The republic of regicide with an an- ten to fail, that no others can fpring up. nihilated revenue, with defaced manu- While our heart is whole, it will find factures, with a ruined commerce, with means, or make them. The heart of an uncultivated and half depopulated the citizen is a perennial spring of enercountry, with a difcontented, diftreffed, gy to the ftate. Because the pulfe feems enflaved, and famished people, paffing to intermit, we muft not prefume that with a rapid, eccentric, incalculable it will ceafe inftantly to beat. The pubcourfe, from the wildeft anarchy to the lic muft never be regarded as incurable. fterneft defpotifm, has actually conquer- I remember in the beginning of what ed the fineft parts of Europe, has dif- has lately been called the feven years treffed, difunited, deranged, and broke war, that an eloquent writer and ingenito pieces all the reft; and fo fubdued ous fpeculator, Dr Browne, upon fome the minds of the rulers in every nation, reverfes which happened in the beginthat hardly any refource prefents itfelf ning of that war, published an elaborate to them, except that of entitling them- philofophical difcourfe, to prove that the felves to a contemptuous mercy, by a diftinguishing features of the people of difplay of their imbecility and mean- England had been totally changed, and nefs. Even in their greatest military that a frivolous effeminacy was become efforts, and the greateft difplay of their the national character. Nothing could fortitude, they fcem not to hope, they be more popular than that work. It was do not even appear to with, the extinc- thought a great confolation to us, the tion of what fubfifts to their certain light people of this country (who were ruin. Their ambition is only to be ad- and are light, but who were not and mitted to a more favoured clafs in the are not effeminate) that we had found order of fervitude under that domineer- the caufes of our misfortunes in our ing power. vices. Pythagoras could not be more pleafed with his leading difcovery. But while in that fplenetic mood we amused ourselves in a four critical ipeculation, of which we were ourfelves the objects, and in which every man loft his particular fenfe of the public difgrace in the epidemic nature of the diftemper; while as in the Alps, goitre kept goitre in countenance; while we were thus abandoning ourselves to a direct confef fion of our inferiority to France, and while many, very many, were ready to act upon a fenfe of that inferiority, a few months effected a total change in our variable minds. We emerged from the gulph of that fpeculative defpondency; and were buoyed up to the high ft point of practical vigour. Never did the maf culine fpirit of England difplay itself with more encrgy, nor ever did its genius foar with a prouder pre-eminence over France, than at the time when frivolity and effeminacy had been at least tacitly acknowledged as their national character, by the good people of this kingdom.

This feems the temper of the day. At first the French force was too much defpifed. Now it is too much dreaded. As inconfiderate courage has given way to irrational fear, fo it may be hoped, that through the medium of deliberate fober apprehenfion, we may arrive at fteady fortitude. Who knows whether indignation may not fucceed to terror, and the revival of high fentiment, fpurning away the delufion of a fafety purchafed at the expence of glory, may not yet drive us to that generous defpair, which has often fubdued diftempers in the flate for which no remedy could be found in the wifeft councils.

Other great flates, having been without any regular certain courfe of elevation, or decline, we may hope that the British fortune may fluctuate alfo; becaufe the public mind, which greatly influences that fortune, may have its changes. We are therefore never authorised to abandon our country to its fate, or to act or advife as if it had no refource. There is no reafon to apprehend, becaufe ordinary means threa

CU.

CURIOUS PARTICULARS OF THE CUSTOMS AND MANNERS OF THE NORTHERN INDIANS ON THE

BORDERS OF HUDSON'S BAY.

