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refinement in manners are incompatible, an error which a short visit to the United States is sufficient to dissipate.

Perhaps I cannot more strikingly illustrate the effects of their politeness in conjunction with other good and amiable qualities, than by adding, that on taking leave of many of them, I felt a wish arise in my heart, that our acquaintance might be renewed in a higher and better state of existence. I remember that on one such occasion, Addison's Vision of Mirza occurred to my recollection, particularly the part where the Genius asks Mirza, if the habitations he had viewed were not objects worthy of his ambition. My heart responded, that the hope of enjoying everlasting happiness with some of the characters I have mentioned, was indeed a sufficient stimulus to become a candidate for the favour of Heaven.

M

CHAPTER XII.

RELIGION.

THE importance of religion in civil society is too great not to demand great attention. No people, except perhaps the savages of Australia, have ever existed uninfluenced by religion of some kind. The characters of nations have been changed by it, and its revolutions have been as great as those of governments. America, its effects, though similar to those it has produced in England, are not so exactly correspondent as to be passed over unnoticed.

In

Assemblies of almost every denomination of Christians exist in the United States, generally in harmony. No religion being in alliance with the gvernment, one great cause of jealousy and dislike is removed. No large endowments being in possession of any denomination, and the incomes of the clergy being regulated in nearly all cases by their congregations, but little disparity of station in society exists amongst them. Hence the proud, consequential air so obvious in some of the English clergy, is seldom or neNor is there much appearance of dif

ver seen.

ferencé in dress between the clergy and the laity. Except that black is a more prevalent colour among the former than the latter, I observed nothing by way of distinction. Yet though

without a badge to impress the populace with the opinion of sanctity, without gilded chariots to loll in, without the prospect of obtaining rich sinecures to operate as a stimulus, they have great influence. The rivalship between the different sects, instead of producing a constant jar as might be supposed, seems to be productive of a decent observance of religious duties amongst all classes. In few countries, if any, is public worship more generally attended than in the United States. Instances of openly avowed deism are rare. Persons who hold deistical opinions generally either keep them to themselves, or veil them under the garb of flimsy hypocrisy. I recollect only two persons of all with whom I conversed on religion, who unhesitatingly proclaimed their disbelief in Christianity; though I met with several whom I suspected to be concealed deists. In many parts a man's reputation would be seriously injured if he were to avow himself one.

But though instances of avowed deism are rare, a strong deistical feeling is apparent in the

opposition made to missionary societies. Those societies have certainly deputed persons to the task of heathen conversion, who, in many instances, have been as little qualified for the duty as Robespierre to establish liberty. But because some of their agents have acted improperly, sometimes manifesting undue presumption, sometimes interfering too much with political affairs, and on most occasions evincing fanaticism, are we to infer that no good has resulted from their labours? Far otherwise: but the American opponents of those societies have endeavoured to persuade the public that evil, without any redeeming qualities, has been the result. On examining some of the numerous pamphlets on missionary societies, I was struck by observing that the opposition to them was not founded on a well grounded jealousy of the cause of Christ being injured, but in a concealed hatred to vital Christianity. Yet neither their labours against missions, nor against Christianity itself (which though concealed, are still apparent), have had the effect of withdrawing public support from them: still less, of inducing a neglect of public worship, or a contempt for the prac tisers of it.

From these circumstances, those persons who

suppose that a compulsory provision for the clergy is necessary to the support of Christianity, may see the groundlessness of their opinions. They may also learn that ecclesiastical authority may be maintained without an alliance with the State, in matters purely ecclesiastical. Prelacy, both Protestant and Catholic, is established in America; and though with respect to the latter, it has been found defective on one or two occasions, that is no more than has been the case in England and Ireland with the Established Church. So long as Virginia continued a British colony, the episcopal clergy were supported by tithes, or rather by a smaller provision of the same nature. In whom the superior authority was lodged I cannot state, there being no bishop in the colony. But I was assured by many persons that they were exceedingly lax in morals, and negligent of their duties; so much so indeed, that their Church sunk into disgrace from which it has not yet fully emerged. After the alliance with government was broken, an amendment was soon perceptible; a convincing proof of the inutility of the alliance. Another point of importance proved by the experience of America is, that edifices for public worship will be built and kept in repair, without any rate being levied on the inhabitants. Not only so, many

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