This Opinion Is,
No Doubt, In Confirmation Of What The Writer Has Elsewhere Stated To
Be His Own As To
The general question respecting the origin of the
disease; but he is bound in candour to admit, that it seems
To rest on
rather slender evidence and insufficient reasoning, in the present
instance - so that he is less disposed to avail himself of it. Mr F.
himself is not positive as to the facts on which he founds his
opinion, and consequently is not so as to the opinion. This is to be
inferred from his concluding remarks, which, besides, exhibit so fair
a specimen of just indignation and regret, as may deserve to be
offered to the reader's notice. "If," says he, "in spite of
appearances, our conclusions should prove erroneous, it is another
crime added to the score of civilized nations, which must make their
memory execrated by the unhappy people, whom they have poisoned.
Nothing can in the least atone for the injury they have done to
society, since the price at which their libidinous enjoyments were
purchased, instils another poison into the mind, and destroys the
moral principles, while the disease corrupts and enervates the body. A
race of men, who, amidst all their savage roughness, their fiery
temper, and cruel customs, are brave, generous, hospitable, and
incapable of deceiving, are justly to be pitied, that love, the source
of their sweetest and happiest feelings, is converted into the origin
of the most dreadful scourge of life." In this last paragraph, there
is reason to imagine Mr F. has somewhat overstepped the modesty of
both history and nature - the former, by too high commendation of the
New Zealanders, who, whatever merit they may claim on other grounds,
can scarcely be said, at least if facts are to be trusted, to be
incapable of deceiving; and the latter, in ascribing greater influence
to love among these savages, than perhaps will ever be found
realised in such a condition of our nature.
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