THE girls ars always betrothed ing contaminated by obfcene converfawhen children, but never to those of e- tion. The Southern Indians are still qual age; which is doubtless found po- lefs delicate in converfation, in the preby with people in their fituation, where fence of their children. the existence of a family depends entire- Divorces are pretty common among ly on the abilities and industry of a single the Northern Indians; fometimes for man. Children, as they justly obferve, incontinency, but more frequently for are fo liable to alter in their manners want of what they deem neceffary acand disposition, that it is impoffible to complishments, or for bad behaviour. judge, from the actions of early youth, This ceremony, in either cafe, confifts what abilities they may poffefs when of neither more nor lefs than a good they arrive at puberty. For this reafon, drubbing, and turning the woman out the girls are often fo difproportionably of doors, telling her to go to her paramatched for age, that it is very com- mour, or relations, according to the namon to fee men of 35 or 40 years old ture of her crime. have young girls of 10 or 12, and fometimes much younger. From the early age of eight or nine years, they are prohibited by custom from joining in the moft innocent amufements with children of the oppofite fex; fo that when fitting in their tents, or even when traveiling, they are watched and guarded with fuch an unremitting attention as cannot be exceeded by the most rigid difcipline of an English boarding-fchool. Custom, however, and conftant example, make fuch uncommon restraint and confinement fit light and eafy even on children, whofe tender ages feem better a dapted to innocent and cheerful amufe ments, than to be cooped up by the fide of old women, and conftantly employed in fcraping fkins, mending fhoes, and learning other domeftic duties neceflary in the care of a family.

Notwithstanding these uncommon refraints on the young girls, the conduct of their parents is by no means uniform or confiftent with this plan; as they fet no bounds to their converfation, but talk before them, and even to them, on the most indelicate fubjects. As their ears are accustomed to fuch language from their earliest youth, this has by no means the fame effect on them, it would have on girls born and educated in a civilized country, where every care is taken to prevent their morals from be

Providence is very kind in caufing thefe people to be lefs prolific than the inhabitants of civilized nations. It is very uncommon to fee one woman have more than five or fix children; and thefe are always born at fuch a diftance from one another, that the youngest is generally two or three years old before another is brought into the world. They make no ule of cradles, like the Southern Indians, but only tie a lump of mofs between their hes, and always carry their children on their backs, next the fkin, till they are able to walk. Though their method of treating young children is, in this refpe&t, the most uncouth and awkward I ever faw, there are few among them that can be called diformed, and not one in fifty who is bow-legged.

There are certain periods at which they never permit the women to abide in the fanie teat with their Lufbands. At fuch times they are obliged to make a fmall hovel for themselves at fome diftance from the other tents. As this is an univerfal cultom among all the tribes, it is alfo a piece of policy with the women, upon any difference with their hufbands, to make that an excufe for a temporary feparation, when, without any ceremony, they creep out (as is their ufual cuftom on thofe occations) under the cves of that fide of the tent

at

at which they happen to be fitting; for nimals, have lately been carried, either
at thofe times they are not permitted to on a fledge or on the back. To be guil-
go in or out through the door. This ty of a violation of this cuftom, is con-
cuftom is fo generally prevalent among fidered as of the greatest importance;
the women, that I have frequently because they firmaly believe, that it would
known fome of the fulky dames leave be a means of preventing the hunter
their husbands and tents for four or five from having an equal fuccefs in his fu-
days at a time, and repeat the farce ture excurfions.
twice or thrice in a month, while the Thefe poor people live in fuch an in-
poor men have never fufpected the de- hofpitable part of the globe, that, for
ceit, or if they have, delicacy on their want of firing, they are frequently o-
part has not permitted them to inquire bliged to eat their victuals quite raw,
into the matter. 1 have known Mato- particularly in the fummer feafon, while
nabbee's handfome wife, who eloped on the barren ground; but early custom
from him in May 1771, live thun-nar- and frequent neceffity makes this prac-
dy, as they call it, (that is, alone) for tice fo familiar to them, that, fo far
feveral weeks together under this pre- from finding an inconvenience arife from
tence; but as a proof he had fome fuf- it, or having the leaft diflike to it, they
picion, fhe was always carefully watch- frequently do it by choice, and particu-
ed, to prevent her from giving her com- larly in the article of fish: for when
pany to any other man. The Southern they do make a pretence of dreffing it,
Indians are alfo very delicate in this they feldom warm it through. I have
point; for though they do not force frequently made one of a party which
their wives to build a feparate tent, they has fat round a fresh-killed deer, and
never lie under the fame clothes during, affifted in picking the bones quite clean,
this period. It is, however, equally when I thought that the raw brains and
true, that the young girls, when thofe many other parts were exceedingly
fymptoms make their first appearance, good, and, however strange it may ap-
generally go a little diftance from the
other tents for four or five days, and at
their return wear a kind of veil or cur-
tain, made of beads, for fome time af-
ter, as a mark of modefty, as they are
then confidered marriageable, and of The extreme poverty of these In-
courfe are called women, though fome dians in general, will not permit one
at these periods are not more than thir- half of them to purchafe brafs kettles
teen, while others at the age of fifteen from the company; fo that they are still
or fixteen have been reckoned as chil- under the neceffity of continuing their
dren, though apparently arrived at near-
ly their full growth.

