It has been long known again, that as the early Christians extended their benevolence out of the pale of their own society to others who lived around them, so the Quakers manifest a similar disposition towards their countrymen at large.  In matters of private distress, where persons of a different religious denomination have been the objects, and where such objects have been worthy, their purses have been generally open, and they have generally given as largely in proportion to their abilities as other people.  To public charities in their respective places of residence, they have generally administered their proper share.  But of late years, as they have mixed more with the world, this character of the society has become more conspicuous or better known.  In the cases of dearth and distress, which happened a few years ago, it is a matter of publicity, that they were among the foremost in the metropolis, and in same other towns in the kingdom, not only in pecuniary contributions, but in frequent and regular attendances for the proper distribution of them.  And if their character has ever stood higher for willingness to contribute to the wants of others at any one time than at another, it stands the highest, from whatever cause it may happen, at the present day.

It has been long known again, that as the early Christians extended their love beyond their own society, and beyond those of the world who lived around them, to those who were reputed natural enemies in their own times, so the Quakers do not confine their benevolence to their own countrymen, but extend it to the various inhabitants of the globe, without any discrimination, whether they are reputed hostile to the government under which they live.  In times of war we never see them bearing arms, and in times of victory we never see them exulting, like other people.  We never see them illuminating their houses, or running up and down the streets, frantic with joy upon such occasions.  Their joy, on the other hand, is wounded by the melancholy consideration of the destruction of the human race, when they lament, with almost equal sympathy, over the slaughter of enemies and friends.

But this character of a benevolent people has been raised higher of late years in the estimation of the public by new circumstances or by the unanimous and decided part, which they have taken as a body, in behalf of the abolition of the slave-trade.  For where has the injured African experienced more sympathy than from the hearts of Quakers?  In this great cause the Quakers have been singularly conspicuous.  They have been actuated as it were by one spring.  In the different attempts, made for the annihilation of this trade, they have come forward with a religious zeal.  They were at the original formation of the committee for this important object, where they gave an almost unexampled attendance for years.  I mentioned in the preceding volume, that near a century ago, when this question had not awakened the general