In confequence of this, clergymen are now funk in their rank in society, and fallen almost to that which schoolmasters held formerly; so that many of them are obliged to betake themselves to other fhifts, fuch as farming and grazing, in order to support their families. By this, their dignity, utility, and influence, are leffened; and the cause of religion and virtue, and, of course, the true intereft of the nation, fuffers: For, let our vain and new philofophers allege what they will, there can be no national prosperity, of any duration, without religion; and there can be no religion without a respectable clergy, nor a refpectable clergy without a decent maintenance being annexed to the office.

The experiments, whether a ftate can exift without-any established support for religion, and, what is bolder ftill, whether a state can exist without any religion at all, are both new in the hiftory of civilized fociety. But it is not difficult to foresee what the end of these things fhall be. The state that has no establishment for religion, will foon have no religion at all; and the ftate which has no religion at all, can have no comfort or fecurity whatever. Let us then hold fast by the system under which we have prospered, till fuch time, at leaft, as the experience of those who have adopted new systems shall fufficiently warrant us in the prudence of making any change.

"Wait the great teacher TIME, and God adore.".

Religion, taken in its lowest view, is certainly what its

average proportion of the tithe to the rent is nearly as 1 to 4 1-5th. But to the farmer this grievance is not so great as may be supposed. If he paid less tithe, he would pay so much the more rent; fo that it makes only the difference to him of fettling with two landlords inftead of one; and he may certainly derive more benefit from the religious establishments of his country than this trouble can amount to. The fame obfervation will hold in regard tp poor's rates.

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enemies used to allow, till now, abfolutely neceffary for the order and well-being of fociety. Its minifters fhould therefore be confidered as fervants of the public, and paid by government, like thofe in the administration of juftice. The church would thus be more dependent on the state, and the interests of both would be more intimately united. Preach+ ers of that righteoufnefs which exalteth a nation, deferve na tional encouragement; and promoters of that order, without which fociety cannot exist, deserve the fupport of fociety. The established clergy of Scotland, from their influence over the people, and firm attachment to the state, form one of the firmeft pillars upon which the fabric refts; and the state, and all who have a stake in it, ought to regard them as fuch, and by their fupport and example, do all that may be necessary to preferve religion and its ministers from falling into contempt, in order to preserve the ftate from falling into ruin *.

An order of men, whofe learning, talents, industry, and virtue, are all devoted to the public', should be maintained by the public in that rank which it is the interest of faciety they fhould always hold; that is, that they should not be rich, but that they should be comfortable and easy, in order that they

"Of all the difpofitions and habits (fays Prefident Washington) which "lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports, "In vain would that man claim the tribute of patriotifm, who fhould labour "to fubvert these great pillars of human happiness, these firmest props of the "duties of men. The mere politician, equally with the pious man, ought to "refpect and cherish them. A volume could not trace all their connection "with private and public felicity. Let it be fimply asked, Where is the fe "curity for property, for reputation, for life, if the sense of religious obliga"tion defert the oaths, which are the inftruments of investigation in courts "of justice? And let us with caution indulge the fuppofition that morality "can be maintained without religion. Whatever may be conceded to the in"fluence of refined education on minds of peculiar ftructure, reafon and experience both forbid us to expect that national morality can prevail in ex clufion of religious principle." Wafbington's Refignation,

may be refpected and useful. If this be not done, the men who should fill the office will naturally betake themselves to other employments, and their place will be supplied by such as ought to have neither lot nor part in this matter.

