beyond a certain Sphere: But it is plauſible,
polite, and fplendid, in the Purſuit even
of it's ungenerous Ends. In fhort, the
Honour, like the Religion of France, is
not void of Benevolence, but confines
it's Benevolence within a certain Pale.
"Tis falfe Honour, as it regards other Na-
as it regards their own Country,
tions;
it is true.
As this Principle in France, fecures the
national Spirit of Defence; fo the Power
K 2
of
140
An Eftimate of the Manners
VI.
SECT. of their Monarch, aided by this Principle,
ſecures their national Spirit of Union. In
confequence of this, the World has acci-
dentally ſeen their vaft Plan of Power
(formed by the great Colbert almoſt a Cen-
tury ago) carried on, tho' with frequent
Interruptions, and in a great Degree now
accompliſhed, thro' a Variety of Reigns,
Wars and Adminiftrations. The Monarch's
Power gives Unity and Steddiness, the Prin-
ciple of Honour gives Vigour, to every
Movement of the State.
THUS, in Contradiction to all known
Example, France hath become powerful,
while ſhe ſeemed to lead the Way in Effe-
minacy: And while fhe hath allured her
neighbour Nations, by her own Example,
to drink largely of her circaan and poiſoned
Cup of Manners, hath fecured her own
Health by the fecret Antidote of Principle.
FORCED
and Principles of the Times.
141
VI.
FORCED by this, the Character of thes E CT.
French Nation, tho' inconfiftent, is refpect-
able: They have found, or rather invented,
the Art of uniting all Extremes: They
have Virtues and Vices, Strengths and
Weakneffes, ſeemingly incompatible. They
are effeminate yet brave: infincere, yet
honourable: hofpitable, not benevolent:
vain, yet fubtile: fplendid, not generous:
warlike, yet polite: plaufible, not vir-
tuous: mercantile, yet not mean: In
Trifles ferious, gay in Enterprize: Women
at the Toilet, Heroes in the Field: profli-
gate in Heart; in Conduct, decent: Di-
vided in Opinion, in Action united: In
Manners weak, but ftrong in Principle:
Contemptible in private Life; in public,
Formidable.
SECT.
K 3
142
An Eftimate of the Manners
SECT.
SECT. VII.
Of the most probable Tendency of thefe Effects.
NOTWITHSTANDING this apparent Ob-
VII. jection, therefore, the Principles here ad-
vanced maintain their Force. And thus
we fee, how our effeminate Manners and
Defect of Principle have weakened the na-
tional Capacity, and Spirit of Defence; and
by giving a new Turn to our national Dif-
union, have ſtill farther aggravated theſe
ruling Evils in the State.
WHAT then is the moſt probable Con-
fequence of this national Debility?
'Tis from an outward Enemy, as hath been
obſerved, that Danger is moſt to be ap-
prehended.
THE
and Principles of the Times.
143
THE FRENCH, in Land Armies, are far s E c T.
our Superiors: They are making large and vII.
dreadful Strides towards us, in naval Power.
They have more than difputed with us the
Empire of the Mediterranean. They are
driving us from our Forts and Colonies in
America.
THESE are the ſteddy Effects of their
Principles and Union; of our Deficiency
in both.
THESE Cauſes reach to, and operate,
even in the new World. Their Governors
of Colonies are actuated by Honour and
their Monarch's Power: Ours, too com-
monly, by Self-Love and uncontrouled
Rapine. Their Zeal and Policy direct
them to make Converts and Friends of the
Indian Nations: Our Irreligion prevents
K 4
the
144
An Eftimate of the Manners
SECT. the one; our diſhoneſt Treatment, the other.
VII. For by the beſt Accounts, our Colonies.
have in general copied, and even outgone
us, in every faſhionable Degeneracy.
SHOULD the French, then, poffefs them-
ſelves of North America, what Eye can be
fo weak, as not to fee the Confequence?
Muſt not a naval Power come upon us,
equal, if not fuperior to our own?
THUS by a gradual and unperceived
Decline, we ſeem gliding down to Ruin.
We laugh, we fing, we feaft, we play:
We adopt every Vanity, and catch at every
Lure, thrown out to us by the Nation
that is planning our Destruction; and
while Fate is hanging over us, are fight-
lefs and thence fecure. Were we but as
innocent as Blind, we ſhould, in our Fond-
ness
and Principles of the Times.
154
nefs for French Manners, compleatly refem- s E c T.
ble the Lamb deſcribed by the Poet :
The Lamb thy Riot dooms to bleed to Day,
Had he thy Reaſon, wou'd he fkip and play
Pleas'd to the laſt, he crops the flow'ry Food;
And licks the Hand that's rais'd to fhed his Blood.
VII.
PART III.
2
veover
PART III.
OF THE
SOURCES
O F
THESE MANNERS
AND
PRINCIPLE S.
KOCONE
( 149 )
JXXX
PART III.
ཁ་
OF THE
SOURCES
OF
Theſe MANNERS and PRIN-
CIPLES.
SECT. I.
Of a general Miftake on this Subject.
HE publick Effects of our Man-
TH
ners and Principles here enume-
rated, begin now to appear too manifeſt
in our public Miſcarriages, to be any
longer derided. The Nation ſtands aghaft
4
at
150
An Eflimate of the Manners
SECT.at it's own Misfortunes: But, like a Man
I. ſtarting fuddenly from Sleep, by the Noiſe
of fome approaching Ruin, knows neither
whence it comes, nor how to avoid it.
IN Proof of this, we need only look into
the late Inſtructions from Conſtituents to
Repreſentatives. Thefe, we fee, feldom look
farther than the immediate and incidental
Occafion of each particular Miſconduct:
While the grand general Principles in
which theſe Miſconducts have been chiefly
founded, are neither feen, nor fufpected:
Nay, an impartial Enquiry will probably
convince us, that while they ſtrike at the
Shoots and Branches, they feed the Root
from whence thefe Miſconducts have been
originally derived.
FOR it ſeems to be the ruling Maxim of
this Age and Nation, that if our Trade and
Wealth
and Principles of the Times.
151
I.
Wealth are but increaſed, we are power- s ECT.
ful, happy, and ſecure: And in eſtimat-
ing the real Strength of the Kingdom, the
fole Queſtion for many Years hath been,
"What Commerce and Riches the Nation
"is poffeffed of?" A Queftion, which an
ancient Lawgiver would have laughed at.
THERE never was a more fatal Error
more greedily embraced by any People.
SECT. II.
Of the Effects of exorbitant Trade and
Wealth on Manners.
By Wealth is understood, every kind
of uſeful Poffeffion; or Money, which is
it's Sign, and may be converted into it.
By Commerce is underſtood the Ex-
change of Wealth, for mutual Benefit.
THE
152
An Eftimate of the Manners
SECT.
II.
THE Effects of Commerce on Manners
have by moſt Writers, I think, been con-
fidered as uniform. Even the fage and
amiable MONTESQUIEU fays only, in ge-
neral Terms, "That Commerce poliſhes
Manners, but corrupts Manners *"
Whereas, from a candid View of it's Na-
ture and Effects, we ſhall probably find,
that in it's firſt and middle Stages it is bene-
ficent; in it's laft, dangerous and fatal.
If we view Commerce in its firft Stages,
we ſhall fee, that it fupplies mutual Ne-
ceffities, prevents mutual Wants, extends
mutual Knowledge, eradicates mutual Pre-
judice, and ſpreads mutual Humanity.
If we view it in its middle and more
advanced Period, we fhall fee, it provides
* L'Efprit des Loix, 1. xx. c. I.
Conve-
and Principles of the Times.
153
II.
Conveniencies, increaſeth Numbers, coins s E CT.
Money, gives Birth to Arts and Science,
creates equal Laws, diffuſes general Plenty
and general Happineſs.
If we view it in it's third and higheſt
Stage, we ſhall fee it change it's Nature
and Effects. It brings in Superfluity and
vaft Wealth; begets Avarice, grofs Luxury,
or effeminate Refinement among the
higher Ranks, together with general Lofs
of Principle.
