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Les diagrammes suivants iilustrent la m6thode. 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 m mmm^mmmm^m I ,, A.^.^ THE GREATNESS AND THE HAPPINESS OF A PEOPLE BRIEFLT CONSIDERED. DISCOURSE, ''"llPH^'.'.-\ DELIVERED IN THE SCOTCH CHURCH AT MONTREAL, ON THE .'HsT OF APRIL LAST, BEING €ijc JDtii) opitointcD for a ©eneval Cftanfij^giUing* ll«''A:* ..A, By THE Rev. JAMES SOMERVILLE. . • • . ? ! • . as » ^ ft • « • • : • • • J'lUXTED AT TIJE HERALP OfflCE, By W. GRAY. I814. f\L- "^ ,.<> /aiiM l;i r^ «. i'' • • • , " . • I • • ' THE GREATNESS AND THE HAPPINESS OF A PEOPLE BRIEFLY CONSIDERED. DISCOURSE, DELIVERED IN THE SCOTCH CHURCH AT MONTREAL, ON THE 21st OF APRIL 181 '., BEING THE DAY AP-^ lOINTiiD rOR A GENERAL THANKSGIVINC?. ■^ Deut. XXXm—2C). Happy art thou 1st ad I who is like unto theCy people^ savea by the Lord^ tbe shield of thy help^ and ivho is the sword of thy Excellency ! and thine enemies shall be found liars unto thce^ and thou shalt tread upon their high places* i O confider on what grounds tlie grcatncfs and the happiuefs of a nation miift rest, and by what means they are befl fecured, muft be a Subjedt in the liigheil degree interefting to every one who loves his 145^9? coun. tr t ( 4 ) country ; or wTio has even a proper regard for his own welfare. This fubjea is interefting at all times; but in an efpecial manner at thofe periods, when eve- ry one who is dlfpofcd to attend to it, may learn a leflbn from the events which have taken place. If we look hack to what has happened, within hut a few years, we fhall find, that in many cafes, the wifdom of the wife fcems to have become fooliHi- nefs; and that an overwhelminq; power, had threat- ened to fet at defiance, all thofe calculations.refpedt- in^ human affairs, in which men had been wont to trufl:. It was a period of deceit, terror, and defolation. In contemplating the av/ful phenomenon, the human mind feems to have loft its energy, and, in a kind of liftlefs ftupor, appeared to have condided, that there VN^cre no means to be found to counterad the progrefs of the giant force." At this important crifis, another power put it- felf in motion, wifhing, if it had been poffiblc, to at- tain to greatnefs, by 'lending its feeble help to ba- nllh treed om from the Earth ; and to deftroy every thing which gives a value to human exiftence by ma- king- it dignified and refpedable. . - But, bleifed be God, thefe times have pafFcd a- way. 'ihe energies of the human "mind have again been called forth from that ftate of torpor into which they had funk, and thcfe exertions which have been ni.'ide - — -^1 " H < 5 ,) made Vave been crowned ipvith succcfs.'— -The g'^ilt power hascrumbled and mouldered away, and its feeble ally has only fhewn how totally unfit it is foi a- ny purpofe, but that of making itfelf contemptihie. When we confider all thefe matters, it miiH be feen in a very clear light, how becoming and proper it is in us this day, to have been called tou^etier for the purpofe of devoutly and humbly oflering up thanksgiving unto the Almighty Ruler of the Uriiver e for that kindnefs which in the courfe of his Providence we liave experienced. But however proper it is in us to join our thanks- giving to thofe of other nations, who, like ourfelves liave been saved from the cruelty, of the opprefTor ; I think it may be better, in the mean time, to turn our thoughts tothofe bleflings, which as a people and a nation we ourfelves enjoy : fo that from knowing on what grounds the greatness and the happinefs of a people muft reft ; and by what means they are prefer- ved and upheld, erxh of us in our fcveral fituations and places may be difpofed to attend carefully to thofe duties which are required of us^ Always remembering that our truft (hould at all times be placed in the protection of a kind providei ce; never let us lofe fight of thofe means by which that protection will be iiifured to us. Let us always keep in view t-iofe n.eans which God has promifcd to -•■7 ir- Si. il;i'l f I n k "y I ( « ) blefs ; in order that we may never be guilty of the tolly of negleding them, aad yet hope to meet wuh fuccefs. In cIvinR you my thoughts, refpeaing the greatnefs and" he happin.f/of a people, I fhal merely may have receiv- ed may not, in every cafe, he fuppofed to have been : mucllule'to him in ^0-"^^ J.