On thofe occafions a remarkable piece of fuperftition prevails among them; women in this fituation are never permitted to walk on the ice of rivers or lakes, or near the part where the men are hunting beaver, or where a fishingnet is fet, for fear of averting their fuc. cefs. They are alfo prohibited, at thofe times, from partaking of the head of any animal, and even from walking in, or croffing the track where the head of a deer, mouse, beaver, and many other a

pear, I muft bestow the fame epithet on half raw fish, Even to this day, I give the preference to trout, falmon, and the brown titterneg, when they are not warm at the bone.

original mode of boiling their victuals in large upright vellels made of birch rind. As thefe vefiels will not admit of being expofed to the fire, the Indians, to fupply the defect, heat ftones red-hot and put them into the water, which foon occafions it to boil; and, by having a conftant fucceflion of hot ftones, they may continue the process as long as is neceffary. This method of cooking, though very expeditious, is attended with one great evil: the victuals thus prepared are full of fand; for the ftones thus heated, and then

immerged in the water, are not liable to fhiver to pieces, but many of them being of a coarfe gritty nature, fall to a mafs of gravel in the kettle, which cannot be prevented from mixing with the

victuals.

The tract of land inhabited by the Northern Indians is very extenfive, reaching from the 59th to the 68th degree of north latitude, and from eaft to weft it is upwards of 500 miles wide. It is bounded by Churchill River on the fouth, the country of the Athapufcow Indians on the weft, the Dog-ribbed and Copper Indians' country on

the north, and by Hudfons Bay on the eaft. The land, throughout that whole tract of country, is fcarcely any thing but one folid mass of rocks and stones, and in moft parts very hilly, particularly to the westward among the woods. The furface, it is very true, is, in most places, covered with a thin fod of mofs, intermixed with the roots of the weefa-ca-pucca, cranberries, and a few other infignificant fhrubs and herbage; but under it, in general, there is a total want of foil, capable of producing any thing except what is peculiar to the climate.

COMPARISON BETWEEN THE TALENTS OF WOMEN AND MEN.

IT has been a matter of dispute whether the talents of women are equal to thofe of men. If we mean by talents the power or faculty of writing in profe or verfe, we at once decide that women are inferior to men, because there have been probably a thousand male authors for one female.

But, with fubmission, I would beg leave to fuggeft, that we narrow human genius and abilities very much, when we confine them to the bookfeller's fhop. Are not there many very able statesmen who never write any thing but treasury-warrants, and receipts for their falaries? Nay, do we not admire the vast genius of fome members of parliament, whofe forte is entirely in fpeaking, and who, when compelled to draw up an addrefs to their independent conflituents, commit errors that would difgrace a schoolboy? In short, if we have no other way of judging of a man's talents, but by the quantity he publishes, either from the prefs or from his mouth, are we not giving all the praife to mere Jaying; and never reflecting, that an accumulation of words, without correlponding actions, is to all neceffary purpofes ufelefs and unprofitable?