CONCERNING the two firft Stages of
Commerce, I ſhall have no Difpute with
the preſent Times: It's Benefits are gene-
rally acknowledged. The dangerous Ef-
fects of it's Exorbitance or Exceſs have not
yet been fufficiently developed.
L
THAT
154
An Eftimate of the Manners
SECT.
THAT Commerce in it's Excefs brings
II. a general Superfluity of Goods, that this
general Superfluity fettles in particular
Hands into vaft Wealth, will be readily
acknowledged.
THE next Step is, to confider how vaſt
Wealth naturally produces Avarice, Lux-
ury, or Effeminacy, according to the Ge-
nius or Circumſtances of the People among
whom it comes.
INDUSTRY, in it's firft Stages, is fru-
gal, not ungenerous: It's End being that
of Self-Prefervation and moderate Enjoy-
ment, it's little Superfluities are often em-
ployed in Acts of Generofity and Bene-
ficence. But the daily Increaſe of Wealth
by Induſtry, naturally increaſes the Love
of
and Principles of the Times.
155
II.
of Wealth. The Paffion for Money, be-s E C T.
ing founded, not in Senfe, but Imagination,
admits of no Satiety, like thofe which are
-
called the natural Paffions. Thus the
Habit of faving Money, beyond every
other Habit, gathers Strength by continued
Gratification. The Attention of the whole
Man is immediately turned upon it; and
every other Purſuit held light when com-
pared with the Increaſe of Wealth. Hence,
the natural Character of the Trader, when
his final Proſpect is the Acquifition of
Wealth, is that of Industry and Avarice.
WHAT is true, in this Refpect, of trad-
ing Men, is true of trading Nations. If their
Commerce be that of Oeconomy in the
Extreme, if the laſt Object of their Purſuit
be Wealth for it's own Sake, if the Leaders
of fuch a People be commercial, the Cha-
racter
L 2
156
An Eftimate of the Manners
SECT.
racter of that People, and it's Leaders, will
II. be found in Induſtry and Avarice.
-
BUT if a trading Nation hath a large
Territory, fufficient to create a Landed In-
tereft, Commerce will produce very diffe-
rent Effects.
FOR as it multiplies Inhabitants, and
brings in Wealth, it naturally increaſes the
Value of landed Eſtates. Barren Grounds
are cultivated, and cultivated Spots are
made more fertile. Hence a vaft Acceffion
of Income to the Nobility and Gentry.
THESE Ranks of Men being not bred
up to Habits of Induſtry; on the con
trary, theiri ncreaſed Rents coming in
unfought for, and their Time being often
a
Load upon them, thro' want of Capacity
and Employment, the Habit of Indulgence
comes on, and grows of Courſe. Addi-
tional
and Principles of the Times.
157
II.
tional Wealth gives the Power to gratify s E CT.
every Defire that rifes, Leifure improves 11.
theſe Defires into Habits; thus Money is
at length confidered as no more than the
Means of Gratification; and hence the
genuine Character of a rich Nobility or
Gentry, is that of Expence and Luxury.
BUT the firſt Effays of Luxury, like
thoſe of every other Art, are coarſe and
rude: The natural Character of Luxury,
therefore, is to refine by Degrees: Efpe-
cially, when affifted by Commerce, it ad-
vances apace into Refinement. For Com-
merce fearches every Shore and Climate
for it's Supplies; and Art is ftudious, be-
cauſe rewarded, in arranging and applying
theſe Materials to the moft exquifite and
delicate Ufe. Thus every coarfer Mode
of Pleaſure is by Degrees defpifed; new
Habits of higher Indulgence come on:
L 3
grofs
{
158
An Eftimate of the Manners
SECT. grofs Luxury is baniſhed, and Effeminacy
II. takes it's Place.
BUT Luxury, in this laft Period, being
exhauſted in it's Courfe; and turned, for
want of new Objects of Indulgence, into
Debility and Languor, would expire or
ſleep, were it not awakened by another
Paffion, which again calls it into Action.
Nothing is fo natural to effeminate
Minds, as Vanity. This rouzes the lux-
urious and debilitated Soul; and the Arts
of pleaſurable Enjoyment are now puſhed
to their higheſt Degree, by the Spirit of
delicate Emulation.
THUS the whole Attention of the Mind
is centred on Brillancy and Indulgence :
Money, tho' deſpiſed as an End, is greedily
fought as a Means: And Self, under a dif-
ferent
and Principles of the Times.
159
ferent Appearance from the trading Spirit, s E c T.
takes equal Poffeffion of the Soul.
THUS as the Character of a State altoge-
ther commercial in the higheſt Degree,
is that of Induſtry and Avarice; ſo, in a
Nation of extended Territory, where Com-
merce is in it's higheſt Period, while it's
trading Members retain their Habits of
Induſtry and Avarice, the natural Charac-
ter of it's landed Ranks, it's Nobility and
Gentry, is that of "a vain, luxurious, and
"felfiſh Effeminacy.”
WE ſpeak here of the ſimple and proper
Effects of Trade and Wealth, uncontrouled
by oppoſite Manners or Principles; which,
it is to be obſerved, never exifted probably,
at leaſt in the mixed State, in their full Ex-
tent: Individuals there are, and will be,
in almoſt every State and Period, who are
influ-
L 4
II.
160
An Eftimate of the Manners
SE C T.influenced by diffimilar Manners or Prin-
II. ciples: There are Traders who are gene-
rous; Nobles and Gentry whofe ultimate
Paffion is for Gold: But fuch Exceptions.
affect not the general Principle: And tho'
thefe incidental Mixtures weaken the diffe-
rent Colours of different Ranks or States,
yet ftill the different Colours remain in
their Nature diftinct and invariable.
'Tis probable, the Reader will have dif
covered, that this Reaſoning is ftrengthened
by, or rather built upon, the Examples of
two neighbour Nations; one wholly com-
mercial, that of Holland: The other a
mixed State, compounded of a commer-
cial and landed Intereft; I mean our own.
And to fay the Truth; no two Nations
perhaps ever exifted, which approached
fo near to the full and proper Effects of
the Cauſes here alledged.
IT
and Principles of the Times.
161
II.
It will appear immediately why the s E C T.
Genius of the Republic of Holland is here
analyſed into its firft Principles; which
are fimply, thoſe of Induſtry and the Love
of Gain.
IN
In the mean Time, we may juftly
conclude from this Argument, that the
exorbitant Trade and Wealth of England
fufficiently account for it's prefent Effemi-
nacy.
SECT. III.
Of the Effects of exorbitant Trade and Wealth,
on the religious Principle.
SUCH therefore are the ruling Manners
which may naturally be expected in a Na-
ion thus circumftanced, unless they be
2
counter-
162
An Eftimate of the Manners
III.
SE C T. counteracted by oppofite Principles: "Tis
now Time to confider the natural Effects
of exorbitant Trade and Wealth, on all
thoſe falutary Principles by which theſe
effeminate Manners can moft effectually
be controuled.
LET us ftill carry the two characteriſtic
States of Holland and England, in our
Eye.
WHETHER, then, we view the com-
mercial State, where the Love of Money
rules; or the mixed State, where vain
Effeminacy predominates; we fhall find
both theſe national Characters have but a
bad Aſpect and Influence on every Kind
of Principle. Let us firſt conſider that of
Religion.
AVARICE
and Principles of the Times.
163
III.
AVARICE feems not, in it's own Nature, s E c T.
prone to deſtroy fpeculative religious Be-
lief; but effectually to extinguiſh active
religious Principle.
It tends not to deftroy fpeculative Be-
lief, becauſe this Effect muſt be a Work
of Application, Time, and Labour: Now
the Labour of Avarice is naturally bent on
it's main Object, Money; therefore, to
waſte this Labour on the Propagation of
the unprofitable and fruitleſs Doctrines of
Irreligion, muſt ever be contrary to it's
ruling Character.
