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Chap. VI.

I Shall now give as good an account of that Kingdom, as my short stay and best information will enable me. Bonhommica is an island, lying betwixt 35° 46′ and 40° 35′ degrees of south latitude. And 165° 33′ and 170° 46′ east longitude. It is of an irregular shape, having many indentings of arms of the sea, and mouths of rivers, which form generally good harbours. It lies in a temperate climate, the southern hemis-page 211phere being much colder in proportion to its latitude than the northern. A great part of it is naturally a good soil, some districts however are mountainous and barren enough; but even these are fit for pasture. Inclosures are only to be seen near Ludorow, and the other great cities; the rest of the country is open. It produces very good corn, of most of the kinds which we have in Europe; different sorts of wines, olive oil, and many kinds of roots, greens, and fruits, which are cultivated in their gardens. Their animals are horses, black cattle, sheep, goats, asses, swine, and plenty of tame fowl. Besides their wild animals, which are deer, foxes, hares, wolves and bears, &c. They have many considerable cities, amongst which, page 212Ludorow is the capital of the kingdom. It seems to be near one third as large as London, and stands on the banks of a beautiful navigable river; but it is far from being either handsome or magnificent. The streets are narrow, the houses of wood or brick, in a plain, but convenient enough stile of building. No magnificent churches, palaces, or squares adorn it; two of the churches indeed are large, and the royal palace, as well as severals belonging to the Lurgows, cover a great deal of ground, and have extensive gardens; but are all built in a stile of architecture, somewhat resembling what in Europe is called the gothic. The greatest beauty of that city in my opinion is, that you do not see a beggar; either occasioned by the virtue and industry page 213of the lower class of people, or by the private charities of the rich; for there is no poor-tax.

The inhabitants of Bonhommica are a well made, handsome people; very near as fair as the English; most commonly with blue eyes, but sometimes they are black or grey. Their hair, frequently of a reddish colour, but more commonly black, chesnut, or flaxen. The histories of this country, make them of a very ancient establishment in this Island, and even have some fabulous accounts of their being a colony from some far-distant country; but on these, no dependence is to be made.

The dress of the nobles, and better sort of gentry, is grave and decent; (resembling that of the Spaniards in page 214Philip II.'s time); the women covering up their arms and bosoms. It is made chiefly of woollen cloths or stuffs, manufactured by themselves. The nobility sometimes wear silks, or velvets, which they get from Luxo-volupto; but no gold or silver are worn on the clothes of either sex, excepting on state days, when her Majesty is sometimes, for the greater magnificence, dressed in stuffs adorned with these metals.

Before I enter upon their manners, it will be previously necessary to mention a peculiarity in these people, which greatly influences them. It is, that they have six senses. The sixth sense, but which they reckon the first, is the sense of conscience, or the moral sense; and they would much page 215rather be without any of the others, even the fight or hearing, than destitute of it. There are certainly some glimmerings of this sense, in other nations, but they are so slight, that they have been almost intirely overlooked. But in this people it is so apparent, that no doubt can be made of it. It is true they take a great deal of pains to cultivate it in their children, from their earliest infancy; arguing, that as we may strengthen our limbs or other senses by using them; so we may this sense, by constantly habituating them to the practice of it. To that end, the first eight or ten years of their education, (except in learning to read their own language, writing, arithmetic, and geography), is employed by their parents and masters in improving and fortify-page 216ing them in the use of that excellent sense. Their method of doing this, is chiefly by examples from their own history, and short stories written of virtuous actions, done by their countrymen or country-women. I need not say, that the sex makes no difference in this part of education; though after a certain age, it is carried on separately. The examinations which they go through, are not on a part of speech in a dead language; but to give their opinions in doubtful actions, whether they are blameable or praise-worthy; putting questions to them, how they would act in such and such situations, and rectifying their judgments if necessary. The good example shewed by all around them, has likewise no small influence. Rewards and punish-page 217ments are also used with great propriety; being certain badges of approbation or shame, worn for a certain time according to the merit or demerit of the wearer. Preventive methods are no less carefully attended to. They can meet with no improper books, as none such are published; and every word or action which shews a tendency to the depravation of the heart, is carefully watched and checked at its first appearance. To all these, the precepts of their religion are superadded, which shall be taken notice of in its proper place. During all this time, innocent amusements and diversions, are rather encouraged than otherwise; being looked on by them, as salutary both to the body and mind.

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The females are educated intirely under the maternal eye, who, from their retired way of life, have sufficient time, and take a pleasure in cultivating their young minds, and training them up, in all the virtue proper for their sex and station. Boarding schools for girls are not known in that country; where one or two vicious characters are sufficient to corrupt the whole.