This being premised, and I hope, allowed, we need difpute no longer about the fuperiority of the male fex. The talents of the fair fex, as to all the great

and important events of human life, and all the leading transactions of kingdomз and states, have so far transcended what has been attributed to us, that were I to compile a new UNIVERSAL HISTORY, however I might avail myself of the valuable labours contained in the old, I fhould certainly entitle it," A history of the Power and Influence of the Female Sex, from the fall of Adam to the prefent time." It is the pitiful jeal oufy and envy of men which has deprived the fex of the honours due to them in hiftory; and likewife fome part of the concealment of their influence, arifes from the brevity of hiftories, their authors taking a fuperficial view of events, and feldom troubling themfelves to inveftigate the fecret fprings of human action; whereas, if we will only examine into the minute particulars of great events, the fecret intrigues of courts, kings, and minifters, or even of republics, we fhall always find that the women have had a great share in bringing; about political changes, wars, treaties, negotiations, &c. although they, from modefty probably, content themfelves with acting unseen and unobferved, and the men, proud of the fuccefs of the affair, wish to take all the merit to themfelves. Now, fir, let me afk you a plain question: which of the two are likely to deferve most fame, and to confer

greater

20

On the Talents of Women.

lishing a poem, or bringing about a re-
volution in a state or nation, perhaps
with a few words? which requires
greater abilities, to govern a kingdom,
or to cajole a bookfeller? to tickle the
fancy of love-fick boys and girls by a
novel, or to confound and stun half the
cabinets of Europe, by a bold stroke of
invafion, a maffacre, and a partition?
to write a ballad about a man and wo-
man who never exifted, or to make the
existence of thousands of men and wo-
men miferable?

cannot

ag

greater renown on the party, the pub- tic life? Is it the wealth we have quired, the house we live in, the page that befpeaks our rank, or th vants that bow at our command ? to use an expreffion of Mr Burke, "the dignified obedience, and fubmiffion" we owe and pay to th male fex. Our hearts confefs that deserve it, and that we paying it, and cannot, therefore, acknowledging their fuperiority. we refufe to pay it, when our zz are in a state of rebellion thofe lawful fovereigns, where is it we dare to breathe fentiments of a tious tendency! Is it in their prefe No; a look, a word, awes us into miffion; and when we conceive thoughts of refiftance, we fly, like ards, to fome fecret place, to fome tral ground, to the defert heath of bacy, and the infulated fociety of w out batchelors, where we may gr our complaints with impunity, and of refolutions which we have not courage to carry into execution.

man. Over

But this is not all. It is not enough to appeal to the hiftory of ancient and modern nations, for proofs of the fupeThis, riority of woman perhaps, is not much in their favour, for a fuperiority of evil influence is not the prefent conteft, and would not be very honourable if it were established. No, Sir, if we wish to afcertain the real and meritorious fuperiority of female talents, we need not confult the voluminous records of hiftory; we need only bring the queftion home to ourfelves. I fhall inftance but in one refpect, the power of perfuafion. This I take to be the great teft of genius and talents. He who poffeffes this, poffeffes every thing; and yet we know that what a man cannot do by whole treatifes and volumes, by a well connected chain of arguments, and the most convincing calculations, is generally done by a woman with a fmile, a glance of the eye, or a very few words. Sir, we may talk as we pleafe of our vaft learning, of our voluminous productions, of our many virtues for which we obtain credit in epitaphs and funeral fermons : I fhall not, however, anticipate wh But with what painful efforts do we accomplish the leaft of our good actions! I have to offer hereafter on this fubje& and to do a great good is the bufinefs My prefent defign was merely to hin of a long life. What is all our power that great talents are not neceffari? compared, or, which is more danger- fhown by much writing, and that the Os, put in competition, with a tear or may be accounted to poffefs the great eft talents who accomplish the greate a fir? purposes by few means, which, in my 2. E. D. mind, eftablishes the fuperiority of the fair fex.

I repeat it, Sir, let us bring the queftion home to ourfelves. What is ir that constitutes the felicity of domef

Confcious of the fuperiority of female fex, fome have lately queftion whether they ought not to be admit into the employments of civil life, which women feem fo admirably fitte fentiments. my on this fubject I mean, at fome fut occafion, to offer women have been admitted to be Quee there furely can be no inferior office which they are inadequate. A very minent judge lately decided, that a w man might be chofen overfeer. The fice is but low, indeed, but there ha been queens who perhaps wifhed, fome period of their lives, that they ha never filled a higher station.