BUT Avarice naturally tends to the De-
ſtruction of active religious Principle; be-
cauſe this is chiefly a Matter of habitual
Impreſſion; and therefore, in order to ac-
compliſh it's Deſtruction, nothing more is
neceffary
164
An Eftimate of the Manners
SEC T.neceffary than to forget. Now this re-
III. quires no pofitive Act or Labour of the
Mind, but is the natural Reſult from an
attentive Purſuit of the favourite Object,
Money.
HENCE, in a mere commercial State,
actuated by the Love of Gain, Religion is
not railed at or difputed againft, but only
neglected and forgot. And thus, the genuine
Trader, who never queſtioned the Articles
of his national Faith at home, fcruples not
to forfwear Christianity, and tread upon
the Croſs in Japan, and returns the fame
good Chriftian as he went.
BUT in the mixed State, where national
Effeminacy forms the primary, and Avarice
only the fecondary Character, the Effects of
exorbitant Trade and Wealth on religious
Principle, will be widely different.
LORD
and Principles of the Times.
165
LORD VERULAM hath fomewhere S E C T.
obferved, that " Times of Atheiſm are civil
"Times." He had been much nearer the
Truth, had he affirmed, that " Civil
«Times are Times of Atheiſm." He
miftook the Cauſe for the Effect.
THIS Effect of national Luxury and Re-\
finement, in producing national Irreligion,
is not difficult to account for. In ſome
Periods of a State, Opinions controul Man-
ners; but in moſt Periods, Manners con-
troul Opinions. Where the ruling Man-
ners coincide with the common Good, as
in the middle Periods of a State, there we
commonly find that a rational and bene-
ficent Syſtem of Religion prevails: This
comes to paſs, becauſe the Principles of
the received Religion contradict not the
ruling Manners.
BUT
III.
166
An Eflimate of the Manners
SECT.
III.
BUT in the State and Period of Luxury
or Refinement, active religious Principle
is loſt thro' the attentive Purſuit of Pleasure;
as in the commercial State, it is loft thro'
the attentive Purfuit of Gain.
AND fpeculative Belief, in this Period,
muſt naturally be loft along with practical;
becauſe Leiſure and Literature having
opened the Field of Difputation, Vice as
well as Virtue will of courſe arm herſelf
with every Weapon of Prefervation and
Offence. Luxury therefore will generally
lift under the Banner of Irreligion; becauſe
Religion condemns her Manners; Irreli-
gion fuffers, or approves them.
To confirm the Truth of this Reaſoning,
we need only obſerve, that in the Period of
refined Luxury, few but they who are in-
volved
and Principles of the Times.
167
volved in the Vices, are involved in the SECT.
Irreligion of the Times.
ONE Exception, however, muft be
made, with Regard to the Writers againſt
Religion. For thefe, though they promote,
yet are not often involved in the common
Degeneracy. This Fact hath been re-
garded as unaccountable: that fober Men of
Morals apparently unblameable, ſhould madly
unhinge the great Principles of Religion and
Society, without any vifible Motive or
Advantage. But by looking a little farther
into human Nature, we fhall eafily refolve
this ſeeming Paradox. Theſe Writers are
generally Men of Speculation and Induſtry ;
and therefore though they give themſelves
up to the Dictates of their ruling Paffion,
yet that ruling Paffion commonly leads to
the Track of abftemious Manners. That
Defire of Distinction and Superiority, ſo na-
I
tural
III.
168
An Eſtimate of the Manners
SEC T.tural to Man, breaks out in a thouſand va→
III. rious and fantaſtic Shapes, and in each of
thefe, according as it is directed, becomes
a Virtue or a Vice. In Times of Luxury and
Diffipation therefore, when every Tenet of
Irreligion is greedily embraced, what Road
to prefent Applause can lie fo open and fecure,
as that of diſgracing religious Belief? Eſpe-
cially, if the Writer help forward the Vices
of the Times, by relaxing Morals, as well as
deftroying Principle. Such a Writer can have
little elſe to do, but to new model the Para-
doxes of ancient Scepticism, in order to figure
it in the World, and be regarded by the Smat-
terers in Literature and Adepts in Folly, as a
Prodigy of Parts and Learning. Thus his
Vanity becomes deeply criminal, and is ex-
ecrated by the Wife and Good, becauſe it is
gratified at theExpence of hisCountry's Wel-
fare. But the Confolation which degenerate
Manners receives from his fatal Tenets, is
repaid
and Principles of the Times.
169
repaid by eager Praife: And Vice impati- s E c T.
ently drinks in and applauds his hoarſe and III.
boding Voice, while like a Raven, he fits
croaking univerfal Death, Defpair, and
Annihilation to the human Kind.
THUS, where Manners and Religion are
oppoſed, nothing is fo natural, as that the
one ſhould bear down the other. If Reli-
gion deſtroy not the ruling Manners, thefe
will gather Strength, and deftroy Reli-
gion.
ESPECIALLY, in a Country where Free-
dom is eſtabliſhed, and Manners loft
through the Exorbitance of Wealth, the
Duration of religious Principle can be but
fhort. Defpotiſm arms itſelf with Terror;
and by checking the open and avowed
Profeffion, checks in a certain Degree the
Progress of Impiety. Whereas it muſt be
M
acknow-
170
An Eſtimate of the Manners
SE C T. acknowledged and lamented, as one of the
III. unalterable Defects of a free Government,
that Opinion muſt have its Courſe. The
Diſeaſe is bad; but the Cure would be fa-
tal. Thus Freedom is compelled to admit
an Enemy, who under the Pretence and
Form of an Ally, often proves her De-
Stroyer.
SECT. IV.
Of the Effects of exorbitant Trade and Wealth
on the Principle of Honour.
In the mixed State, where Luxury and
Effeminacy form the ruling Character of
a People, the Excefs of Trade and Wealth
naturally tends to weaken or deftroy the
Principle of Honour, by fixing the Defire of
Applauſe, and the Fear of Shame, on im-
proper and ridiculous Objects. Inſtead of
the Good of others, or the Happineſs of
the
and Principles of the Times.
171
ст.
the Public, the Object of Purſuit naturallys E C T.
finks into fome unmanly and trifling Cir- IV.
cumftance: The Vanity of Drefs, Enter-
tainments, Equipage, Furniture, of courſe
takes Poffeffion of the Heart.
But in the pure commercial State, where
the Love of Gain predominates among the
higher Ranks, the Defire of Applauſe and
Fear of Shame are not perverted, but extin-
guished. The Luft of Gold fwallows up
every other Paffion: and a Nation of this
Character can without Emotion ſtand the
Laughter and Contempt of Europe, and
fay with the Miſer,
Populus me fibilat; at mihi plaudo
Ipfe Domi, fimulac Nummos contemplor in Area.
In whatever Shape, therefore, the Paffi-
on for Applauſe appear, whether it affume
M 2
the
172
An Eſtimate of the Manners
SECT. the fantaſtic Form of Vanity, the more fo-
IV. lemn one of Pride, or the ſteady and
elevated Defire of rational Efteem; we
<c
fhall find this Exceſs of national Avarice
tends to its Extinction. A great Writer
_indeed hath told us, that “ Vanity creates
Induſtry *;" which is true: Notwith-
ſtanding this, we have feen above, that
Induſtry in the Excefs naturally begets
Avarice; and Avarice in the Excefs works
a total Change in the Soul, and expels that
Vanity which
gave it birth.
THE fame great Writer hath told us,
"that Pride deſtroys Induſtry +;" the
Reverſe of which holds equally true: " that
Induſtry deſtroys Pride": We ſpeak here
of Pride in the blameable Senfe, as when
it rifeth into blind and overbearing Infolence.
6C
* L'Efprit des Loix, 1. xix. 1. 9.
+ Ibid.
Induſtry
and Principles of the Times.
173
IV.
Induſtry in the moderate Degree tends to s E c T.
deſtroy this contemptuous Spirit, by intro-
ducing Knowledge and Equality: and in
this Reſpect, as in moſt others, is attended
with excellent Effects.