When the boys are fourteen or fifteen, they are sent to the Cadorow, or the university; where they are carefully instructed in the learning which is in vogue in this country; having still a watchful eye to the strengthening and improving the moral sense: that learning chiefly consists in explaining the physics page 219metaphysics, logic, and other writings of an old author, called Aristorow, whom they look on as infallible; and he who understands him best, is deemed the most learned. They have not yet begun to think for themselves, and to investigate truth by reasoning and experiments.

From this, it will be concluded, that the state of learning is low among them; it certainly is so, in comparrison with England. Some Poets they have; but none deserving the name of an Historian. Of Mathematics, Geometry, Natural and Experimental Philosophy, Astronomy, Anatomy, Chymistry, Physics, and Natural History, they know but very little. The theory of Gravitation, by which the great Newton has explained page 220all the motions of the Planets and even of the Comets, they are intirely ignorant of; as well as of the later discovery of Electricity, which has brought so many wonders to light. The Moral sense is what they are chiefly to be valued for; and surely in the scale of human happiness, it vastly outweighs all our boasted acquisitions^*.

Their language is rough, but copious; resembling, in its found and the character they use, the German more than any other European tongue.

Writing they have been possessed of, for many centuries; but printing page 221is only a late discovery: which probably will diffuse knowledge among them, as it has done in Europe; but whether to their advantage or the contrary, is hard to determine.

The Bonhommicans are a brave, generous, and virtuous people; but their courage is only shewn in serving their country, and their virtue does not make them morose or self-sufficient. They are strongly attached to liberty, and great œconomists, both to preserve themselves independent, and be able to assist the necessitous. The Lurgows are much respected, which they take care to preserve by their manner of living; but superior virtues or abilities are much more so. A virtuous man is not despised because he is poor, nor a rich man page 222respected merely because he is such, without any other recommendation.

The men are generally chearful in conversation, but seldom lively, volatile, or giddy. In mixed companies, a modest reserve is the character of their women; but in their own houses, among their relations, that is laid aside, and they are lively and agreeable.

The occupations of each man's different profession employs his time; he spends none of it idly in drunkenness and debauchery, but returns home to his wife, whom he is sure to find attending to her domestic cares. Not but they entertain one another sometimes, and go to fee a play; but that happens but seldom, and does not deserve mentioning.

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The Lurgows who have not placed at court, reside constantly upon their estates in the country; where they keep open house for all their neighbours, serving them with their friendship and advice in the country, and their interest if necessary at court.

Their wives generally employ themselves, in the midst of a number of young women of small fortunes, on some great piece of needle-work for furniture; which, with music and visiting fills up their time very agreeably.

Games like chess and draughts, I have seen played at; but they know nothing of cards or dice, nor any kind of gaming for money.

The only conveyance known (till lately) in that country for all ranks page 224of people, is riding on horseback. Some few coaches have been within these few years introduced from Luxovolupto; of which her Majesty, and some of the first nobility, are the only possessors.

In their dealings and intercourse betwixt man and man, they are perfectly upright; and so far from taking an advantage of another, that if they find they have made a mistake to their own benefit, they are never easy in their minds till it is rectified. Some instances of this are given in the former chapter.

They are also punctual observers of their promises, and constant in their friendships.

Polygamy is not allowed of among them, but divorces are on three accounts, (though seldom used but for page 225the last), unfaithfulness, disagreement of tempers, and barrenness. Upon proofs of any one of these it is easily obtained, but care is taken that the children do not suffer. The women have the same right as the men; but the children always fall to the latter's care.

To prevent marriages being made from motives of interest and not from affection, the laws do not allow women to be capable of inheritance; but when their parents die, they are left an annuity sufficient to support them in the rank they had hitherto lived in; which upon their marriage devolves to the head of the family. If they are divorced, the husband is obliged to allow them the annuity again, or a greater, if he is of a higher rank than her father was.page 226The men frequently marry in a rank beneath them, as it does not degrade their family; but the women seldom or never do.

Duty and respect to parents, are justly carried to a great degree of veneration while they live; and when they die, they do not make use of an undertaker to put them in the ground, and perhaps send them out of their houses, as soon as their souls have departed. But all those (whom affliction has not rendered incapable) attend them to the grave, with true heart-felt sorrow, but no affected noisy exclamations of it. The place where their bodies are laid, is frequently visited by them, to call back to their remembrance, the many benefits, and wife instructions, they had received from the authors (under page 227God) of their being, and to fortify them in virtue.

