destroys, the masculine firmness of the character. In general the stile of manners which takes place in any nation, may commonly upon the whole be said to be that which is most suitable to its situation. Hardiness is the character most suitable to the circumstances of a savage; sensibility to those of one who lives in a very civilized society. Even here, therefore, we cannot complain that the mo|ral sentiments of men are very grossly per|verted.
It is not therefore in the general stile of conduct or behaviour that custom authorizes the widest departure from what is the natural propriety of action. With regard to parti|cular usages its influence is often much more destructive of good morals, and it is capable of establishing as lawful and blameless parti|cular actions which shock the plainest princi|ples of right and wrong.
Can there be greater barbarity, for exam|ple, than to hurt an infant? it's helplessness, ••t's innocence, it's amiableness, call forth the compassion, even of an enemy, and not to ••pare that tender age is regarded as the most furious effort of an enraged and cruel con|queror. What then should we imagine, must