BUT the Spirit of Trade in its Exceſs,
by introducing Avarice, deftroys the De-
fire of rational Efteem. In Confirmation
of this, we need only caft our Eyes on the
HOLLANDERS and CHINESE, among whom
the trading Spirit is almoſt in its unmixed
Perfection: The one is the most mercenary,
the other the moſt thieving of all Nations.
SECT. V.
Of their Effects on public Spirit.
THIS Part of our Subject needs little In-
veſtigation. For both in the commercial
M 3
and
174
An Eftimate of the Manners
SECT and mixed State, it appears, that exorbi-
V. tant Trade and Wealth tend naturally to
turn all the Attention of Individuals on
Selfish Gratification.
THEREFORE they muft of courſe gene-
rally tend to deftroy the Principle of pub-
lic Spirit: becauſe this implies, that our
Attention and Regard is turned on others.
In the commercial State, Avarice repre-
fents Wealth, in the mixed State Effemi-
nacy repreſents Pleafure, as the chief Good.
Both theſe Delufions tend to the Extinction
of public Spirit.
THESE Delufions create a new Train of
Wants, Fears, Hopes, and Wiſhes: All
theſe terminating in ſelfiſh Regard, natu-
rally deſtroy every Effort of generous and
public Principle.
SECT.
१
and Principles of the Times.
175
SECT. VI.
Farther Remarks on this Subject.
IN Confequence of thefe Remarks, fome s E c T.
farther Diſtinctions will arife.
THUS, the religious Principle will feem
to exift in the commercial State, where
Avarice forms the national Character; while
in the mixed State where Luxury and Effe-
minacy predominate, it is evidently deſtroy-
ed. The Reaſon is, that in the firſt, al-
though active Principle is loft, fpeculative
Belief is not controverted: Whereas, in
the latter, not only active Principle is loft,
but Religion itſelf (if fuch a State be free)
is publickly infulted and derided. Thus in
Holland, Religion feems yet to exift; while
England it is evidently deftroyed.
M 4
ON
VI.
176
An Eftimate of the Manners
SECT.
VI.
On the contrary, the Principle of Ho-
nour will ſeem to exiſt in the mixed State,
where luxurious Effeminacy forms the pri-
mary Character of the Nation; while in
the commercial State, where Avarice pres
dominates, the Principle is evidently no
more. The Reaſon is, that in the for-
mer, the Love of Applauſe and Fear of
Shame are not wholly deftroyed, but per-
verted, and turned upon unworthy Objects;
while in the latter, the Paffion itſelf is to-
tally extinguiſhed. Thus the faint Appear- -
ance of Honour yet remains in England,
while in Holland it is manifeftly deſtroyed.
BUT as modern Dutch Religion, and
modern English Honour, feem no more
than the Ghoſts of departed Principles, fo
they have preciſely thofe Effects, which
may
and Principles of the Times.
177
may reaſonably be expected from fuch ſha-
dowy Non-Entities.
AGAIN: The Colours or Characters of
Induſtry and Avarice will naturally be
Strong in the commercial State: becauſe,
being almoſt wholly unmixed with Man-
ners of a diffimilar Nature, the ruling Ge-
nius of the State is left uncontrouled, to
its proper Operations and Effects.
BUT in the mixed State, where Indu-
ftry and Love of Gain form the Character
of the Secondary Ranks; Diffipation and
Effeminacy, of the higher; there the two
ſeparate Characters, by the Force of inci-
dental Coalition and Example, will always
influence each other in a certain Degree.
Some ambitious Traders will afpire to lux-
urious Effeminacy: Some, of the higher
Orders, will defcend to Induſtry and Mer-
chandiſe.
E CT.
VI.
178
An Eftimate of the Manners
SECT.chandiſe.
Thus each Rank muſt be tinc-
VI. tured with a Colour different from its own;
and hence, the general Colour or Cha-
racter of each of thefe Ranks, will, in
fome meaſure be controuled and weak-
ened.
THIS Circumſtance is favourable to the
mixed State, beyond that which is purely
commercial; as it checks in a certain De-
gree the Virulence of the Excefs; and pro-
duceth a national Character in ſome Mea-
fure approaching that of more moderate
Trade and Wealth.
HENCE too it follows, that a State purely
commercial, when once arrived at the Pe-
riod of exorbitant Wealth, will naturally
degenerate faster than that which is com-
pounded of Commerce and Luxury. For
whatever Cauſes check the ruling Man-
ners
and Principles of the Times.
179
$
ners in their Degree, will check them in SECT.
their Confequences.
BUT beyond this, there is another Rea-
fon, why the State purely commercial will
degenerate faſter than the mixed State. In
the commercial State, the ruling Manners
go Hand in Hand with the Exorbitance of
Wealth; becauſe the Love of Gain, which
forms the leading Character, being like-
wife the leading Motive, muft be even
prior to this Exorbitance in the Order of
our Ideas; and therefore, in its Effects,
muſt be at leaſt contemporary.
饔
​BUT in the mixed State, there will al-
ways be a fhort Period between the nati-
onal Exorbitance of Wealth, and the nati-
onal Increaſe of luxurious Effeminacy: be-
cauſe Manners, once got into a certain
Track, are not at once thrown out of it;
There
VI.
180
An Eftimate of the Manners
SECT. There muſt be a ſhort Period, before the
VI.
1
leading Parts of the Nation can feel their
Increaſe of Wealth; and after this, ano-
ther Period, before new and more refined
Modes of Pleaſure can be invented.
HENCE a neighbouring Republic ſeems
to have well nigh filled up the Meaſure of
its Iniquities; while ours, as yet, are only
riſing towards the Brim.
LASTLY; though the ruling Manners
of fuch a mixed State are luxurious and
effeminate, yet its public Meaſures will be
commercial. First, becauſe Commerce is
the Hand-Maid of Wealth, and therefore
of Pleaſure. Secondly, becauſe the Idea
of national Strength as well Happineſs be-
ing degenerated into that of Wealth and
external Good, Commerce will above all
Things be naturally encouraged, becauſe it
is the Means of procuring them.
SECT.
#
and Principles of the Times.
181
1
SECT. VII.
A Review of the Argument.
THUS our prefent exorbitant Degree of s E c T.
Trade and Wealth, in a mixed State like VII.
that of England, naturally tends to produce
luxurious and effeminate Manners in the
higher Ranks, together with a general De-
fect of Principle. And as the internal
Strength of a Nation will always depend
chiefly on the Manners and Principles of
it's leading Members, fo theſe effeminate
Manners and this Defect of Principle ope-
rate powerfully, and fatally, on the na-
tional Conduct and Affairs. They have pro-
duced a general Incapacity, have weaken-
ed the national Spirit of Defence, have
heightened the national Difunion: And
this national Difunion, befides it's proper
and immediate Effects, being founded in
Avarice
182
An Eftimate of the Manners
SECT.Avarice for the Ends of Diffipation, hath
VII. again weakened the fmall Remainder of
publick Capacity and Defence; and thus
ſeems to have fitted us for a Prey to the
Infults and Invafions of our most powerful
Enemy.
SECT. VIII.
An Objection confidered.
THƠ' this Eſtimate may appear just to
thoſe who take an enlarged View of Things
in their Principles and Confequences; yet
I am not ignorant of certain Maxims, ge-
nerally approved, and hardly even difputed
among modern Politicians, which if true,
would weaken or overturn theſe accumu-
lated Proofs.
THE capital Maxim, which feems to in-
clude the reft, is this; "That vaſt Trade
" and
and Principles of the Times.
183
" and Wealth, above all things make as EC T.
"Nation powerful and invincible, as they VIII.
"increaſe it's Numbers, enable it to pay
"it's Fleets and Armies, provide conti-
"nual Supplies for War; and thus, in the
<<
End, tire out and defeat every Enemy,
"whofe Wealth and Commerce are in-
"ferior."
THE Examination of this Maxim will
throw many ſtrong collateral Lights upon
our main Subject.
