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men's minds are becoming more enlightened, wouldopen an extensive field among the higher ranks ofsociety, for diffusing those blessings which would be conferred upon mankind by good laws, and usefulregulations in civil polity. Much as has been done,it is yet but little in comparison to what is stillrequired to complete this great work. I would wil-lingly flatter myself, when the happy period of peacearrives, that the improvements will not be confinedto the British dominions, but will extend over allEurope, and the civilized world. The lower orders of the people, from whose labourwe derive all that we possess, have never been proper objects of attention in any country. Muchmight be done to render them better subjects andcitizens—to extend to them greater comforts, by astronger sense of religious and moral duties; and toadd much to the means of subsisting themselves andfamilies in a better manner. The wise and benevo-lent rulers and statesmen in every country, have muchin their power in this respect; whereby a nationmay be rendered happy and contented with itsgovernment, indisposed to changes and revolutions, and prone by industry and sober habits to add to thestate of national happiness. Perhaps, at no periodin the history of this country, has there existed sogreat a disposition among the well educated ranksto promote these benevolent views. But war—fatalwar—checks the progress of every thing that is good.Let me hope so great a calamity will never afflictthe United States. The efforts of individuals areuseful in promoting all benevolent purposes: but theaid and countenance of the State is necessary, to givepermanency and consistency to all measures tendingto ameliorate the condition of the labouring people;and to check, where it is necessary, the zeal of indi-viduals, when not accompanied by good judgment.Hence the immense sums bequeathed in England forbenevolent purposes, under circumstances often so