Parochial schoolmafters are in the fame predicament with ministers, and their fituation merits and demands the attention of the public. Parish schools are an inftitution peculiar to Scotland, and the wifeft that was ever devised by any nátion; for nothing can be of more importance to any nation. than to have the minds of the rifing generation ftored with ufeful knowledge, and with the principles of religion; which is the object of this inftitution. It is to be much regretted that the encouragement given to the teachers is fo inadequate to the importance and labour of their office, that men properly qualified are now feldom difpofed to follow the occupation. A schoolmaster should be a man of parts, learning, and virtue, in a very eminent degree, in order to qualify him for forming the minds of youth to public and private usefulness, to respect of character in this life, and to everlafting happiness beyond it; and the man who is qualified and appointed for fo important a business should be highly valued, and ought certainly to be eafy and independent. But, instead of this, he is depreffed and defpifed, and often obliged to fubfift on an income inferior to that of the ploughman*. In proportion as this evil grows, ignorance and vice muft grow along with it; and the effect which the growth of these must have upon the public happiness or national prosperity may be easily conceived. Nothing could be more ungenerous, or even more impolitic, than the oppofition lately given by the landed interest of Scotland to the application

* A lover of his country must be grieved to read in one of the statistical accounts of the three offices of beadle, grave-digger, and schoolmaster, being united in one perfon, and bringing in all an income of only 81, a-year!

made by this useful class of men for an addition to their falaries.

There are, however, in this county feveral schoolmasters whose falaries are above the maximum* which the law or dains for them. The charity fchools too, of which we have many †, are generally well encouraged by the heritors. few years ago the writer had occafion to point out to the feeretary of the Society for Propagating Christian Knowledge, two stations in the part of the country where he resides which stood much in need of schools, and was told that the fociety would give falaries, if the heritors would give the neceffary accommodations. This was no fooner fignified to the Duke of Argyle, than immediately he ordered 100l. to be given for building two flated houfes, and 10 l. a-year in addition to the falaries allowed by the fociety. It is by deeds like these, and not by his coat of arms or titles, that a great man is ennobled.

In fpeaking of schools, it may be proper to obferve, that of late years lefs pains than formerly are bestowed, both by parents and schoolmasters, in giving children a religious education. The great object now is only to fit them for business, as if the principles which lead to peace of mind and respect of character, and to every duty which is due to God and man, were matters of leffer moment. Even the short system of faith and practice contained in our church catechism, though it may be repeated in 20 minutes, is now thought too great a burden for the memory of children. The General Affembly of our church has, with great propriety, recommended of late to all minifters to attend to this important business; and it is hoped they will do so.

Abstracting from

* The maximum is 200, and the minimum 100 merks Scotch.

† On the continent are 21 charity schools on the first patent, their falaries 2221. 10s.; and 17 on the fecond patent, falaries 841. In the ifles, 13 on the firft patent, falaries 1691.; on the fecond patent 3, falaries 141.

the confiderations of eternity, a religious education, and a -mind well stored in youth with the maxims of piety, with prayers, pfalms, hymns, and portions of fcripture, must be abfolutely neceffary to make any one pass through life with comfort to himself, and with fatisfaction and utility to others.

SECT. IV.-Poor Rates.

In this county there are as yet no poor rates or affeffments. The poor are fupported by begging, by the collections made at the church doors, a few mortifications or bequeathments, and other cafualties. Such as are able to beg make a tolerable shift to live, as the people in general are disposed to be. charitable. But all the relief that can be given to those who are unable to go about, is scanty and inadequate. The poor, may be faid, are for the most part fupported by the poor. Some of our heritors have no refidence in the county; and many of our gentlemen, who think themfelves wifer than their fathers, are not always where they ought to be on Sunday, to give to the poor their offering.

it

This growing neglect of public worship and of the Sabbath, confidered only in a political view, is furely alarming. The Sabbath is the great fence of religion; religion the great fence of property, fecurity, peace, and order. Such as have much to lofe, even in the prefent world, fhould therefore be the foremost to obferve the Sabbath and all the ordinances of religion for if the multitude, ever prone to follow the example of those in any station above them, fhall, as may be well apprehended, follow their example in this, there will foon be an end to all order, and government must give place, to anarchy *.

* France was in profound peace (in the year 1787) when Neckar, in his book on the Importance of Religious Sentiments, founded the alarm of im