The Quakers have not the same classical or philosophical
education, as those of other denominations in an equal situation in
life. This circumstance will of course exclude many topics from their
discourse.
Religious considerations also exclude others. Politics, which generally
engross a good deal of attention, and which afford an inexhaustible fund
of matter for conversation to a great part of the inhabitants of the
island, are seldom introduced, and, if introduced, very tenderly
handled in general among the Quaker-society. I have seen aged Quakers
gently reprove others of tenderer years, with whom they happened to be
in company, for having started them. It is not that the Quakers have not
the same feelings as other men, or that they are not equally interested
about humanity, or that they are incapable of opinions on the changeable
political events, that are passing over the face of the globe, that this
subject is so little agitated among them. They are usually silent upon
it for particular reasons. They consider first, that, as they are not
allowed to have any direction, and in many cases could not
conscientiously interfere, in government-matters, it would be folly to
disquiet their minds with vain and fruitless speculations.
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