p r o g r e s s fifbordination'take-place. They think themfelves happy, n a y ,
vASias happier than the heft regulated'nation, and every individual of them
is--fo perfectly-contented with his condition, that not even.a with
is left in his breaftfor the lead: alteration. *
But a mind accuflomed to meditation, and able'to affix to every
thing its true-value, mull certainly perceive, that this lituation
o f :the favage. or barbarian, is nothing more than a date *>f:'intoxication
j rhis faappinefs and contentment founded on mere fenfuality,
is tranfitory and delufive-; .the fum .of all his -enjoyments. is To
fmall, To defectivein its particulars, and o f fo little value, that
a man in his Tenfes. cannot hut think, himfelf happy-that he was
born in a civilized nation, educated in a country -where fociety is
as much, improved as is poffible; -that he belongs to a people who
are governed. hy:the. mildeft laws, and have the happieffconflitution
o f government, being .under-the influence o f .civil and religious
liberty.
■ If therefore .the happinefs o f the fayage is not fo eligible, as-
fome philofophers w ill make us believe, who never viewed mankind
in
Thisis applicable to the favagCs of 'Tierra del F-uego, -and the barbarians of New.
Zeeland : but the inhabitants c f O-Taheitee and the Society Ifles, are beyond this flate.
'None of the fitft two races of men, upon-the offer being made to them, fhewefd any defire
<o go with us to our own country-; and there are• already feven or eight inflances, to my
knowledge, of pcrfons from the latter ifles, who willingly offered to go with us to
Europe.
3 ° 3
iis this debafed fituation; it is. certainly the wifh of humanity, 'and progress
n 1 ' -k ; j 0P''s a -’ 1
of real goodnefs, to fee all thefe nations brought nearer toamore VAGl;s
improved, more civilized, and' more happy Hate, without. the ■
addition o f thofe evils, which abufes, luxury and vice have introduced
among our focieties. Human nature is capable o f great
improvements, i f men only knew how' to proceed in order to
effectuate this great and noble purpofe. The greater part o f them
are too unreafonable in their wifhes, too rapid 'and violent in their
proceedings, and too fanguine in their expectations.-' They wifh this
ehange fhould take place immediately, their methods ; for bringing;
it about are contrary to human nature, and fometimes they overlook.
the progrefs-of improvement, becaufe" if- is flow. I f We
confider the progrefs-of man-.as an individual, from birth to manhood,
t we find it very flow and gradual,, though, ever fo muck
care be taken to improve-the body, as well as the intellectual and
the moral faculties, and to'inftill early-into the mind the feeds--
of focial virtue. W e can never pafs over the years o f childhood;:
and youth, and make infants men; not even by the mod acCom-
plifhed education. Thus likewife,. the approach towards civilization,
mud be left-to time j--it is a work: o f ages to bring the mind
of a whole nation to. maturity. Nor can it be forced or accelerated
by the belt inftruCtions.. F rom animality: nations ripen into -./images
from this ftate they enter into that of Barbxitifm,. before! they, are
o capable