Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1804-11-24
Extract from Mr.. Austin's &" Letters
g IRON London. Written in the
''years 1909 aid 1905"


years 1917 ana 1898.
LONDON, tune 9th.
There is no description of people in
England, holden in less respect, than
the quakers yet ! haze seen no sect
IN this country with whom | have
been more pleased. The cause of
this dislike lies deadly deep. In a
corrupted state OF society, those who
approach nearest TO first principles will
forever be objects of dislike, if not of
adherence, with the rest Of the COM
munity for they will naturally hate
those who differ from them in so ma
ny important points, and who not on
~ diiEer from them, but Interfere with
their Immediate interests.
With respectto the rest Of the world,
the quakers certai-.y are hopeless
and bsrren set of people. They hate
equally kings AMI priests. Their con-
sciences revolt ut tythes in any shape,
therefore the clergy hate them. Their
own meditations serve them instead of
preaching, therefore the religious of
most other denominations dislike
tnem, Their temperance laughs at
the physician, and their honesty starves
the lawyer, while their prudence and
foresight eXait them above the active,
injurious hatred Of the world, and e.
levatc them above those who dcspisc
them.
Their decency of carriage, their un-
5 assuming manners, their habitual eco
Homy, and general spirit Of equity,
have long, and viii, perhaps, forever
connect them together in body, CO.
existent with their present maxims.
There is one characteristic which
distinguishes the quakers from all o.
ther sccts. They discover nothing Of
tn spirit Of prosely tism their favo-
rice sentiments partake nothing OF en-
thusidsm they hurl no damnation on
lhc rssc OF the world, tolerant to eve
ry body, they consider all honest men
their brethren. There is not a single
trait in their character incentive to i'll
viii, nor a movement in their conduct
which has ever courted prosecution.
Their humility has never resisted &
ven oppression in suffering patient,
they are active only in support of their
principles. Remote from all hypocri-
81, they have never sought after tenn
porai power, nor has their own system
ever operated 20 the prejudice OF o.
thcrs. Yet this sect has been pcrse-
cuted, and It's members been put to
deaJh X The blacklist stigma on hui
nan nature with which the annals of
politics OF religion have been stain
ed.
Though they live under nonar-
chg they nave conuived, wich the So
criice OF all temporal favors 10 erect
themselves into a government Of their
own, approaching rs near to a republic,
as is consistent with any sort d allegi-
alce TO the current government. This
Is master piece of poiicv which has
gained them a firm standing in the
midst OF their enemies, and which
ought 20 teach the rest OF mankind
that IL is practicable for a virtuous,
pcrssvering few to counterfeit the ma
NJ. The quakers have contrived to
render themselves happy, in the midst
OF misery, and free, in great mea-
sure, in the midst Of slavery. Hence.
they have all that natural, unaffected
dignity,a and all that manly, cordial spi-
rit OF accommodation which man dis
covers to man before he becomes de-
generate and hence, they regard
mankind pretty much as that Chcro.
kee did, who, being introduced at Pa
ris, and shewn every thing which was
supposed capable Of dclignting OF. sur
prising him, was asked, after his ewes
had swallowed the objects Of whole
weeks exhibition, " What astonjshcd
" him most :" answered, "1he diff
" ference between man and nan :"
and then being questioned, C Wish
&" what he was most delighted - an
swercd, He was most delighted to
" see a passenger help heavy burden
upon the back Of another"
Allho' the qoakers approach nearer
20 the religion Of nature, notwithstand-
ing their correspondence wi,h the
world, than any systematic sect which
has ever appeared, they still hold 10
IL