[MARCH Fast lock'd in sleep's embrace, I dreamt a upon the ignorance of the common dream, The Pilgrim's journey was the fruitful the methodists prohibit reasoning. people; the papists prohibit reading, theme. I thought I saw him in a certain place, &c." "Great Beclzebub, the captain of this fiend, rage, That hellish was, did fiercely me engage, But blessed Michael helped me, and I, &c " But can it be believed? These literary gentlemen have set up a kind of learned tribunal? Mr. Clayton, junior, under the idea of mentioning such books as may be read, offers a kind of index expurgatorius of such as may not. had a set of idle monks and strolling The papists of the unenlightened ages mendicants, to whom they were obliged for promoting their notions. sionaries and mendicants, sermoniThe methodists employ ignorant miszers, singers, and sellers of hymns and other nostrums. Of their blaspiety, and their opinions derogatory phemous notions, their shocking imboth to God and man, we may treat at another season. It is sufficient to add that, though the author of the Hints has been the first to expose the whole system, others who have gone The author of the Hints, &c. ob- selves in the parts they have taken. before have equally acquitted themserves, "the evangelical fraternity, Of the respectability of method though they rail with such rancour ists and methodist preachers, or raagainst all reviews not attached to ther the gifts and talents of the rabble their interest, take care to review sanctioned by the higher orders of their own writings with abundant these Evangelicals, some opinion may approbation." The Eclectic Review be formed, from the following exwas instituted for that purpose. The tract from p. 44 of the Rise and Dispompous eulogium pronounced upon solution of the Infidel Societies, Lonit by Mr. Clayton, jun. in his Associ- don, 1800:ation Sermon, is written in a tone of arrogance truly ludicrous, &c." He proceeds: the learned editor of the Evangelical Magazine has shewn the public how well qualified he is to decide and dictate in the republic of letters. In the last number of this renowned work, he expresses some doubt respecting the faith due to a literary discovery announced in the Marseilles Gazette, Oct. 20th; and winding up his detail, he exclaims, with all the poignancy of classical It is afterwards observed, "The scepticism, Credat Judeas Appel- incalculably rapid increase of these les! This immortal painter is here, locusts, and the obloquy of their franfor the first time, ranked with the tic demeanor, ignorance, and vulga sons of circumcision -the Jew Ap- rity, entailed upon true religion and pelles!!! The author of the Hints the respectable part of the clergy, renjustly observes, that the Latin and der the interference of the legislature the logic of the editor of the Evange- indispensably necessary." lical Magazine may pass muster with dlesex magistrate, but a short time the readers of John Bunyan and the before, it seems, had some difficulty Village Sermons. in rejecting the application of a mean "In terms uncouth and mystic phrase they rave, Of saving faith, and faith that cannot save; You'd swear so lond their rant, and so Bedlam, or Babel's workinen, were let loose." A Mid Hitherto we have only noticed the despicable wretch for a license, who, offences of these Evangelic anti-mo- upon being questioned what proralists so far as they militate against fession he followed, proved to be a good sense, good morals, and good bellows-blower to a forge, and was so manners. These methodists, it must shockingly illiterate that he could not be admitted, strongly resemble the even tell the letters of the alphabet. unreformed papists of the dark ages, The following list was subjoined of because both of them depend so much persons who had recently obtained The author then reverts to the notorious good fortune of a ci-devant coalheaver preacher in this metropolis, notorious for no qualification upon earth but consummate impudence and incorrigible ignorance, &c. upon this volume has been postthe intervention of temporary subponed longer than we intended: but consideration, prevented us from re jects, that seemed to require a prompt curring to it earlier. PART THE SECOND, which relates to the manners and customs of the But as we have been thus lavish American Indians, is a mere compiupon the disease, we cannot conclude lation from other authors, in which without hinting a remedy which, Mr. Heriot can claim no other merit we think, cannot be disagreeable to than that of having selected with inthe learned and judicious of every dustry. It is, too, a strange and besect and party. With the author of the Hints, we revere too much terogeneous jumble of manners and customs, soils and countries, rivers the private liberty of individuals, and and trees, beasts and birds. We susthat spirit of