Firſt it affirms, "That Trade and Wealth
"make a Nation ſtrong, becauſe they make
"it populous." This indeed is true of the
firft and ſecond Periods of Trade and
Wealth: That it is true of the third or
highest Period, of which England is now
poffeffed, may very reaſonably be queſti-
oned. In the firſt Period, Induſtry is chiefly
employed
184
An Eftimate of the Manners
SECT.
employed in cultivating the Lands, in en-
VIII. creafing, manufacturing, and exchanging
the Produce of the Mother Country. Theſe
Branches of Trade call for vaft additional
Numbers of Hands; and hence an Increaſe
2
of Numbers naturally ariſeth.
THE fame Effect takes Place in the
fecond Period of Trade; fo far as home
Productions are exchanged for foreign
ones.
This Stage of Commerce brings
on a freſh Demand of Artificers of
new and various Kinds, produces an In-
creaſe of Labour, and therefore of Inha-
bitants.
A
BUT in the third or higheſt Period of
Trade, of which England is now poffeffed,
there are very extenfive Branches of Com-
merce, which bring no new Acceffion of
Numbers to the Commonwealth. I mean,
+
2
all
and Principles of the Times.
185
4
all thoſe Branches of Commerce, where S ECT.
Money is fent and exchanged for foreign
Goods. This Species of Trade occaſions
little Increaſe of Labour, and therefore leſs
of Numbers; except only of thoſe few who
navigate the Veffels thus employed, to
their reſpective Ports. And as this kind of
Trade will always grow and predominate,
in proportion as a Nation becomes more
luxurious and effeminate, fo for this Rea-
fon the higheſt Stage of Trade is not natu-
rally attended with the higheſt Increaſe of
Labour, nor confequently of Numbers, as is
commonly imagined. Beſides this, in the
refined Period, additional Art and Ex-
perience in Labour prevent, in fome Mea-
fure, the Increaſe of Numbers. By the
Invention of Machines, an equal Degree
both of Tillage and Trade is carried on by
fewer Hands, than in the fimpler Periods;
and therefore the Increaſe of Numbers is
N
by
VIII.
186
An Eftimate of the Manners
SECT. by no means proportional to the Increaſe
VIII. of Commerce and Wealth.
BUT theſe are far from being the only
Confiderations worth our Notice on this
Subject. For when we ſpeak of any Stage
of Trade, we muſt in Reaſon take in every
Circumſtance which naturally attends it.
There are other Cauſes, therefore, why
Numbers increaſe not, but rather naturally
diminish, in the higheft Period of Trade
and Wealth.
For first, the Vanity and Effeminacy
which this exorbitant Pitch of Wealth
brings on, leffens the Defire of Mar-
riage.
Secondly, the Intemperance and Diſeaſe
which this Period of Trade naturally pro-
duceth among the lower Ranks in great
Cities,
and Principles of the Times.
187
Cities, bring on in fome Degree an Im-s E c T.
potence of Propagation.
Thirdly, This Debility is always attended
with a Shortneſs of Life, both in the Pa-
rents and the Offspring; and therefore a
ftill farther Diminution of Numbers fol-
lows on the whole.
MATTER of Fact confirms theſe Rea-
fonings; and lies open to every Man's Ob-
fervation. Since the first Increaſe of Til-
lage and Home-manufactures, the Increaſe
of Inhabitants hath been great in England:
Since the vaſt Increaſe of foreign Com-
merce, the Increaſe of Numbers is hardly
perceivable. Nay, there is great Reaſon
to believe, that upon the whole, the Nation
is lefs populous than it was fifty Years
ago, tho' it's Trade perhaps is doubled.
Some trading Towns indeed are better
peopled,
N 2
VIII.
188
An Eftimate of the Manners
SECT. peopled, but others are thinned by the
VIII. Flux of Commerce. The Metropolis
feems to augment in its Dimenſions: But
it appears, by the beft Calculations, that
it's Numbers are diminiſhed: And as tò
the Villages thro' England, there is great
Reaſon to believe, they are in general
at a Stand, and many of them thinner
of Inhabitants than in the Beginning of
this Century. "Tis hard to obtain Cer-
tainty in this Particular, without a ge-
neral Examination and Compariſon.
it appears by the Regiſters of fome Coun-
try Pariſhes, which I have looked into,
that from the Year 1550 to 1710, the
Number of Inhabitants increaſed gra-
dually; the two Extremes being to each
other, as 57 to 72; and that from 1710
to the preſent Time, the Number has
been at a Stand, if not rather dimi-
niſhed.
But
BUT
and Principles of the Times.
189
BUT ſuppoſe, what there is no Reaſons E C T.
to believe, that our prefent Excefs of VIII.
Trade and Overflow of Wealth have in
ſome Degree increaſed our Numbers, yet
it will probably appear, that they have
as much, at leaſt, impaired our bodily
Strength. For as Temperance is the rul-
ing Character of the middle Stage of
Commerce, fo is Intemperance of the
higheſt. Hence, Health and Strength
prevail in the firft; Diſeaſe and Debility in
the latter. This is univerfally confirmed
by Fact: Villages abounding with Health;
commercial Cities with Diſeaſe. So that
an Army taken from the Villages, with
equal Commanders, Arms, and Diſcipline,
would drive the fame Number of debili-
tated Gin-drinkers, like a Flock of Geefe
before them.
+
N 3
THE
190
An Eſtimate of the Manners
SECT. THE Author of the Fable of the Bees
VIII. made his Boaſt, that the Wiſdom of the
Legiſlature had, upon his Plan, adopted
the Encouragement of this pernicious Li-
quid: But the fame Wiſdom hath upon
Trial been obliged to difcourage the Uſe of
this malignant Spirit; as they found that
it ruined the Health, and ſhortened the
Lives, of half the lower Ranks in London.
AND all good Men hope, that the Time
will come, when this infernal Potion will
be laid under fuch Difcouragements, as
may amount to a general Prohibition. The
Neceffity of ſuch a Reformation grows
greater every Day, not only in London, but
throughout the Kingdom. For in ſome
Villages in England there is now a greater
Quantity of Gin confumed than of Ale.
BUT
and Principles of the Times.
191
BUT to quit theſe inferior Confidera- s E c T.
tions, tho' they all unite in confirming the VIII.
Theory here advanced; the Weight of the
Reply lies indeed in another Circumſtance:
For altho' we ſhould admit (what is not
true) that our preſent Exorbitance of Trade
and Wealth increaſed our Numbers and
bodily Force, yet as the real and effen-
tial Strength of a Nation confifts in the
Manners and Principles of it's leading Part;
and as our preſent Exceſs of Trade and
Wealth hath produced fuch fatal Effects
on theſe Manners and Principles; no In-
creaſe of Numbers in the inferior Ranks
can poffibly make Amends for this internal
and capital Defect. Such a Nation can, at
beſt, only reſemble a large Body, actuated
(yet hardly actuated) by an incapable, a
vain, a daſtardly, and effeminate Soul.
N 4
BUT
192
An Eftimate of the Manners
SECT.
BUT the Maxim we are engaged to ob-
VIII. viate, aliedges farther, that " This exor-
bitant Increaſe of Trade and Wealth
"enables a Nation to pay it's Fleets and
and Armies, and afford continual Sup-
}
66
,&c
plies for War." Yet, even this Part of
the Maxim, in it's modern Acceptation,
is far beyond the Truth.
FOR under the prefent Stage of Trade,
the Increaſe of Wealth is by no means
equally or proportionally diffufed: The
Trader reaps the main Profit: after
him, the Landlord, in a lower Degree:
But the common Artificer, and ſtill more
the common Labourer, gain little or no-
thing by the exorbitant Advance of Trade:
It is true, their Wages are increaſed; but
fo are the Prices of Provifions too: and
therefore they are no richer than before.
Now
and Principles of the Times.
193
VIII.
