Jan. 1796. AN ESSAY ON BIGOTRY "In philofophy and religion, the bigots of all parties are generally the moft pofitive." 師 WATTS. AS the following fentiments on Bi- rooted up, or it will quickly ruin all gotry, have no relation to one party or the good productions of the foil where It will eat out the heart of fet of opinions more than to another, it grows. I hope they will not be unacceptable religion, and the heart of the country a mifcellany which promifes impar- too, if it be not timely checked and tiality; and I trust they will be found destroyed. It is vicious in its whole not ill calculated to fhow, what it is nature, and in all its caufes and convery seceffary to be acquainted with, fequences. It is unmanly, for men that there is a much greater degree of to fhut their eyes against the light, and try in men's minds than they are follow others who are in the dark. aware of. They neglect the noblest gift of God, Bigotry is an exceffive fondness for and the best power of their nature; what 1 man's own fentiments, or for any fet is most effential to a rational creature, ef opinions, which he stands up for with to think for himfelf, and fee with his more conceit and zeal than the reafon own eyes, and judge according to the It is unand importance of them require. It is beft information he can get. ufed by French writers to fignify hypo- genteel; for a bigot is always pofitive, crify and fuperftition, to falfe fhow of and apt to be out of temper, rude and zeal, and fondness for little things. It troublefome. Upon the principle of commonly respects matters of religion, efpecially the outward circumstances and minuter appendages of it; and may indifferently relate to what is right or wrong: for an unreasonable and difproportionate zeal in a right way, partakes of the nature of this vice, as well as It is any lower degrees in a wrong. fometimes extended to other matters befides religion. There is bigotry in politics, in philofophy, a common life: the former confifts of an adherence to peculiar opinions; the latter is an affectation of fingularity. an obftinate adherence to a man's own fentiments, right or wrong, it is impoffible to keep up mutual civility and decorum. One man has the fame right to infift as another; and, upon this fupposition, neither muft yield or gire way. Nor is it lefs unchriftian; for nothing is more oppofite to the fpirit of Chriftianity, which is all kindness and goodness, infpiring the most gracious fentiments of mind, and promoting the good of others. Wherever this hu mour prevails, there is commonly a great defect of zeal for more important It weakens a due regard to Bigotry is often conftitutional, and arifes from an unhappy temper or make things. of mind; or from pride and conceit of the greatest matters of importance, by little ourfelves, over-rating our understand- dividing it among a great many ings, and making them the measure of ones, as the cutting a river into many truth and standard to other men; or channels, weakens its force, and makes from selfishness of mind, an over care it run fhallow. It is unphilofophical; . for our own interefts, and unconcern for it fhuts our eyes against further light, and difregard for the welfare of others. and confines us to prefent attainments. Sometimes bigotry proceeds from pre- It is a ftrong prejudice in our minds ajudices of education, or the tincture we gainft new difcoveries, or impartial inreceive from the moft early impref- quiry, and cramps all improvements fions. Sometimes, it may be traced to a progrefs in any kind of knowledge; the converfation of others, efpecially of one fort of men. Bigotry is a weed which must be VOL. LIX. befide that it endangers men's running into the contrary extreme: for when once men come to fee themfelves in an D crror, error, and find they were blinded and from a false shame, which prevents them deceived in a favourite opinion, and from condefcending to be fet right. which they were taught to think im- A fecond remedy for bigotry would portant, they will be very likely to run to the other extreme, or distrust every thing for the future, The following confiderations may, if duly attended to, have the effect of foftening this unfriendly temper of mind. And firft, we ought to reflect, that the wifeft of us are as fallible as the weakeft; that we are naturally prone to error; and that he who confides most in his own ftrength and attainments, is frequently the foremost to run into errors and abfurdities. It may not be amifs, alfo, to confider, that there are very few opinions of mere human invention which have stood the test of time, that the human mind is daily acquiring new light; that frequently the opinions which we efpoufed with warmth and eagerness when young, have been rejected by us, upon maturer experience. with contempt, be to reflect, that, after all the pains we We are apt, especially in youth, to prejudge an opinion, and to wish it to be true, before we know that it is fo. This may be owing, either to our taking a too fuperficial view of it, or to our having been deceived by the artful representations of others. It is aftonishing how many people there are who content themselves with opinions at fecond-hand; who, in reading the works of a man who has a name in the world, are charmed with his ftyle, perfuaded by his arguments, and fubfcribe to his opinions, without giving themselves time to examine whether the foundations, upon which he has built fo fine a fuperftructure, are found. The exclamation is, that is "charming, beautiful, fublime !" but we seldom hear the question, "Is this true? Are these facts? Is there no exaggeration, no mifrepresentation!" In