Their government is a limited monarchy, like ours in Britain; consisting of a King (or Queen), Lurgows, or house of Lords, and delegates from the people called house of Burgows. The prerogative of the crown is great, and the claims of the people very extensive; yet they live in a perfect good understanding. The Queen has entirely gained the confidence of her subjects, from her prudent œconomy and wise measures of government; never asking money of her people, but when their safety and happiness makes it absolutely necessary.

The members of both houses have opportunities of shewing their parts page 228and oratorial abilities as in ours; but the moral sense has one bad effect on these occasions; it confines them to their real sentiments upon the subject they are speaking on, and consequently shortens very much their speeches, and cramps their genius.

Another very great obstruction to the formation of great orators in this country, is, there being no opposition to the court; by which the members might (if they were capable of using such means) force themselves into places, by their talents of harangueing; either for, or against the measures in question. This leaves to her Majesty the full exertion of her great judgment, in filling places with the persons most capable of well executing them.

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The delegates for the house of Burgows are chose with great quietness and decency; no candidates appear to canvas the electors; no houses are open to treat them with victuals and liquor, and make them neglect their business for weeks together. The principal consideration of the electors is to find out, who are the most virtuous men among them; and of those which can best be spared from their avocations. When they have fixed on the person, a deputation is sent to him, begging he will take the trouble of representing the county or borough in the Witterow: the expence of which will be bore by them. If he undertakes it, they go in a body and return him thanks; if otherwise, they fix on somebody else, until such time as one accepts.

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Salaries are annexed to all places under government, in proportion to their dignity and trust; but all very low in comparison with ours in England; the public money being carefully husbanded. But that does not prevent their being accepted of by the worthiest men, as they believe it an honour as well as a duty to serve their country. And it is a very common thing for the Lurgows and rich Burgows, to decline the acceptance of their salaries; saying, there was no merit in serving for hire, and that it was a shame for those who could live in splendour without it, to prey upon their country.

Sine-cure places are not known in Bonhommica; nor are perquisites of any kind allowed to be taken, in any of the public offices: but business is page 231carried on (to my own knowledge in most of them) with great civility, accuracy, and dispatch.

The taxes are very low, consisting of about two-pence in the pound on the rent of land; and duties on articles of Merchandise imported, and on some exports. These duties are collected at a very small expence, as the Merchants are very punctual in paying their duties at the proper offices without being called on: and scarcely one instance is known of an attempt to defraud the government by smuggling; it being looked upon as a kind of sacrilege against their country.

Bonhommica, besides its coasting trade, which breeds a great number of good sailors, has a pretty consider-page 232able foreign one. They have factories at Miro-volante, Seripante, and some other places; and the first named city has one at Ludorow, from a member of which, I had some instructions in the Luxo-voluptan language. Their exports are fine and coarse cloths of their own manufacture, corn of different kinds, wine, oil, household furniture, &c. &c. Imports are silks, velvets, linen cloths, cotton ditto; wines of higher flavour, spices, porcelane, curious pieces of workmanship in gold or silver, pictures, statutes, &c. from Luxo-volupto; wool &c. as mentioned before, from Auditante, and other commodities too tedious to mention, from these and other places. On the whole, I learned from good hands, that the balance page 233was considerably in favour of Bonhommica.

A standing army is not kept up in this country, in time of peace; as in their opinion it would be dangerous to liberty, withdrawing a number of hands from the national industry; and from the idleness in which soldiers generally pass their time, when not employed in warlike operations, might be dangerous to their virtue.

In place of that, they have an excellent Militia of 40,000 men, who are carefully disciplined for three weeks, twice a year; and have arms and cloathing lodged for them in the hall of each county town, to be ready on any emergency.

I am persuaded very great dependence may be placed on this Militia. page 234Officers and Men whose breasts are animated with the love of their country, at the same time that their bodies are healthy and vigorous, from habits of sobriety and industry would be very formidable to any invaders. But except it were to assist a people whose liberties were oppressed, I question whether they could be brought to leave their country, and act offensively upon such quarrels as our European wars are commonly grounded.

Their arms are bows and pikes, with some few clumsy muskets, as has been already mentioned.

Having had the use of great guns for a considerable time, a regiment of artillery is constantly kept up, and a small corps of engineers.