Now Taxes and public Supplies are raiſed s E c T.
upon the Confumer: and as it appears
from hence, that only a few of the Con-
fumers are made richer by the Exorbitance
of Trade, it follows, that not the Nation
in general, but a felect Number of Indi-
viduals only, are made more capable of
contributing to thofe Supplies, which are
levied without Diftinction on the whole.
Would they who reap the plenteous Harveft
of foreign Trade, generously allot their
proportional and extraordinary Gains to the
Service of the Public, we ſhould then indeed
be furniſhed with a new Argument in Fa-
vour of Commerce in it's higheſt Pitch.
FARTHER: As the labouring Ranks are
little or nothing enriched by the exorbitant
Degree of Trade, fo it often happens that
even the higher Ranks, and the Nation in
general, are not more, nay perhaps leſs en-
abled
194
An Eftimate of the Manners
SEC T.abled to contribute to the public Supplies,
VIII. than when poffeffed of Wealth in a more
moderate Degree. For we have ſeen, in
the Progreſs of this Eſtimate, that the na-
tural Effect of an Increaſe of Wealth,
is an Increaſe of Luxury, Vanity, and Ex-
pence; which, if it outrun the Increaſe of
Wealth, as in it's Nature it tends to do,
inſtead of Riches will bring on public Por-
verty. For the Ability or Wealth of a
People, confidered in their Capacity for
raiſing Supplies, confifts not in the Large-
neſs of their Income, but in the Proportion
of their Expences to their Income: It
confiſts not in" what they have," but
" what they can Spare?" Hence it ap-
pears, that a Nation may be at once very
rich, and very poor; rich in Income, but
poor thro' Extravagance. And as national
Extravagance is the natural Effect of an
Overflow of Wealth, ſo national Indigence
is
and Principles of the Times.
195
VIII.
is it's moſt natural and final Confequence. S E C T.
How far this is our preſent Situation, can
hardly be neceffary to affirm.
To this Argument it may poffibly be
objected, that if great Wealth is but
among us, new Impofts will naturally
force it into Circulation: That the more
the Artificers and Labourers are taxed,
the more their Wages will increaſe, and
conſequently their Ability to bear the in-
creafing Taxes: And that as to the higher
Ranks, exorbitant Wealth enables them
ftill better to endure additional Impoſts,
becauſe theſe deprive the Great of nothing
but the Superfluities of Vanity and Luxury.
To this it is replied, that in Cafe of
additional Taxes, tho' the Poor must indeed
increaſe their Wages in order to fubfift,
yet this Increaſe never takes Place, till
they
196
An Eſtimate of the Manners
SECT. they are compelled by the laft Neceffity
VIII. and Want: The natural Confequence of
which must be Murmurs, Sedition, and
Tumults. With Regard to the higher
Ranks, a parallel Reply may fuffice: For
in the refined Period, when Manners and
Principles are loft, the Luxuries of Life
become Neceffaries among the Great ;and
therefore will be as obftinately adhered to,
and quitted with the fame Reluctance, as
Food and Cloathing by the Poor. The
Confequence therefore must be the fame;
a general Diſcontent and Difaffection to
the Government, among the higher Ranks
of Life.
Is not all this confirmed by evident
Facts? There is at preſent in this Nation,
a Maſs of Wealth at leaft twelve Times
more than the public Debt: Yet we are
reduced to the fad Neceffity of plunging
deeper
and Principles of the Times.
197
}
deeper every Day. What is the Reaſon ?S E C T.
No Miniſtry dares to provoke and exaſperate VIII.
a luxurious and ſelfiſh Nation, by demand-
ing fuch Sums, as every one has the Power,
had he but the Will, to beftow.
BUT beyond all this, will any Man of
Senfe affert, that the Circumſtance of pay-
ing an Army or a Fleet, is the one thing that
will decide a War? 'Tis true, indeed, Pro-
vifions, Arms, Ammunition are neceffary;
and therefore Wealth, becauſe it procures
them. But will a General or Admiral
therefore gain the Victory, only becauſe his
Men are furniſhed with Provifions, Arms,
and Ammunition? If not, what can Trade
or Wealth do, towards making a Nation vic-
torious? Again, therefore, let me remind
my Countrymen, that the capital Queftion
ftill remains, not " who fhall pay," but
"who ſhall fight?”
THERE
198
An Eftimate of the Manners
VIII.
SECT. THERE is a trite Obſervation on Foot,
indeed, drawn from the beſt political Wri-
ters ill underſtood, that "the Principles of
"War are wholly changed; and that not
"the Nation who has the beſt Troops, but
"the longeſt Purfe, will in the End ob-
"tain the Victory." This, in the mo-
dern Application of it, is a, moſt dan-
gerous Maxim.
It naturally tends to
extinguiſh military Skill, as well as Hon-
our: and will inevitably fink the People
that maintains it, into a Nation of defenſe-
lefs and Money-getting Cowards.
IT muſt be confeffed that Doctor DA-
VENANT, the moſt able Writer on theſe
Subjects, hath affirmed, "That now, the
"whole Art of War is in a Manner re-
"duced to Money; and now-a-days, that
« Prince who can beft find Money to
"feed
and Principles of the Times.
199
"feed, cloath, and pay his Army, not s E c T.
"he that hath the moft valiant Troops, VIII.
" is fureft of Succefs and Conqueſt*."
This Declaration, which is now ftolen
and retailed for new, by every modern Dab-
ler in Politics, has had the ufual Fortune of
theſe kind of Thefts, to be miſunderſtood:
as may appear from the general Tenor of
the Doctor's Writings. To fhew this, two
Inſtances, out of many may fuffice. Even
when ſpeaking on the Benefits of foreign
Trade, he warns us, as if he had foreſeen
all that has befallen, or is likely to befall us.
For he fays, " If a trading and rich People
"are grown foft and luxurious, their
"Wealth will invite over to them Invaders
" from Abroad, and their being effeminate
"will make the Conqueft eafy +." And
cr
*Ways and Means, p. 27. † Dav. on Trade,
v. ii. p. 13.
again,
200
An Eftimate of the Manners
(C
SECT. again, in Terms yet ftronger: « In fuc-
VIII. ceeding Times our Manners may come
"to be depraved; and when this happens,
"all Sorts of Miferies will invade us:
«The whole Wealth of the Kingdom
"will not be fufficient for it's Defence*.
"
THUS, what he and other fenfible
Writers have affirmed under proper Re-
ftrictions, and upon Suppofition that a
Nation maintained it's Manners and Prin-
ciples, is now advanced abſolutely, and
without Reſtriction, as if Manners and
Principles, military and naval Skill and
Courage, had no Part, or at leaſt no effen-
tial Part, in the Succeſs of War.
THESE fhallow Politicians, therefore,
might well be put in Mind of the Maxim-
of a warlike Prince, when his Minifters
* Ibid. p. 317.
diffuaded
and Principles of the Times.
201
diffuaded him from attacking a wealthy S E C T.
Enemy, becauſe he wanted Money to pay
his Troops:
<c
••
My Enemies, faid he, are
rich, luxurious, and effeminate; my
Troops are valiant and hardy; my Offi-
"cers brave and honourable; they ſhall
plant my
my Standard in
in my Enemy's
Country, and then my Enemy fhall pay
" them."
<<
cr
We have lately feen this military Con-
duct followed by a brave King, in the Elec-
torate of Saxony: We ourfelves have for-
merly purſued it on the Plains of Agin-
court and Creffi: The French are now pur-
fuing it on the Plains of America: And if
we hold to our daftardly Maxim, they
will purſue it on the Plains of Saliſbury.
THUS the boaſted modern Maxim which
we propoſed to obviate, ſeems void of
Truth
O
VIII.
202
An Eftimate of the Manners
SECT. Truth in every Branch of it: As it appears
VIII. from this View, that without the internal
Strength which Manners and Principles
produce, the moſt exorbitant Trade and
Wealth can never be the Foundation of a
fucceſsful War; or give us any rational
Profpect, either of Victory or Self-De-
fence.
SECT. IX.
Another Objection confidered.