this loofe way men borrow the opinions of others, and deal them out with warmth and obtinacy too great for oppofition. To be contradicted, is deemed an infult; and they are content to continue wrong, It Having become thoroughly fenfible of our own fallibility, we shall know how to make allowances for the failings of others. We fhall think it even a duty to addrefs them in the language of mildnefs and forbearance; and however forcibly we may perceive their error, and however abfurd it may appear to though his change of opinion be from real conviction," from a conviction he has come honestly by." us, we shall not upbraid their ignorance, brand each other with fome nickname, nor defpife their flow advances, but implying every thing that is bad. The content oarfelves with expreffing a hope affociations of men to fupport certain that more mature deliberation will im- principles, have appeared to me in a part to them that conviction which we light, in which perhaps they are not geonce required ourselves. Nor fhall we nerally viewed; and I mention it with be irritated at their warmth, when we diffidence. It appears to me as if they recollect that, fo oppofed, we should wished to fupport their principles by ourfelves have been once as violent and the tumultuous approbation of numbers, overbearing. Far lefs fhall we defcend rather than by thofe cool arguments to that lowest species of all bigotry, the which are fooner investigated in the clocalling of names, and returning evil fet than in the tavern. One evil cerfor evil. Antagonists of this defcrip- tainly flows from them; when a man tion ought not to write; they ought not who has haftily adopted, that is, fubto pollute the schools of literature. fcribed to fuch principles, becomes, on Their proper weapon is the cudgel, and farther examination, doubtful of their their proper place the bear-garden. foundness, he is apt to be branded by There will be no difficulty whatever the opprobrious name of Apoftate, alin bearing with the failings of others, when we have learned that we ourselves are fallible. This, therefore, is the firft confideration in point of importance. Once attained, all the reft becomes easy. The mind is quiet and tranquil, the temper moderate, and its fruits are "meeknefs, gentlenefs, long-fuffering." Another cure for bigotry depends on the felection of our company. This requires a free converfation with men of different forts, and not confining our friendship and confidence to thofe of any one party; but converfing freely with men of capacity and integrity in the feveral perfuafions among us. This would infallibly open and enlarge the mind, refcue us from abundance of prejudices, and difpofe us to enlarged and generous thoughts. Those who are confined to one fet of men, generally come into the world with a ftingy narrownefs, and intemperate heat. To fuch, promifcuous converfation will be useful, by making them fee lefs reafon to lay great ftrefs upon fome things, in which perhaps they were right, and to be fenfible that other men had more to fay for themselves, than they supposed, in things that may be wrong. I believe that much of the political bigotry which is prevalent at this time, arifes from clubs, into which none are admitted but who are of one opinion, and who agree to All obftinacy, however, is not to be cenfured. To remove any prejudice which may yet remain, when a judgment is deliberately formed, we are not obliged to alter or give it up, upon any other confideration than the clear evidence of a mistake. This, however, is not fo much obftinacy, as a degree of conftancy and perfeverance, which becomes every man, not to part with the leaft truth, wherefoever he may have picked it up, without farther light; or even a probable truth, unless upon greater appearance of probability. What appears an important truth may bear hard upon others; it may fhame their conduct, and expofe their principles to contempt; but it is not to be furrendered on that account. It is in the nature of things, that truth will difgrace error, and that virtue will render vice odious. Nor fhould we blame thofe who are fond of difplaying their opinions, as being difpofed to differ obtrufively with others. When a man thinks himfelf in the right, he is not to be cenfured, becaufe he wishes to bring others over to the fanie opinion. Let his means be fair, and his language gentle, and he will at least give no offence, if he make no converts. To conclude: The only probable methods by which the warmth of bigotry may be leffened, are a conviction of our own weaknefs, and a temper confequently difpofed to bear with the errors of others. And it may not be unneceffary to reflect, that all fubjects of difpute are not of equal importance, and that no man's character is neceffarily involved in the difpute in which he takes a part, unless he chooses to be prefumptuous and overbearing, to ftake his reputation upon his affertions, and to confider his enemies as completely vanquished by his prowess. To look at the conduct of controverfial writers in general, one would think that the conteft was for victory, and not for truth; that all fubjects were TOPOGRAPHY AND NATURAL HISTORY OF SCOTLAND). CONTINUED FROM VOL. LVIII. COUNTY OF DUMFRIES. marble, others contain numbers of petrified fhells, chiefly of the cockle fpecies, others are in plates, or thin ftrata, of a bluish colour, on which are formed impreffions of fhells and other bo THIS large and populous county is about 50 miles in length, and where broadeft 30. On the north it is bounded by the fhires of Lanark and Peebles; on the weft by Kirkcudbright- dies. Petrifactions of wood are occafhire; on