^^^^^^f ^',' ^ ^^ leading him on to eminence and diftrndion : hut we n gh^to confider, that when fuch have heen thepnn- ip^al means of iorming the charaQer of fo many who h^ve afted a diftinguilhed part m fociety, that they fliould never be deepied of little importance. In the fecond place, the fpirit of the people is preferred by that political conftitutlon under which they live. They feel that they are protefted ; and thai every one has a perfonal refpeaability fm.ed to hisfituation in life, of which "f ^"K^"' '?'?,X"s niifcondud can deprive him. It js this which to up every one who underftands his duty to exeit him- felf wtU; for he is fure of the reward ot his labour, and that in the ufe of proper means no one is allowed I I . } « U' ( 9 ) tn interfere with hiscxertlons. Hence the manyinllan- ces which wc find ot people who began life under the moft untavoiuble circumllanccs, rifinf^ by degrees to great eminence and rcfpedlability, and alfo becoming diftinguifhed and ufeful members of focicty. AVhile fuch examples excite the emulation of the well difpofed youth, and ftimulate their exertions, they alfo fhew them the neceflity of ullng only thofc means which are commendable and proper, otherwife they are fure to fail in any wifh they may have enter- tained, to become refpedlable and ufeiVi I members of fociety. . , . When fpeaking of the political conrtitution of that people of which we form apart, let it be diftindly attended to ; that the ftability of that conilitution ap- pears to depend in a great meafure, on that highmin- ded and noble body which form a part of the nation- al legiflatnrc. They are placed in that happy ftate of independence, whic i is neither to be awed by fu- perior power ; nor induced to ad: rafhly or foolifhly by idle clamour or artificial Gommotion. To be con- vinced that what I have now dated is true, look only at the exertions which thofe men have made both at home and abioad for t;iie welfare of tneir country. In addition to this, there are fo many men who are poflefled of found wiidom and independence of fpirit, who watch over the welfare of the nation at large • C that . <' !;■ 1 1 1 I 'ti ( 10 )- that there is little occafion for arprchending. that any real evil which c.n be removed, mil pafs unnoti- ced for any great length oi time. The perieverance "?tl which tie abolition of a traffic in human beings Sheen followed up, will fhew clearly the truth ot what 1 have now faiJ. Tn the third place the fpirit of the people is pre- fcrvcd by the inde; endence, the purity,and tl>e d.p^i- tvTf our Courts of Juftice. This is one of the firft bleffings which a nation can poffefs. In every nation in which Juftice is not refpected and enforced, the people foon degenerate rnd become fwindlers and cheats, murderers and affaffins.— 1 he hiftorv ofalltae nations of the earth proves, tliat vvhat 1 have now flated is ftridly corred. How ne- ceffary is it then, to have the means of curbing and keeping in order, the felfifli and unruly paffions ot mankind* The welfare of a nation can neither be promoted por prcferved, without the impartial diftribut^on ot Tuftice : and Juftice cannot be impartiahy diUnbu - ed ; unlefs the Judges are independent. T^ ey mu.t J.ot be afraid of the face of man -They muft there- fore feel themfelves perfedly jnder.endent and fccu-e, vnlefs from malverfation in their office ; and this mal- -verfation muft be fo evident, as to admit of no doubt. If it ( tl ) If a Tudsre feel himself fo infecuiet^at 'is official cliaraaer may be tarniflied by idle clamour, or by no fy declamadon, how is it poffible that that maa can caufe j.-ftice to be respefted ; or how can he Kive his decif.ons with that firm.efs with which hey frould be Riven ?— In that nation to which we belong therefore, the Courts of Juftice are as pure as per- l.ans it is poffible for human inftitutions to become. This has been effeded by making t! e Judges indep- endent.— In fuch circumftances the^ only motive a Tud-e can feel, is to difcharge the duties ot his of- fice well. Indeed every man wliofe bulinefs it is to fn.ak the truth Ihould be fo independent, as will en- able him to aa with due fpirit and f irmnrfs. To fee the truth of what I now fay of our Courts of Tuftice, let any man polTefled of ordinary candour attend to the minuteness with which evidence is in- veftiiratedin the courfe of a trial; and he will thus be forced to confefs, that it fl- t^ws in a true point of view the dignity to which the human charader may attain, . In the fourth place the fpirit of the people is pre- ferved by the freedom of the Prefs— This is a moft powerful mean for diffufing information amongft a people. It is true the information which may he dit- f .fed in thi. manner maybe falfe, and the moft perm- cious errors mav lie thus inculcated— But, my fnenda, if we are to reject wuat is lealK good m itlelt, be- ■' caule ■; ■ i.v . :-^i. I '-, i I ;?