LORD SHAFTESBURY. I CANNOT tell what may be the opinion of others, but ignorance and barbarity feem to me to be the parents of the moft and the worst vices. Conceit, pride, bigotry, infolence, ferocity, cruelty, are the native product of the human mind, kept uncultivated. Self-love, which makes fo predominant a part in the conftitution of man, that fome fufferers by its exceffes have mistaken it for the fole fpring of all his actions, naturally engenders thefe vices, when no care is taken. to control its operations by another principle. ON this account, wife men have had recourfe to various expedients; fuch as the provifion of Laws; the culture of Arts and Letters; and, in general, all that discipline which comes under the notion of early tutorage and education. But none of thefe has been found fo ef fectual fectual to the end in view, or is fo immediately directed to the purpofe of enlarging the mind and curing it, at once, of all its obftinate and malignant prejudices, as a knowledge of the world, acquired in the way of fociety, and general converfation, To fay nothing of the folitary fequeftered life, which all men agree to term Savage, look only on thofe fmaller knots and fraternities of men, which meet together in our provincial towns and cities, and, without any larger commerce, are confined within the narrow enclosure of their own walls or diftricts. In as much as this condition is more focial than the other, it is, without doubt, more eligible. Yet fee how many weak views are entertained by thefe feparate clans, how many fond conceits, and over-weening fancies! The world feems to them fhrunk up into their own private circle; juft as the heavens appear appear to children to be contained within the limits of their own horizon. EXTEND this prospect of mankind to still greater combinations, to states, kingdoms, nations, and what we call a whole people. By this freer intercourfe, indeed, their thoughts take a larger range, and their minds open to more generous and manly conceptions. Yet their native barbarifm fticks close to them, and requires to be loosened and worn off by a more focial habit, by the experience of a ftill wider and more thorough communication. Tribes of men, although very numerous, yet, if fhut up within one territory, and held closely together under the influence of the fame political conftitution, eafily affimilate, as it were; run into the fame common fentiments and opinions; and prefently take, in the whole extent of their community, one uniform prevailing character. HENCE, HENCE, the neceffity of their still looking beyond their own, into other combinations and focieties; that fo, as the mind ftrengthens by this exercife, they may be enabled to shake off their local, as we may fay, and territorial prejudices. THOSE other focieties may not be without their defects, which it will be equally proper to keep clear of. But, by this free profpect of the differences fubfifting between different nations, each naturally gets quit of his own peculiar and characteristic vices; and thofe of others, prefenting themfelves to our unbiaffed obfervation, are not fo readily entertained, or do not cling fo faft to us, as what have grown up with us and, by long unqueftioned use, are become, as we well exprefs it, a fecond nature. THUS, THUS, by this near approach and attrition, as it were, of each other, our rude parts give way; our rough corners are infenfibly worn off; and we are polished by degrees into a general and univerfal humanity : EXTERNI nequid valeat per læve morari, to use the poet's words, though with some fmall difference, I believe, in their ap plication. WHAT fays my friend to these princi ples? are they just and reasonable? or, am I going to build on precarious and infecure foundations? MR. LOCKE. WHATEVER defect there may be in this foundation, your Lordship, as a wife architect, is for fparing no coft or pains in providing for its ftability. Yet, methinks, you go deeper for it, than you need. At least I did not expect your defence of Travelling would require you to |