manners and more refined moral tafte; and i f ever the bulk of the nation-,,.
or part of it, or even- only individuals-can difpel the-prejudices
furrounding their minds, and conquer the paffions which influence
their w ills ,- they are fure to aft- according to the diftates of
their confidence, which is in that cafe common fenje - relative to
morals, and the voice o f the divinity ftrongly admonishing them of
their duty; they then become feniihle, that- the. aftions of' men
living in a fociety, are by no means indifferent to the community^,
but that every individual is accountable for them to his fellow
creatures. Upon the whole, though the- aftions- o f thefe happy
people generally have a tendency to humanity and benevolence,
they are actuated in feme meafure by a-fpirit of-felfifhnefs, the.
great root o f corruption, and are therefore fimilar in that refpeft
to the reft of mankind; wRofe aftions are a compound of-a felfifh and.
humane, benevolent behaviour; which is made uft o f according,
as prejudices, national charafter, and other circumftances' prompt
them to follow either the one or the other impulfe: and- even,
when felfifhnefs carried away their defires, to covet for inftance,.
the iron-ware, which- we had; and induced one or more of,
them to purloin a nail or knife or feme fuch trifle, they- were
however, not fe abfolutely loft to all moral fenfe, as- not* to ihew
by their immediate flight, that they had wronged u s : nay, often ,
feme o f the natives, who were either attached to us from principles
o f
eft gratitude,, or had a more generous and liberal way of thinking,
and entertained ftrifter notions- o f morality,, warned us againft
feme perfons" whom they faw in the croud prefling officioufly upon
us, or. whom, they hadfeen once fruftrated in their, attempts upon
our pockets; which at leaft proves fe much, that though feme,
were now and. then tempted to aft. .contrary to the iinpulfe of
confidence on account, o f an irrefiftible temptation, fuggefting for
a.moment the principles o f felfiftmefs, there were however others,,
who. afted ftriftly conformable to the diftates- o f morality ; and
even the criminals themfeives were not without remorfe,; or infenr
Able that their, aftion was punifhable, being, wrong, | and- that we
were able. to. call them, to a ftrift account-for it, and retaliate the
wrongs they had-been committing againft us. .1 cannot leave this
fubjeft. without mentioning that I found immorality and.felfifhnefs;
far more prevailing among the great and'the very lo.weft, than
among the middle ranks o f people. King; O -T o o with his After
Tourai, being once on a vifit to Captain Cook, were introduced
into his ftate-room, where conftantly a quantity of ironrware lay
expofed, in order to. have as much o f it ready,, as was-required
for the trade which was conftantly. carried on. The Captain and I
[ were the only perfons. who were with them.. Captain, Cook was
called out by the officer on deck upon feme bufinefs that admitted
no delay, he therefore defired. me to ftay with the - royal,family.
The.
MANNERS