the fouth by the Solway Frith, which feparates it from England; and on the east by the fhires of Selkirk and Roxburgh. Three rivers give their names to different diftricts of the county, the Annan, the Nith, and Efk: hence Annandale, which comprehends the north and eaft diftrict; Nithidale, the weft parts; and Efkdale, the most easterly divifion. fionally found in the ftrata of coal. The town of Sanquhar has been long famous for its woollen manufactures; before the American war, it confifted chiefly in making coarfe ftockings for that market: It was not uncommon for one perfon to furnifh 4800 pairs to to one houfe in Glafgow annually. Of late the carpet manufactory has been their chief employment. SANQUHAR. This parish ftretches KIRKONNEL This a very extenfive from north to fouth about 15 miles, highland parifh, nearly 14 miles from from east to west between 9 and 10, north to fouth, and between 7 and 8 and contains 2600 inhabitants. The fi- from east to weft, containing loco intuation is elevated, standing near the head habitants. There is only about 600 of the county; to which there is a gra- "acres in tillage, and thefe are in general dual rife from the fea of near 3000 feet. a light gravelly foil. There is coal It may be reckoned amongst the high- wrought here: Glenmucleugh hills coneft land in Scotland. The hills are tain limeftone; and in Glenwhinny and barren and rugged; their bowels, bow- Bankhead hills there are ftrong indicaever, contain great wealth; befides tions of lead. As might be expected coal and lime, the mines of Wanlock- there are feveral mineral fprings here; head yield immenfe quantities of lead. the moft remarkable is the Rigburn The variety of limestone is confiderable; Spa, which from chemical analysis, seems ome approaching to the hardness of to be of the fame quality with the Hart field spring near Moffat, but much strong- tants. The furface is a ftrath, rifing er; it has often proved very efficacious into hills on both fides, well adapted in ftomachic complaints, and fcorbutic for pafture; the foil is light and cafes. This parish yields about 2000l. fandy. The rent is 1500l. per annum. per annum to the Duke of Queensberry, A Roman caufeway runs through the who is proprietor of the whole lands, parifh from eaft to weft, and the vefexcepting to the extent of about rgol. tiges of feveral places of strength may DURISDEER. This parish is almost also be traced. Peat is the chief fuel, furrounded with hills; its length is a- there being no coal here. The Doon bout 8 miles, containing upwards of of Tynron is a beautiful pyramidical 1000 inhabitants. The river Nith di- bill, on the top of which flood an old vides it. The arable part is, in general, caftle: the profpect from it is very fertile, the hills afford good fheep paf extenfive. In the river Kinnel there ture. There are no minerals wrought; is a cascade worth vifiting, called Aird but there are strong indications of coal linn. and alfo of lead; its vicinity to the mines of Leadhills, and Wanlock-head, render this very probable." MORTON. This parish lying on the eaft fide of the river Nith, is about 6 miles long, and 3 broad, containing nearly 720 inhabitants. The Duke of Queenberry is proprietor of almoft the whole of it, prefently rented at about 750l. The low ground upon the banks of the rivers Nith and Compte are a rich mould; as the ground rifes to the caft, it is lighter, but capable of much improvement. The introduction of the woollen manufacture would be of great confequence here, wool being the flaple article of the country. PENPONT is a prefbytery feat. The parish is of very great extent, being upwards of 21 miles long, and 4 broad; it contains about 800 perfons. There is a gradual afcent from the fouth east part of the parifh to the north weft, which is more that 3500 feet above the the fea. Cairnkinnow is the highest mountain between the friths of Solway and Clyde. The hills are, in general, covered with grafs; the arable land is, upon the whole, light, and capable of KEIR is about 8 miles long, the improvement, and lets from 18s. to breadth various, from 2 to 3; contain25s. per acre: the whole yields about ing 520 inhabitants. More than one 2500l. per annum. Several veftiges of third of this parifh is hilly; the foil of encampments, and the tract of a Ro- the low grounds is in general light, uman causeway are to be feen here. pon a gravelly bottom, and tolerably Though in feveral places there are in- fertile. The yearly rent may be ettidications of coal, lead, and iron, yet mated at 1500l. Sterling. This parish none have been wrought. There is is watered by the rivers Nith and Scarr, marl in feveral marshes. One of the and is adorned with a confiderable exgreatest natural curiofities, in this part tent of natural wood, as well as plantof Scotland, is Glenquhargen Craig. It ing. There is lime-ftone on the eflate is compofed of a dark whinftone, and of Barjarg; but the diftance from coal rifes almost perpendicular to 1000 feet. (14 miles) is felt as a great difadvanIt has two fides which forcibly strike the tage. eye, no other rock being near it. The most considerable rivers are the Scarr, the Kin, and the Afton. There are many picturesque and beautiful views in this parish. TYNRON. This parish is 10 Scots miles in length, and 21, at an average, in breadth, and contains 500 inhabi DUNECORF. This parish is very irregular in its breadth, the length of it is 12 miles, containing above 1000 perfons. The river Nith runs through part of it. The foil of the flat grounds is rich; from the river fide it rifes gradually, terminating in rocky hills. It is fomewhat remarkable, that there are no |