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Her Majesty's great penetration having discovered to her, that the best defence of an Island was a powerful navy, has laboured for some years to create (as I may term it) a maritime force, and not without success. She has already got between thirty and forty ships of war of all sizes; the largest of which indeed, does not equal one of our ships of fifty guns; but that is a great deal for the time; and as her subjects make excellent sailors, I have no doubt but in a century or two (if the same wise measures are pursued) that kingdom will become a great maritime power. Happy am I in the reflection, that it has been my good fortune, to contribute in some small degree to the attaining of such wise purposes. So page 236great a Princess, and such virtuous subjects, deserve the assistance of God and Man.

The Queen, though unguarded, (but by a few halberdiers, more for show than use), is safe in the affections of her people. Her court, without being adorned with jewels, or the precious metals, derives a great lustre from the characters of all who belong to it. She affects pomp and show, from her knowledge of their effects on the minds of men, but takes care they do not cost more than they are worth, being perfect mistress of the uncommon talent, of uniting œconomy with dignity.

The principal officers of her household, and ladies of her bed-chamber, are generally above receiving their page 237falaries; but nevertheless are punctual in their attendance, and have the honour of eating at her Majesty's table. One is kept for the maids of honour, who in other respects think themselves sufficiently honoured by their appointment; her Majesty being very careful in her choice of these young women, and consequently they are sure of marrying well.

Her Majesty has no fixed days, and hours, for receiving those of her subjects, who are intitled by their rank to appear at court. She lives at her palace like the mother of a great family; seeing them at all hours: at her rising, and going to bed, as well as at other times. And once a week when the court is in Ludorow, she dines in public, when all ranks and page 238degrees are admitted into the galleries which overlook the saloon. These things certainly help to make her popular, though it may be thought a great constraint, and very disagreeable to live always in public. She knows however very well when to be alone, or with a particular society; and has such an authoritative manner, that the least hint or nod is observed and obeyed. Sometimes balls are given at court, when they dance according to their fashion, which is graceful enough. Masks are also exhibited, and sometimes tragedies and comedies in the theatre of the palace. But her Majesty sees them more frequently at the public one, mixing with all ranks of her people in their amusements, where page 239she is received with great acclamations.

They have an entertainment which is only given at court on extraordinary occasions; such as the visit of some great foreign prince, whom they intend doing honour to. It is of a military nature, somewhat resembling the tilts and tournaments we read of in former times. The Bonhommicans are very expert at it, and generally use the Auditantine horses on these occasions, as they are handsomer and more docile than their own. One of them was held when I was at Ludorow, in honour of prince Anjonvini, who came from another large Island to propose marriage to her Majesty. She paid him great honours, and as it suited her politics, even gave him some encouragement, page 240but concluded nothing. The Prince penetrating her designs, took leave, and returned to his own country.

It may be perceived from what has been said, that money is not a principal object with this virtuous nation; but they are greatly ambitious of being distinguished by their sovereign, and proud of being employed by her. To be raised to the rank of Lurgow, or from a lower to a higher rank in that line, is not indifferent to them; and the wearing a certain garter for life is much coveted. There are but few who have the latter privilege, and their number is always kept full. But the Lurgowship is entirely in her Majesty's power, to create as many as she pleases: this however she is very sparing of, the better to keep up its value.

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Never was there a civilised nation on earth, which had so little occasion for laws as this I am now writing of, because they are a law unto themselves; but none can do absolutely without them. The laws of Bonhommica are wife, plain, and few; their whole code being comprised in a small octavo volume. They do not think those laws can be good, which are always requiring alteration or amendment. Sometimes, however, the Witterow find it necessary, from the vicissitude of human affairs, to make new ones; but that seldom happens. An excellent preliminary one is, that no suit shall be above a month before any court until it is determined. The judges are made independent of the crown as in England; but in comparison with ours, their places are per-page 242fect sine-cures. When any case of property, of too great intricacy to be unravelled by the moral sense, falls out; the parties refer it to three of the wisest of their neighbours, whom they empower to take the opinions of counsel at their joint expence, and oblige themselves to abide by the determination of these umpires. But should it happen, that from the tenderness of their consciences, they are prevented from coming to a decision, it is then amicably submitted to a judge and jury. Though they have a right to appeal to the house of Lurgows, it is very seldom carried so far.

It will readily be perceived, that the Law here is not near so lucrative a profession as in England; nor is page 243there a tenth part of the number of its professors. The counsellors live in hopes of being judges, and the attorneys by writing deeds, contracts, &c. &c.

In their criminal law, death is only inflicted on those who are guilty of the most atrocious offences; and then it is executed with great solemnity, attended with all the circumstances which can move the spectators with horror, without cruelty to the sufferer. For smaller crimes, hard labour for a certain term is the usual punishment; but if they seem incorrigible (to prevent their corrupting others), they are banished to Luxovolupto, where they pass very well.