SUCH then are the natural Effects of ex-
orbitant Trade and. Wealth, unleſs coun-
teracted by oppofite Manners or Principles.
The Hiftory of our own Nation would
confirm theſe Truths in a moft ftriking
and particular Manner, were it within the
propoſed Limits of this Eſtimate, to enter
fo large a Field of Enquiry. We ſhould
there fee, that Manners and Principles
I
have
and Principles of the Times.
203
IX.
have always prevailed, and baffled the moft s E c T.
fanguine Attempts of Wealth, when fet
in Competition with them. This Syſtem
would be found fupported by a vaſt Va-
riety of Events, from the Reign of Eliza-
beth to the preſent Times. But this might
perhaps be regarded as a Reſearch rather
curious than neceffary; fince a ſingle Re-
flection on the preſent State of the King-
dom may feem to ftand in the Place of a
thouſand Proofs.
AT prefent, therefore, we fhall not
touch on this Enquiry; but rather proceed
to remove another Objection, which may
ſeem to overturn the Theory here propoſed.
FOR it is urged, that France is an Ex-
ception to the Truth of thefe Remarks:
inaſmuch as, in the midst of a large and
extenſive Commerce, which brings in a
O 2
vaft
204
An Eſtimate of the Manners
SECT. vaft Acceffion of Wealth, fhe ftill retains
IX. her Principles and Power.
THE Fact objected is true: but the
Confequence follows not; becauſe the
Trade of France is limited and controuled
by fuch Accidents, as prevent it's moſt
dangerous and ruinous Effects on Govern-
ment.
THE Poverty of its Nobleſſe or leading
Ranks, who are often poffeffed of found-
ing Titles without any Realities annexed,
as it prevents them from reaping that In-
creaſe of Wealth which naturally arifeth to
a rich Landed Gentry from an Increaſe of
Commerce, fo it naturally drives them to
the Profeffion of Arms, as the neceſſary
Means of Support: This ftrengthens and
fupports their Monarchy; which, finding
it's Advantage from this Difpofition to
Arms,
and Principles of the Times.
205
Arms, naturally gratifies this military Spi- s E c T.
rit in it's Nobleſſe, and gives it Exerciſe and IX.
Encouragement by frequent Wars.
HENCE the national Spirit of the French
Nobleſſe hath long been military, in the
higheſt Degree.
WITH Regard to Commerce, it's Growth
in France hath been but late: Meeting
therefore with this eſtabliſhed Spirit of
Arms in the leading Ranks, it hath not as
yet been able to controul it. Commerce
indeed is encouraged; but fo encouraged,
as not to deftroy the leading Principle of
their Monarchy. To this End, the Ranks
of the Kingdom are kept effentially diſtin-
guiſhed; and while the People are allured
to Trade by every Kind of Motive, the
Nobleſſe or Gentry are, in Honour, prohi-
bited from Commerce. It was indeed
formerly
0 3
206
An Eftimate of the Manners
SECT. formerly propofed in France, that the
IX. Nobleſſe ſhould be drawn down to Trade:
But, whether thro' deep and confummate
Policy, or thro' the Principle of Honour
itſelf, working blindly for it's own Prefer-
vation, the dangerous Propofal was weakly
or wifely rejected. Whenever this Over-
ture meets with Acceptance and Succeſs,
tho' it may ſeem for a while to give Vigour
to their State, yet from that Period we
may date the Downfall of France. Their
effeminate Manners, now controuled by
Oeconomy and the Love of Glory, will, like
ours, degenerate into Profufion and the
Love of Gold.
On the contrary; Trade, tho' encouraged,
is by the ruling Principle of this great Mo-
narchy, kept within it's proper Limits;
and while the Merchant traverſeth Seas in
Purſuit of Gain, the Gentleman does the
fame
and Principles of the Times.
207
fame in Purſuit of Glory. Thus the two s E CT.
incompatible Provinces are kept diftinct; Ix.
and hence, while the French vie with us
in Trade, they tour above us in Principle.
NAY their very trading Settlements
among foreign Nations are actuated by
this ruling Principle in fuch a Manner, as
to give a Splendor to their Monarchy and
Commerce in the moft barbarous Cli-
mates*. Thus, while we are poorly in-
fluenced by a forry and mercantile Maxim,
* Numerous Proofs might be given of this: At
prefent it may fuffice to take one from a very fine
Book lately publiſhed. "It is uſual among the
"French of Alexandria to fhew an extreme Refpect
" for their Conful. In order to make him more
"confiderable in the Eyes of the Turks, and of the
"other Nations, they endeavour to give an high
"Idea of his Perfon, and to illuftrate his Birth in
"fuch a Manner, that it is not their Fault, if he is
"not confidered as iffued from the Blood Royal. If
04
firft
208
An Eftimate of the Manners
IX.
re
SECT. firſt broached by a trading Miniſter, "that the
Intereft of a Nation is it's truef Honour;"
the French conduct themſelves on an oppo-.
fite and higher Principle, "that the Ho-
"nour of a Nation is its trueft Intereft."
IN Confirmation of what is here ad-
vanced, we need only caft our Eyes on the
Fortune and Fate of France, during the
preſent Century. In the laſt War, fhe was
exhauſted, tho' victorious: In the former,
fhe was both beaten and exhaufted: In
both theſe Inſtances, it was weakly thought
by every fuperficial Politician in England,
that becauſe we had exhauſted the Men
..
" by Chance he take a Tour to Rofetto, he carries a
"white Flag at the Maft of his Pinnace; and when
" he goes out of the Port, as likewife when he re-
"turns into it, he is faluted by a general Diſcharge
❝of the Cannon of the French Veffels." NORDEN'S
Travels in Egypt and Nubia, Vol. i. p. 29.
and
and Principles of the Times.
209
and Money, we had deſtroyed the Powers E C T.
of France. Experience hath told us the IX.
Reverſe: The Spirit of Honour and Union
working at the Root, foon reſtored thoſe
Branches that War had fwept away, and
have at length ſhot them into their former
Vigour and Luxuriancy.
· HENCE then, we may learn an impor-
tant Truth: "That no incidental Events
"can make a Nation little, while the Prin-
❝ciples remain that made it great."
SECT. X.
The Conclufion.
FROM thefe accumulated Proofs, then,
it ſeems evident, that our preſent effeminate
Manners and Defect of Principle have
arifen from our exorbitant Trade and
Wealth, left without Check, to their na-
tural
210
An Eftimate of the Manners
SECT.
tural Operations and uncontrouled Influ-
X. ence. And that theſe Manners, and this
Defect of Principle, by weakening or de-
ftroying the national Capacity, Spirit of
Defence, and Union, have produced fuch
a general Debility as naturally leads to De-
ftruction.
a
1
We might now proceed to confirm theſe
Reaſonings, by Examples drawn from
Hiſtory. For there is hardly an ancient or
modern State of any Note recorded in
Story, which would not in one Reſpect or
other, confirm the leading Principles on
which this Argument is built.
IN thefe, throughout their feveral
Periods, we fhould fee. Trade and
Wealth, or (what is in this refpect
equivalent) Conquest and Opulence, taking
their Progreſs: At one Period, polifhing
and
}
and Principles of the Times.
211
X.
and ftrengthening; at another, refin- s E c T.
ing, corrupting, weakening, deftroying,
the State that gave them Entrance:
Working indeed in different Ways, and
under a Variety of Appearances; by Ava-
rice, by Faction, by Effeminacy, by Pro-
fligacy; by a Mixture and Combination of
all theſe Evils: fometimes dividing a Na-
tion againſt itſelf; at others, quelling it's
Spirit, and leaving it an eafy Prey to the
firft Invader: Sometimes checked by a
rifing Patriot, or counterworked by national
Misfortunes: In one Country corrupting
Manners; in another, Principles; in a :
third, both Manners and Principles: ren-
dering one People blind, another cowardly,
another treacherous to itſelf: Stealing fe-
cretly and infenfibly on one Nation; over-
whelming another in fudden Deſtruc-
tion.