/, f it' IS ^J! ■ ■;* •If if' k4 ■(pi M m i .12 ) caufe it may occafionally be the means of exciting trouble and difficulty^ I am afraid there are very fev/ bleffingsthat we fliall not be obliged to relinquiih'for ihe fame realpM.-r-Men in their ufual intercourfe with each other often deal in falfehood ; they make profef- lions of friendfliip where th^y mean nothing, and ai .the very moment, (hey may be moft keenly purfuing their own felfilh viewa^ they may be trying to make you belive, that it is your intereft only whicli they wifli to promote.— But though fuch abufes prevail in fociety, furely that circumftance does not prove, that men (hould not alibciate with each other, or that they ihould feperate and become foli^ary individuals. In like manner might we argue with regard to health, or the pofleffion of riches. Health has very often been applied tp a bad ufe ; but ftill it is confidered as a •inoft valuable poiTeifion. Riches have alfo been very often employed to promote the word of purpofes ; yet riches are deemed, a.nd that properly, a very defira- bleobj^a^ ,, j^ When therefore, we allow that an Important and ufefui privilege may be and often is, made ufe of irf a very injproper n^anner, never let us lofe fight of the^real valup pf tlie Privilege in itfelf. When we wifh to get riu c^t .ai>y diiSculty or inconvenience ; never let u$ forget thiv cfrcuinftance, that^ if we ufe impro- per mean^ tor accompliining what we have in view, tivc fhall thereby in all probabihty introduce fomething which wili b^a great deal worie^'than tiidt of wliich '■■K we X 13 ')■ now compiaining -The advocater for 'n«^;=>"';»; ^ "hatever party they nuy be, fcould never allow them- felves to become indifferent as to the nature of the neans they make ufe of to attain the end they haye "''ieV-If you make ufe ot improper and unjuft Tans" obtL an objeft .hlch in Jf - J^^! and highly commendable, you thereby fet an exam pie 10 thoL who may poffefs lefs principle, but more Running ; to make ufe of the fame kind of mean* to obtain Lend, which ought to be execrated and de- tefted. • . . Befides, inallfree governments comrnoticms and turbulence will occafionally t'»k«Pl»'=«--^'"."'vo^ed Iv better to be liable to this ; this open and avowed evil han to tremble in fecret, left the dagger . f the aSffin may deprive you oflife ; or f y°«,- 7,^, dran-ired to the dungeon alike unpttied and alike dii dragged to i g ^^^ ^^^ jo reKarded.-r- 1 TiC oeii jci-uiny » j;f„r.f. ly vails, and alfo by thofe morals v^l^^J »^« ""^""'^^ coutuenanced hut ^(o praftifed. When ^ W «t manners prevails it n^uft be owing to tji.s , U^at^eve^ ry perfon who ads ;- -Vrary to decency, w lure to oe genfured aau j^uni acd. > To > .-^ii ■■■ v^ ! r (.-■ P' \m Nil) ( 14 ) : To(hewyOuhowver7 hig%thisYent-.ment is felt and =«aed upon by that people ef whom wfe fc^m a part, you have oniy to attend to ^vhat takes place even amongft. th, Jo^eft in point of ^-kand fortune, when any one has tl^e effrontery to outrage tha fen - ment of UkM have been fpeabng. You _vv.ll thus fee, thatthofe people eyen the lov^-eftm foaety, hive a much, higher and morfcorrtfi Jentiment of pro- priety and decency of condudl ; than the far-famed Greeks, or the renowned Romans, ever poffelied at any period of t(i.ei?; hiftory. ' It'ts oi the'utmoft importai'ce that tight thinking Ihopld be diffufed through the people at large : and tha« tbey Ihould have a high fenfeof what is proper and becoming. Unlefs this is attended to, a people are in the high road to ruin and deftruaion.--lt is true what 1 now reeommend may fometimes be the meauR of raiting trouble, and difficulties. Butthcfe troubles and difBculties. wheft met with calmnels and decifion foon p^fsaway ; and thofe very people who lave h^M milled, vnM afterwards, when they difcover their error, be the firmeft fupport of thofe very mea)^ iircsof which they had difapproved— A florm of launder and lightning is grand and awful, and fome- timc* maybe deftruaive; but generally, it bahmces tne clouds, purifies the air, and is ihe harbm^er ot fair weather, and fiuitfid fields. I added, that the morals of the le pie at large were ( »5 ) /* were alio good. The morals of a people muft be goo J when vice is obliged at leaft, to cbnceal itfelf ; ^^4lea it is not countenanced nor attem][)ted%6bc?j4ftifietl. ?