toleration which per- pect that it was compiled in the true vades and presides over our constitu- spirit of modern book-making. All tion, to wish that error of any kind that Mr. H. had to say from himself should be opposed by any other resistance than argument or any other was comprized in about two hundred weapon than reason." But to the Pages; but this would have been a thin quarto, which not being faqualification of a licence so easy to shionable, three hundred additional be obtained, as to render it almost ridiculous, we would add that of pages were added of whatever could be found that was relevant to the obliging these ministers of the New subject. Yet, such is the interest Testament to be able to read it in the that we must take in our fellow creaoriginal, and grammatically construe tures, this very part is the most interthe Greek into English, before comesting of the volume: it exposes to petent judges. our view, mankind in a state of exEvery protestant preacher in France istence foreign to our habitual knowis now obliged, by law, to undergo ledge: we behold customs apparenta course of education; and in Eng- ly singular, ferocious, or fantastical, land we are certain that the adoption which are however only such from of a similar plan would soon reduce novelty; and we see the human the ranks of the intinerants in the pro- heart actuated by the same principles portion of nineteen out of every in all its grand and decided emotions. twenty, and eventually procure a He who, in the intemperance of his partial reformation, both in church vanity, is moved to despise the Indian and state, without a shadow of perse savage should cast an eye of sober reflection upon his own actions, and he will feel that the primal character is common to both, but a little diversified in appearance. cution. TRAVELS through the CANADAS, con- when the empty effervescence of fop- as at page 317, when he speaks of the pery subsided, there remained, and still infancy of the dawning mind." &c. remains, men of sound and healthful &c. minds, who saw in his opinions While on the subject of the errors enough to admire, and more than of this volume, we will just advert to enough to extenuate his wildest reve- one or two instances of splendid rearies. Those who have censured him soning, at which, indeed, Mr. Heriot have generally misconceived him; seems an adept. It has puzzled more they have maintained the superiority acute sophists than our author to disof civilized over uncivilized life, by play the benefits of war yet, his ar supposing a man degraded from the guments upon the question are quite former to the latter; but Rousseau original. War he allows to be an thought abstractedly; and imagining evil, and yet it has advantages, which a human being born into a state of said advantages are, that it calls the savage independence, he believed that "most powerful energies of the soul he was born to a happier lot than he into action;" and that in the recital of who was littered in the hot-bed of so- these energies, "the poet hath made ciety. Of the truth of this, dispas- his verse to glow with more impassionately speaking, there is, perhaps, sioned warmth"-- the painter too, little room to doubt; for if independ- "hath displayed the noblest efforts ence be, under any shape, a blessing, of his genius and skill" upon these surely it is most so, when most per- energies; "and history too hath fect and it is the most perfect when unfolded them to posterity."—And it renders us the most an individual lo! this is all. being. Would we have a roof to But Mr. H. displays more acumen shelter us? We must depend for it when he tell us, that if certain saupon a multitude of beings; but the vages are so fortunate as to escape the American Indian carries with him natural infirmities to which they are large rolls of the bark of the birch subject, and "other evils," why then tree, and forms the frames of his ca--what then? oh! you can never hin of wattles, or twigs stuck into the guess it: Mr. Heriot must tell youearth in a circular figure, and united "they arrive at an advanced period near their upper extremities. Upon of life."