to feel that it was considerable, I conceived a desire of writing their moral history. I believed that I should be able to exhibit to the rest of the world many excellent customs of which they were ignorant, but which it might be useful to them to know. I believed, too, that I should be affording to the Quakers themselves some lessons of utility, by letting them see, as it were in a glass, the reflection of their own images. I felt also a great desire, amidst these considerations, to do them justice; for ignorance and prejudice had invented many expressions concerning them to the detriment of their character, which their conduct never gave me reason to suppose, during all my intercourse with them, to be true.

Nor was I without the belief that such a history might afford entertainment to many. The Quakers, as every-body knows, differ more than even many foreigners do from their own countrymen. They adopt a singular mode of language. Their domestic

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customs

customs are peculiar. They have renounced religious ceremonies, which all other Christians, in some form or other, have retained. They are distinguished from all the other islanders by their dress. These differences are great and striking; and I thought, therefore, that those who were curious in the developement of character, might be gratified in knowing the principles which produced such numerous exceptions from the general practices of the world.

But though I had conceived from the operation of these sentiments upon my mind, as long ago as I have stated, a strong desire to write the moral history of the Quakers, yet my incessant occupations on the subject of the Slave-trade, and indisposition of body afterwards, in consequence of the great mental exertions necessary in such a cause, prevented me from attempting my design. At length these causes of prevention ceased. But when, after this, the subject recurred, I did not seem to have the industry and

perseverance, though I had still the inclination left, for the undertaking. Time, however, continued to steal on, till at length I began to be apprehensive, but more particularly within the last two years, that if I were to delay my work much longer I might not live to begin it at all. This consideration operated upon me. But I was forcibly struck by another; namely, that if I were not to put my hand to the task, the Quakers would probably continue to be as little known to their fellow-citizens as they are at present. For I did not see who was ever to give a full and satisfactory account of them. It is true, indeed, that there are works, written by Quakers, from which a certain portion of their history, and an abstract of their religious principles, might be collected ; but none from whence their living manners. could be taken. It is true, also, that others, of other religious denominations, have written concerning them; but of those authors who have mentioned them in the course of

their respective writings, not one, to my knowledge, has given a correct account of them. It would be tedious to dwell on the errors of Mosheim, or of Formey, or of Hume, or on those to be found in many of the modern periodical publications*. It seemed, therefore, from the circumstance of my familiar intercourse with the Quakers, that it devolved upon me particularly to write their history. And I was the more confirmed in my opinion, because, in looking forward, I was never able to foresee the time when any other cause would, equally with that of the Slave-trade, bring any other person, who was not of the Society, into such habits of friendship with the Quakers, as that he should obtain an equal degree of

* I must except Dr. Toulmin's Revision of Neal's History of the Puritans. One or two publications have appeared since, written in a liberal spirit; but they are confined principally to the religious principles of the Quakers,

knowledge

knowledge concerning them with myself, By this new consideration I was more than ordinarily stimulated; and I began my work.

It is not improbable but some may imagine, from the account already given, that this work will be a partial one; or that it will lean more than it ought to do in favour of the Quakers. I do not pretend to say that I shall be utterly able to divest myself of all undue influence which their attention towards me may have produced; or that I shall be utterly unbiassed when I consider them as fellow-labourers in the work of the abolition of the Slave-trade: for if others had put their shoulders to the wheel equally with them on the occasion, one of the greatest causes of human misery and moral evil that was ever known in the world had been long ago annihilated. Nor can I conceal that I have a regard for men, of whom it is a just feature in their character, that whenever they can be brought to argue