BUT
212
An Eftimate of the Manners
SECT.
X.
BUT to enlarge on thefe Subjects in that
vague and undiſtinguiſhing Manner, which
moſt Writers have purſued in treating them,
tho' it might carry the Appearance of Rea-
foning, would in Truth be no more than
Declamation in Difguife. And to develope
and unravel the Particularity of Cauſes and
Effects, thro' all their Variety of Combina-
tion and mutual Influence, as it would ex-
tend this Eſtimate beyond it's defigned
Limits, muſt be left to make a Part of
fome future Enquiry.
THE Character, Effects, and Sources of
our Manners and Principles, being thus laid
open, the Writer had it in his Thoughts
to have proceeded to the Confideration of
"their most practicable Remedies." But as
the Cloſet-Projects of retired and ſpecu-
lative Men, often are, and always are re-
garded,
and Principles of the Times.
213
garded, as chimerical; he was therefore un-s E C T.
willing, at preſent, to hazard the Diſcredit
of fuch an Attempt.
HOWEVER, left his Attempt ſhould be
deemed more vifionary than perhaps it is,
he judged it not improper to hint at fome
of the leading Principles on which it is
built. And with this View, the following
Reflections are fubmitted to the Confide-
ration of the Public.
THE World has been long amufed with
a trite and hacknied Compariſon between
the Life of Man, and that of States; in
which it is pretended that they both pro-
ceed in the fame irrevocable Manner;
from Infancy to Maturity, from Maturity
to Death: A Comparifon, perhaps as
groundleſs as it is common. The human
Body contains, in its very Texture, the
Seeds
X.
214
An Eftimate of the Manners
SECT.
X.
Seeds of certain Diffolution.
That is,
tho' you fet afide all the poffible Accidents
arifing from Intemperance, from the In-
fluence of the Elements, the Climate, and
every other external and contingent Cauſe,
the human Frame itſelf, after a certain
Period, would grow into Rigidity; the
Fluids would decreaſe, the Solids accumu-
late, the Arteries offify, the Blood ſtagnate,
and the Wheels of Life ftand ſtill.
BUT in Societies, of whatever Kind,
there ſeems no fuch neceffary or effential
Tendency to Diffolution. The human
Body is naturally mortal; the political,
only fo by Accident: Internal Diſorders or
Diſeaſes may ariſe; External Violence may
attack or overpower: but theſe Cauſes,
tho' always to be expected, are wholly in-
cidental: the firſt is preciſely of the ſame
Nature as Intemperance, the fecond as
the
and Principles of the Times.
215
the Influence of the external Elements, on SECT.
the human Body. But there appears no- X.
thing in the internal Conſtruction of any
State, that tends inevitably to Diffolution,
analagous to thoſe Caufes in the human
Frame, which lead to certain Death.
THIS Obſervation feems confirmed by
Hiſtory: Where you fee States, which,
after being funk in Corruption and Debility,
have been brought back to the Vigour of
their firſt Principles: But you muſt have
recourſe to Fables, for medicated Old Age,
reſtored to Infancy or Youth.
If this be true, it ſeems not altogether
chimerical, tho' confeffedly difficult, to
bring about the Reformation of a State:
To lay down general Rules, in fuch a Cafe,
would be like giving a Panacea; the very
Empiri-
216
An Eftimate of the Manners
SECT. Empiricifm of Politics. The Remedies
muſt be fuited to the Diſeaſe.
X.
We have ſeen, that the ruling Evils of
our Age and Nation have arifen from the
unheeded Confequences of our Trade and
Wealth. That theſe have produced
effeminate Manners, and occafioned Loís
of Principle: That theſe have brought on
a national Debility. But would the lef
fening this exorbitant Trade and Wealth
bring back Manners and Principles, and
reſtore the Nation's Strength? -
I very
much Queſtion the Event.
BUT whatever the Confequences might
be at Home, thofe Abroad would certainly be
fatal. The French are every Day gain-
ing upon us in Commerce; and if ours
fhould leffen, theirs would increaſe to our
Deſtruction.
THUS
and Principles of the Times.
217
X.
THUS are we fallen into a kind of Di- SECT.
lemma: If our Commerce be maintained
or increaſed, its Effects bid fair to deſtroy
us: If Commerce be diſcouraged and lef-
fened, the growing Power of our Enemy
threatens the ſame Confequence.
THERE feems, then, no other Expe-
dient than this, "That Commerce and
"Wealth be not difcouraged in their
"Growth; but checked and controuled in
" their Effects."
AND even in attempting this, Care must
be had, left in controuling the Effects of
Commerce, we fhould deftroy Commerce
itſelf.
WE ſee how ſtrongly the natural Effects
of Trade and Wealth, are controuled in
P
France
218
An Eftimate of the Manners
X.
SECT. France, by proper Checks and counteract-
ing Principles: Yet mere Imitation is
always a narrow, and often an effectual
Scheme. Beſides, as our Conſtitution is
of a fuperior Nature, ſo our Manners and
Principles muſt be adapted to it, ere it can
obtain it's proper Strength.
THE Virtues yet left among us, and
enumerated above*, may be a poffible
Foundation for fuch a Change.
THERE are two different Kinds of Re-
medies, which might in due Time be ap-
plied. The firſt are radical, general, and
lafting: The latter, palliative, particular,
and temporary.
THE firſt ſeem totally impracticable at
preſent: For as they ſuppoſe a Change of
* See Part I. Sect. 2, 3, 4.
Manners
and Principles of the Times.
219
X.
Manners and Principles, this may juftly be s E c T.
regarded as an impoffible Event, during the
preſent Age; and rather to be wiſhed than
hoped for, in the next.
THE palliative, particular, and tempo-
rary Remedies, may feem more practicable
at this Juncture. I mean, thoſe which are
of the coercive Kind; which work by
oppoſed Paffions, or by deftroying the
Opportunities or Occafions of Evil.
Where the ruling Miſchiefs lie among the
People, theſe Remedies, with proper Care,
may eaſily be adminiſtered. Thus we
have lately feen the ſalutary Effects of a
new Kind of Police, eſtabliſhed by a uſe-
ful Magiftrate in the City of London; by
which, the reigning Evil of Street-Robberies
hath been almoſt wholly fuppreffed; altho
we may reaſonably ſuppoſe, the Diſpoſition
towards them remains as ftrong as ever.
P 2
BUT
220
An Eftimate of the Manners
SECT.
X.
1
•
But where the ruling Miſchief defolates
the Great, there, even the palliative Re-
medies cannot eafily be applied: The Rea-
fon is manifeft: A coercive Power is
wanting: They who fhould cure the Evil
are the very Delinquents: And moral of
political Phyſic is what no diftempered
Mind will ever adminiſter to itſelf.
NECESSITY therefore, and Neceffity
alone, muft in fuch a Caſe be the Parent of
Reformation. So long as degenerate and
unprincipled Manners can fupport them-
felves, they will be deaf to Reaſon, blind
to Confequences, and obftinate in the
long eſtabliſhed Purſuit of Gain and Plea-
fure. In fuch Minds, the Idea of a Public
has no Place; and therefore can never be
a Curb to private Gratification: Nor can
fuch Minds be ever awakened from their
fatal
and Principles of the Times.
221
<
fatal Dream, till either the Voice of an SECT.
abuſed People roufe them into Fear; or x.
the State itſelf totter, thro' the general
Incapacity, Cowardice, and Difunion of
thoſe who ſhould ſupport it.
WHENEVER this compelling Power,
Neceffity, fhall appear; then, and not till
then, may we hope that our Deliverance is
at hand. Effeminacy, Rapacity, and
Faction, will then be ready to reſign the
Reins they would now ufurp: One com-
mon Danger will create, one common In-
tereſt: Virtue may rife on the Ruins of
Corruption; and a deſpairing Nation yet
be faved, by the Wiſdom, the Integrity,
and unſhaken Courage, of SOME GREAT
MINISTER.
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