many more such Arguments to encourage us, still remain to be us'd: But of all others, this which I am now alledging, is of the most weighty and important Consideration. If there can be a true Character given of the universal Temper of any Nation under Heaven; then certainly this must be ascrib'd to our Countrymen; that they have commonly an unaffected Sincerity; that they love to deliver their Minds with a sound Simplicity; that they have the middle Qualities, between the reserv'd subtile Southern, and the rough unhewn Northern People; that they are not extremely prone to speak; that they are more concern'd what others will think of the Strength, than of the Fineness of what they say; and that an universal Modesty possesses them. These Qualities are so conspicuous, and proper to our Soil; that we often hear them objected to us, by some of our Neighbour Satirists, in more disgraceful Expressions. For they are wont to revile the English, with a want of Familiarity; with a melancholy Dumpishness; with Slowness, Silence, and with the unrefin'd Sullenness of their Behaviour. But these are only the Reproaches of Partiality, or Ignorance; for they ought rather to be commended for an honourable Integrity; for a Neglect of Circumstances and Flourishes; for regarding Things of greater Moment, more than less; for a Scorn to deceive as well as to be deceived; which are all the best Indowments, that can enter into a philosophical Mind. So that even the Position of our Climate, the Air, the Influence of the Heaven, the Composition of the English Blood; as well as the Embraces of the Ocean, seem to join with the Labours of the Royal Society, to render our Country a Land of experimental Knowledge. And it is a good Sign, thatNature
