an interest in the general welfare, and contributed their respective fhares of intelligence

and fagacity to aid plans that embraced important objects, relative to the common good. Every day called forth fome new expedient, in which the comfort or advantage of the whole was implicated; for there were no degrees but thofe affigned to worth and intellect. This fingular community feemed to have a common stock, not only of fufferings and enjoyments, but of information and ideas; fome pre-eminence, in point of knowledge and abilities, there certainly was, yet thofe who poffeffed it feemed fcarcely confcious of their fuperiority; the daily occafions which called forth the exertions of mind, fharpened fagacity, and ftrengthened character; avarice and vanity were there confined to very narrow limits; of money there was little; and drefs was, though in fome inftances valuable, very plain, and not fubject to the caprice of fashion. The wolves, the bears, and the enraged or intoxicated favages, that always hung threatening on their bounda ries, made them more and more endeared с б

to

to each other. In this calm infancy of fociety, the rigours of law flept, because the fury of turbulent paffions had not awakened it. Fashion, that capricious tyrant over adult communities, had not erected her standard; that ftandard, to which the looks, the language, the very opinions of her fubjects must be adjusted. Yet no perfon appeared uncouth, or ill bred, because there was no accomplished ftandard of comparison. They viewed no fuperior with fear or envy; and treated no inferior with contempt or cruelty; fervility and infolence were thus equally unknown: perhaps they were lefs folicitous either to please or to fhine than the members of more polished focieties; because, in the first place, they had no motive either to dazzle or deceive; and in the next, had they attempted it, they felt there was no affuming a character with fuccefs, where their native one was so well known. Their manners, if not elegant and polifhed, were at least easy and independent: the conftant efforts neceffary to extend their commercial and agricultural poffeffions, prevented indolence; and

in

industry was the certain path to plenty. Surrounded on all fides by thofe whom the least inftance of fraud, infolence, or grafp. ing meanness, would have rendered irreconcileable enemies, they were at first obliged to" affume a virtue if they had it not ;" and every circumftance that renders virtue habitual, may be accounted a happy one. I may be told that the virtues I describe were chiefly thofe of fituation. I acknowledge it. It is no more to be expected that this equality, fimplicity, and moderation, fhould continue in a more advanced state of society, than that the fublime tranquillity, and dewy freshness, which adds a nameless charm to the face of nature, in the dawn of a fummer morning, fhould continue all day. Before increased wealth and extended territory; thefe "waffel days" quickly receded; yet it is pleafing to indulge the remembrance of a spot, where peace and felicity, the refult of moral excellence, dwelt undisturbed, for, alas! hardly for a century.

CHAP

CHAP. V.

State of Religion among the Settlers.-Inftruction of Children devolved on Females-to whom the Charge of Gardening, &c. was also committed.-Sketch of the State of the Society at New York.

I MUST finish this general outline, by faying fomething of that religion which gave ftability and effect to the virtues of this infant fociety. Their religion, then, like their original national character, had in it little of fervour or enthufiafm: their manner of performing religious duties was regular and decent, but calm, and to more ardent imaginations might appear mechanical. None ever doubled of the great truths of revelation, yet few feemed to dwell on the refult with that lively delight which devotion produces in minds of keener fenfibility. If their piety, however, was without enthufiafm, it was also without bigotry they wished others to think as

they

they did, without fhewing rancour or contempt towards those who did not. In many individuals, whofe lives feemed governed by the principles of religion, the spirit of devotion feemed to be quiefcent in the heart, and to break forth in exigencies; yet that monster in nature, an impious woman, was never heard of among them.

Indeed it was on the females that the talk of religious inftruction generally devolved; and in all cafes where the heart is interested, whoever teaches, at the fame time learns.

Before I quit this fubject, I must obferve a fingular coincidence; not only the training of children, but of plants, fuch as needed peculiar care or fkill to rear them, was the female province. Every one in town or country had a garden; but all the more hardy plants grew in the field, in rows, amidst the hills, as they were called, of Indian corn. These lofty plants sheltered them from the fun, while the fame hoeing ferved for both: there cabbages, potatoes, and other efculent roots, with variety of

gourds,