There had not been a capital punishment in the whole kingdom, page 244during the reign of her present Majesty, which had lasted betwixt sixteen and seventeen years; and while I was in Ludorow there was none of any kind, excepting one poor woman, who was led about the streets with a paper on her breast for being given to lying.

The religion of this country, or to speak more properly, the Seraphite religion (for it is not professed here only, but in Luxo-volupto and other countries), seems to me, of all the false ones which have got footing in the world, to be the best; for I can give no faith to Its pretended divine original. The tradition they have concerning its founder, is as follows:

That eight enturies ago, Serapha (a native of the island of Bonemolo, page 245500 leagues from Bonhommica) lying one night awake in his bed, saw a beautiful apparition in a human form, whose whole person was illumined, and spoke to him thus,—Serapha you are a good man, and I have chose you to reform your countrymen, and the rest of the world, from idolatry, and the other crimes they are in constant practice of. Go then and inform them what you have seen, and that it is my command they no longer worship idols made by their own hands, but that great power which made and sustains all things. That the worship they pay, should be a spiritual one, adoring his power and goodness, praying for his constant protection, and thanking him for benefits received. Let them know that their souls are immortal, and page 246according to their lives here, will their state in a future life be happy or miserable. When you have made some progress in your mission, I will again see you, and give more particular directions concerning their behaviour to one another. Serapha remained in the greatest awe and surprise for some time after it disappeared; he considered with himself, whether it was not a dream, and being convinced that he had been awake the whole time, believed it was something supernatural, and ought to be obeyed.

Next day, he acquainted his friends with the message he had orders to deliver; some made a jest of it, but others were flruck with the sublimity of the doctrine. It gained ground page 247by degrees, so that the whole inhabitants of Bonemolo in a short time destroyed their idols, and left off many of their crimes.

Two years and three months after its first appearance, Serapha had another visit from the apparition, in the night also when lying in bed. It said to him, he had done well, that his countrymen had broke their idols to pieces, and seemed to be in a disposition to make a thorough reformation in their lives; to assist them in which, he had brought him, according to his promise, a directory or guide, by which they ought to conduct themselves, if they, valued their own happiness either in this world or the next. He then gave Serapha a book, and desired him to page 248be active in spreading the benefits it contained, for that he should see him no more, upon which he vanished from his sight.

Serapha immediately arose, and struck a light, to examine the book; which was wrapped in a mantle of fine stuff, the like of which had never been seen in that island. The writing was in the Bonemolo language, but so exquisitely performed, that no body could come any thing near imitating its beauty, when many copies were at first taken. That original writing is lodged in the chief temple of Bonemolo, and is held in the highest reverence. Many translations have been made of it into different languages; and it is called the Serephatic (or holy book). I read page 249a great part of it, and acknowledge it to be a very good system of morality; inferior only to our gospel in the perfection of its doctrines. This Religion spread over many countries, when Serapha, grown old and in high veneration, suddenly disappeared, and was never heard of more. The followers of his religion concluded he was taken from among them alive, into the divine abode, where good men were to be rewarded; but pay no worship to him, nor to the apparition, for which they have no other name, as it never explained itself to Serapha on that head.

The disappearing of Serapha, is the Æra from which they begin to compute their time.

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I never heard of any famous disciples or followers that he had, or of any fects formed amongst them.

Their temples are some of them large, but unadorned; no statues or pictures being allowed of in them.

The worship is simple, consisting of prayers in general terms, and sometimes in seasons of distress for particular benefits; and thanksgivings for constant support and protection.

One day in the week is appointed for that purpose, but they have no holydays.

Their clergy is held in great esteem, and their pious and exemplary lives truly intitle them to it. They have however neither wealth nor power, but are supported in a decent medi-page 251ocrity by the state, and are dismissible from their functions at pleasure by the crown; but of that there is no instance remembered.

As there is no hierarchy, and consequently no dignitaries, &c. the priests are few, being only one to each parish, and sometimes two, when it happens to be very extensive. Visitation of the sick is a duty most conscientiously performed by them; but I never heard of, or saw any preaching. Probably they think it unnecessary, as what they are to believe concerning the unity, wisdom, power, justice, &c. &c. of the deity is so very plain; the moral sense supplying also so well what is required of them to their neighbour. I shall conclude this chapter with observing, page 252that their temples on days of worship are amazingly crouded; and the whole congregation seem actuated with a fervor of devotion and adoration, truly worthy of this virtuous people.