!! Cedite Romani Scriptores, the outside of this frame, the bark is Cedite Graii! unrolled, and thus affords shelter from rain, and from the influence of the sun." p. 283. When he wishes to change his abode, it is the occupation of a few moments, and he again rears his fabric where inclination or necessity leads him. This alone is perfect freedom; but let us not wander into theories, when our business is to criticise the book. : Let us now turn to something better. The following is curious: "It has already been remarked, that among associations, which have made but little advancement in the arts of life, the condition of women is servile and degraded. The men alone may be said to be properly free, and the women, invested with the most laborious and domestic employ Mr. Heriot is not willing to leave ments, are almost universally their any thing untold which he has it in slaves. In the women, notwithstandhis power to tell for instance, he in- ing, the property of the tribe, the dis forms us at page 294, that the Gauls tinction of blood, the order of genera wore long hair, and that their terri- tion, and the preservation of lineal tory was thence called Gallia Comata descent, are, by several of the northern and at page 295, that the Swabians tribes, reputed to be inherent. In are a people of Germany! Mirabile them is vested the foundation of all dictu! At page 303 too, we are carefully told, that the Chipeweigan Indians give no quarter; from which circum stance he afterwards sagaciously infers, that "they spare none of the enemy:"But we have more instances of similar elegant pleonasms; ral authority. They give efficiency to the councils, are the arbiters of peace or war, and the keepers of the public stock. The country, the fields, and their produce, belong to them alone. It is to their disposal that the captive slaves are committed. The rearing and educating infants to a cer- relative proportions of age between tain age, is their peculiar province; themselves and the persons whom they they are consulted in all marriages, accost. and in their blood is founded the order of succession. sex. 44 "The practice of marrying a plurality of wives, is more generally pre"The men, on the contrary, seem valent among the natives of the southto form a distinct class amongst them- ern, than among those of the more selves; their children are strangers to northern parts of America: The Huthem, and when they die, every thing rons and the Iroquois restrict themthey possessed is destroyed, or is depo- selves to one wife; and what appears sited with their bodies in the tomb. singular, polygamy, which is not perThe family and its privileges remain mitted to the men, is extended to the with the women. If males only are women among the Tsonnonthouans, left in a family, and should their num- where many instances occur of one ber, and that of their nearest male re- female having two husbands." latives be ever so great, the race beThere are some features which are comes nominally extinct. Although common to all rude and ferocious naby custom the leaders are chosen from tions. The ancient Spartans destroyainong the men, and the affairs which ed all weakly or deformed children, concern the tribe are settled by a that were born so; and in some parts council of ancients, it would yet seem of South America, if women sustain that they only represented the women, the pains of labour without fortitude, and assisted in the discussion of sub- they destroy the offspring, lest it jects which principally related to that should receive any of its mother's weakness, and thus degenerate from Among the Iroquois, marriages the courage of its ancestors. The are formed in such a manner, that the same rigour also is practised towards parties leave not their relatives and those that are deformed, and the motheir cabin to have a separate dwell- ther is frequently sacrificed with the ing and family, but each remains as child. before, and the children produced Fashion (which is only another from the inarriage, belonging to the name for custom) is every thing: yet mother, are accounted solely of her it would be long ere we should find a cabin or family. The property of the beauty, like the Caraibs, in flattened husband is kept apart from that of the foreheads sunk behind the eye-brows. wife, and the females inherit in pre- The children are not born in this ference to the males. The considera- state, but the head of the infant is tion of the children being dependant compressed into this shape, by placing entirely upon the mother, and form- upon its brow a piece of board tied ing the future hope of the nation, was with a bandage, which is allowed to the real cause, among many tribes, of remain until the bones have acquired the women having in a political sense, consistence. It ever afterwards reacquired a degree of consequence su- tains its flatness in such a degree, that perior to that of their husbands. Like without raising or bending back the the Lycians, the Iroquois and Hurons head, the eyes may be directed to obtake their family names from the wo- jects perpendicularly above them." men, who alone are charged with pre- The corporeal superiority of a saserving the race of their ancestors, by vage is well known, for being called transmission to their children, of the upon incessantly to exert every bodily name born by themselves. When a faculty, he acquires a degree of exwarrior dies, the appellation by which cellence approaching to the wondistinguished is buried in his derful. grave, and is not renewed until the 46 he was lapse of several years. The