the Romans, were equally remarkable for both. Patriotism, a vigorous principle among the English, makes them extremely averse to naturalize foreigners. The inhabitants of New Zealand, both men and women, appear to be of a mild and gentle difpofition: they treat one another with affection; but are implacable to their enemies, and never give quarter. It is even customary among them to eat the flesh of their enemies. To a perfon of humanity, the scene here exhibited is far from being agreeable. Man, it may be thought, is of all animals the most barbarous; for even animals of prey are innoxious with respect to their own kind *. Averfion to ftrangers makes * “ Denique cætera animantia in fuo genere pro"be degunt: congregari videmus et ftare contra "diffimilia: leonum feritas inter fe non dimicat: 66 ferpentum morfus non petit ferpentes; ne maris "quidem bellus ac pifces, nifi in diverfa genera, "fæviunt. At, Hercule, homini plurima ex ho"mine funt mala." Pliny, lib. 7. Prooemium. [În English thus: "For other animals live at peace with "thofe of their fpecies. They gather themfelves in troops, and unite against the common enemy. "The ferocious lion fights not against his fpecies: "the poifonous ferpent is harmless to his kind: the "monsters a a branch of our nature: it exists among individuals in private life: it flames high between neighbouring tribes; and is vi fible even in infancy. Can fuch perverfity of difpofition promote any good end? This question, which pierces deep into human nature, is reserved to close the present fketch. From the foregoing deduction, univerfal benevolence, inculcated by feveral writers as a moral duty, is discovered to have no foundation in the nature of man. Our appetite for fociety is limited, and our duty must be limited in proportion. But of this more directly when the principles of morality are taken under confideration. We are taught by the great Newton, that attraction and repulfion in matter, are, by alteration of circumstances, converted one into the other. This holds alfo in affection and averfion, which may be termed, not improperly, mental attraction and repulfion. Two nations, originally "monsters of the fea prey but on thofe fishes that "differ from them in nature: man alone of animals is foe to man!"] ftrangers to each other, may, by commerce or other favourable circumftance, become fo well acquainted, as to change from averfion to affection. The oppofite manners of a capital and of a countrytown, afford a good illustration. In the latter, people, occupied with their domeftic concerns, are in a manner ftrangers to each other a degree of averfion prevails, which gives birth to envy and detraction, In the former, a court and public amufements, promote general acquaintance: repulfion yields to attraction, and people become fond to affociate with their equals, The union of two tribes into one, is another circumstance that converts repulfion into attraction. Such converfion, however, is far from being inftantaneous ; witness the different small states of Spain, which were not united in affection for many years after they were united under one monarch; and this was alfo the cafe of the two kingdoms of England and Scotland. In fome circumftances the converfion is inftantaneous; as where a stranger becomes an object of pity or of gratitude. Many low perfons in Britain contributed cheerfully for maintaining fome French French feamen, made prifoners at the commencement of the late war. It is no lefs inftantaneous, when ftrangers, relying on our humanity, trust themselves in our hands. Among the ancients, it was hospitality to strangers only, that produced mutual affection and gratitude : Glaucus and Diomede were of different countries. Hofpitality to ftrangers, is a pregnant fymptom of improving manners. Cæfar, fpeaking of the Germans (a), fays, Hofpites violare, fas non putant: qui, quaqua de caufa, ad eos venerunt, ab "injuria prohibent, fanctofque habent; "iis omnium domus patent, victufque communicatur *" The ancient Spaniards were fond of war, and cruel to their enemies; but in peace, they paffed their time in finging and dancing, and were remarkably hofpitable to the strangers who came among them. It fhews great refinement in the Celtæ, that the killing a stranger was capital, when the killing a citizen * "They hold it facrilege to injure a stranger. "They protect from outrage, and venerate thofe "who come among them: their houfes are open to them, and they are welcome to their tables.” (e) Lib. 6. c. 23. de bello Gallico. was was banishment only (a). The Circaffians, defcribed by Bell of Antrimony as barbarians, are hofpitable. If even an enemy put himself under the protection of any of them, he is fecure. The Swedes and Goths were eminently hofpitable to strangers; as indeed were all the northern nations of Europe (b). The negroes of Fouli, are celebrated by travellers for the same quality. The native Brazilians are fingularly hofpitable: a ftranger no fooner arrives among them, than he is furrounded by women, who wash his feet, and set before him to eat the best things they have: if he have occafion to go more than once to the fame village, the perfon whose guest he was, takes it much amifs if he think of changing his lodging. There are caufes that for a time fufpend enmity between neighbouring states. The fmall states of Greece, among whom war never ceafed, frequently fmothered their enmity to join against the formidable monarch of Perfia, There are alfo caufes that fufpend for a time all animofity between factions in the fame ftate. The fac (a) Nicolaus Damafcenus. |