- ;* ■ ■ ' '"''^ , 'i"'^'^' *^'''*-ri 15'.? .^f'-'-i Wiicn'^e tiiink of the'm^hM^^&gfe^ when vices, not even to be named diiioilgft us were openly and publickly committed eycA l)y th'etr greateft and their fuppofed wiftft men ; ivhit great reafoa have we to be thanlcful rftlttwd haVc be^n|>reler- ved from fuch foul contagion, v ' But the good morals of a people are fliewffia the way in which men a? ren- dered more ftriking by any comment, .t I (hall only farther a^d ip the fi«th place, that the fpirit of the ^ople.ls preferved by tjose benevo- lent and charitable inftitutions for which as a nation hel are fo famed. Thert is no cpW wherej^ach provifion U made pot only for ^^^^^^^J^'^^^^^, noor • bi« alfo for their fupport, when they are unem- Ked S n diftrefe:r-And of all the peopWwho have eve^ li^ed on thpface pf the earth 5 none are fo aUve to the call ot humanity, from whatever quarter^ i they are. 1 he wealth of the nation enables tnem SKr liberal and charitable, but 1 would no wift to confider wealth as really contributing to. th Jcu&h Pf a nation, without the othg? "''^^\ • See account oitfaeioasoi vk ^b€zg-»- for 1805. 'Nac€l ChrotiiM ( 17 ) wMch I have mentioned : For a people who have no oiher dependence, but their wealth, ,wiU not long be pofleiTed of that wealth in which they have thus trufted. But, when along with wealth they, poirefs thatfpirit of which I have beefl fpeaking, (whicn is pre-eminently the cafe, with the nation to whicn we belong,') it is then that their wealth is moft hkely to be applied to thofe purpofes, which will cher:fli and fupport tiie true greatnefs and happinefe of a people. ' I have thus given you my thoughts on what con- ftitutes the greatnefs and happinefs of a nation ; and I have faid, it confifts in the fpirit of the people _at large ; tliat this fpirit is preferved and cheriiliejj la the nation to which we belong ; by .the nature of the education which the youth receive; by the political conftitution under which they live ; by jhe uidepen- de.ice, the purity, and tlie dignity, of t.ie courts of iuftice ; by the freedom of the. prefs ; by. that decen- cy of manners which prevails ; and alfoj by the mo- rals Which are really countenanced and prattilcd ; and laftly, by benevolent and cbaritable inftitutions. ^llow me now, before I tonclude . to reeom- •mend itunto you to acuftoin youiielvcs to thuik and refled, before that you give any opinion as to the circumftances in wuica you may be adually placed. 'Whoever e'xpeas to pafs through the v7orld wjthout'trouble, does not mulerlLmd uis real intercit ; and whoever wilhes to obtain for hlmlelf individual- Iv, a fecuriry from evil which is not to be found any where on earch ; wii) H' due-' ti^t^iicov^r, t..at nc y. ' ." •..•: '!• has '.«■: ;,:•■:[; I, ' in li i i: I » • • • «. •:-^u ■i: ^ . ( i8 ) has been amufing himfelf with a dreaTH, and that he muft awake to vexation and diiappointment. • * ■ Study to acquire a calm, contented difpofitid^n. I do not mean that you fhould become carelcfs or in- different, or that you fl.ould wifh to be idle. I mean the direa contrary, that you fliould be well employ- ed at all times; for to be well employed is the bafis of human happinefs. Guard againfl envy, and the whole tribe of the mean and low paffions. Be at all times the steady friends of peace and good order in ibciety, and avoid ^ you would your bittereft enemy, all thofe.who are continually complaining of what is taking place. Recoiled, that you have already been tried with alarms; and that you may cgain be tried in the iamc manner. Aft as you have hitherto done, and thefe alarms will pafs away. ^ * Truft in the protedion of a wife and good Pro- vidence; and beat all times difpofed to attend care- fully to thofe duties, whica are required at your hands. Remember, that the bleffings of life can neither be acquired nor preferved, without diligence, watch- ftilncls, and exertion. If ycu underltand this doc- trine .iright, long Ihall you have reafon to fay- Happy art thou. O Ifrael ! wno is like unto thee, O people, faved by t :e Lord ;. the fhield of thy help, and who is the (word of thy Excellency ; *' and tUme enemies fhali^be iQun4.\^''^ "^"*^^ ^^^^^ " ana tbou mJIi irtid libpii iuJii high |Aiices."-Araen. U u u '!» ^ * . •• that he o{iti(>n. I or in- I mean mpldy- he bafis : of the ; steady id avoid Tvho are k.e* led with he fame id thefe >./>i ,./«,. .'n.v >od Fro- nd care- r hands. I neither ^ watch- :his doc- o fay — ito thee, ; of thy ;ellency ; iltO txlCU, "-Amen. <\}:^ ^ ' •+, fv i'Vi- !.f. K