savages in addressing each other, seldom make use of their adopted name. They apply even to strangers the titles of kin died, such as brother, sister, uncle, ne phew, and cousin, observing the distinctions of subordination, and the They enjoy, in a superior degree to Europeans, the perfection of the senses. In spite of the snow which dazzles their sight, and the smoke in which they are involved for nearly six months of the year, their organs of vision remain to a great age, unim paired. They possess an acuteness of hearing, and a sense of smelling, so an evil omen, and deep affliction was strong, that they can ascertain their testified by the priests. As a substi distance from fire, long before the tute for the celestial fire, the effect smoke becomes visible. Their olfac- was produced by the friction of two tory nerves are so exquisite, that they pieces of hard wood." cannot suffer the smell of musk, or of We shall extract but one more pasany strong perfume. They assert, sage from this volume, and the reader, that they find no odour agreeable but as he peruses it, will at once admire that of food. Their imagination is the lofty heroism of the savage, and powerful and just. It is sufficient for shudder at the idea of suffering nature them to have been once in a place, to which is presented to his mind. form a correct idea of it, which ap- "The government of the natives of pears never to be effaced. They tra- Guaiana was monarchial, there being verse, without deviating from their only one chief to whom they yielded course, the vast and unfrequented fo- obedience. This personage was usu rests. In the most cloudy and obscure ally elected from among the most exweather, they will for many days fol perienced of the nation, being requir low the course of the sun, without be ed to possess, not only the ordinary ing misled; the most perfect quadrant qualities of courage, patience, acticannot give more certain information vity, and strength, but an intimate of the course of this luminary, than knowledge of the country, and of the they are able to do by looking at the roads which led to the surrounding heavens. They seem to be born with nations. He was obliged, during nine a talent, which is neither the result of months, to observe a rigorous fast, experience nor observation. Chil- during which, his daily sustenance dren, when they depart from their vil- was no more than an handful of millage to perform their first journey, let. To carry enormous burthens, preserve the same undeviating course and to stand as sentry at night, was as they who have repeatedly traversed another part of his duty. Detachthe whole country." ments were sent on discovery, upon Those of our readers who may whose return, he set out, and endea have seen the tragi-comic-operatic voured to trace their footsteps to the spectacle of Pizarro, and admired the utmost extent of their route, without sudden whizzing of the fire that darts any previous information respecting down to the accompaniment of a the direction in which they had proclap of thunder, during the sacrifice ceeded. To accustom himself to pa in the second act, may not be dis- tience under sufferings, he remained pleased to know why and wherefore" of the business. for a considerable time buried as far as the middle in hillocks, formed and "The month of June was the pe- inhabited by the large ground ants, riod at which the great festival of the whose bite induces a fever to Eurosun was held, and on this occasion a peans. When he was thought to be large vessel of gold was by the Inca sufficiently tried in this manner, the consecrated to his honour. The cere- whole nation assembled, and went in mony was opened with sacrifices, in quest of the intended chief, who con which it was not lawful to employ any cealed himself under the leaves of fire but such as could be derived from trees, to indicate his averson to the ho the sun; and for this purpose the nour which was destined him, or as an priest caught his rays in a small con- emblem of his being elevated from a cave vessel, whose surface was smooth low station, to be placed in the highest and polished. The converging rays estate. Each of the assistants advanc were thrown upon some cotton, which ed in the attitude of dancing, and was thereby ignited, and applied for placed his foot on the head of the cankindling the great fires for burning didate for sovereignty, who being af the oblations. A portion of this fire terwards raised from his posture of was afterwards conveyed to the tem- prostration, all the assembly knelt be ple of the sun, where it was carefully fore him, and placed their bows and preserved all the year. If, on the day arrows at his feet. The chief, in his of the festival, the sun was ob- turn, successively raised his foot upon scured by clouds, it was considered as the head of each individual present, |
