A journey to the world under-ground
incomprehensible God_, and it falls on the first Day of the Month of
_Oaks_. The other Festivals are celebrated at four other Seasons of the
Year, and were instituted to return Thanks to God for the Blessings of
his Providence. The Absentees, unless they are able to give very just
Reasons for their Absence, are deem’d bad Subjects, and live totally
disregarded. The Publick Forms of Prayer are so devis’d, as not to
regard the People who pray, but the Welfare of the Prince or the State.
None prays in Publick for himself. The Design of which Institution
is, that the _Potuans_ may believe that the Happiness of Individuals
is so closely connected with that of the Publick, that they cannot
be separated. None are compell’d by Force or by Fines to attend the
Publick Worship, for as they are of Opinion that Piety consists chiefly
in Love, and as Experience teaches them that Love is dampt and not
inflam’d by Force, therefore it must be an unprofitable and a wicked
Thing, to use Compulsion in the Case of Religion. This Point they thus
illustrate. Should a Husband desire a reciprocal Affection from his
Consort, and should he hope to conquer her Coldness and Indifference
by Blows, he would be so far from kindling up her Love by this Method,
that her Indifference would increase, and end in Abhorence and
Detestation.
These are some of the principal Doctrines of the _Potuan_ Divinity,
which to some must appear like mere natural Religion; and so indeed
it did at first to me. But they assert that all was divinely reveal’d
to them, and that some Ages ago they receiv’d a Book which contain’d
their System of Faith and Practice. Formerly, say they, our Ancestors
liv’d contented with the Religion of Nature only; but Experience taught
them, that the sole Light of Nature was insufficient, since all those
noble Principles thro’ the Sloth and Carelesness of some were forgot,
and thro’ an airy Philosophy of others, (nothing being able to check
their licentious Career) were utterly deprav’d and corrupted. Hereupon
God gave them a written Law. Hence it appears how great is their Error,
who obstinately deny the Necessity of a Revelation. For my Part, I
freely own, that many Points of this Theology seem’d to me, if not
Praise-worthy, yet by no Means to be despised. To some I could not
assent. But one Thing there is deserving all our Admiration, namely,
that in Times of War the Conquerors, returning from the Field, instead
of that Joy and Triumph with which we celebrate Victories, and sing
_Te Deum_, pass some Days in deep Silence, as if they were ashamed
of having been obliged to shed Blood. Therefore there is very little
Mention of military Affairs in the Subterranean Annals, which are
chiefly Records of Civil Matters, such as their Laws, Institutions, and
Foundations.
CHAP. VII.
_Of their Policy._
In the _Potuan_ Empire an hereditary, and indeed lineal Succession
has flourish’d for a full Thousand Years; and the same is at this
Day religiously observ’d. Their Annals indeed discover, that in one
Instance they departed from this Order of Succession. For since right
Reason seem’d to require, that Rulers should excel their Subjects
in Wisdom and all the Endowments of the Mind, hence it was thought
necessary that Virtue should be more regarded than Birth, and that
he should be elected for their Sovereign, who should be thought the
most excellent and worthy among the Subjects. Upon this the ancient
Succession being laid aside, the supreme Power by the general Voice was
conferr’d upon a Philosopher, nam’d _Rabbacku_. At first he govern’d
with such Prudence and with such Mildness, that he seem’d a Pattern
for succeeding Princes. But these happy Times were but of short
Duration; and the _Potuans_ were too late convinc’d of the Falshood
of that Maxim, which holds, “That the Kingdom is happy, where a
Philosopher is at the Helm.” For since the new Sovereign was rais’d
from the meanest Fortune to the Height of Power, his Virtues and all
his Arts of Government could not procure or maintain that Veneration,
that Respect, that Majesty, which is the great Support of a Monarch’s
Power. Those who but lately had been his Equals or Superiors, could
hardly be brought to bow to an Equal or Inferior, or to pay the new
Prince that Measure of Obedience due from Subjects to their Rulers;
and therefore when any strict or troublesome Commands were laid upon
them, they murmur’d loud, and never regarded what the Prince then was,
but what he was before his Exaltation. Hence he was forc’d to have
Recourse to submissive Flatteries; and even this availed not; for after
these Submissions, being obliged to issue out his Commands and Edicts,
they were still receiv’d with Frowns and with Reluctance. _Rabbacku_
then perceiving, that other Means were necessary to keep the Subjects
to their Duty, from a mild and popular Behaviour, he now chang’d his
Measures, and treated his People with Severity. But alas! by this
Extream, those Sparks which lay conceal’d under the Ashes, now broke
into an open Flame; the Subjects rose in Arms against their Prince, and
one Rebellion not thoroughly subdued and laid asleep, was the Beginning
of another. The Monarch finding at length that the Government could
no longer subsist but under a Sovereign of illustrious Descent, whose
high Birth might extort a Veneration from the People, made a voluntary
Abdication of the Empire in Favour of the Prince, who in Right of Birth
should have succeeded. The ancient Family being thus restor’d, Peace
was restor’d with it, and all those Storms, which had shatter’d the
Vessel of the Commonwealth, at once subsided. From that Time it was
made Capital to attempt any Innovation in the Order of Succession.
The Empire therefore is now hereditary, and probably will remain
so till Time shall be no more, unless the most urgent and extreme
Necessity oblige them to deviate from this Rule. Mention is made in the
_Potuan_ Annals, of a Philosopher who devis’d an Expedient to break
thro’ this Law. His Counsel was not to set aside the Royal Family,
but to make Choice of that Son of the deceas’d Sovereign, be it elder
or younger, whose Virtues were more eminent, and who should be deem’d
most equal to the Weight. This Philosopher, having propos’d this Law,
submitted himself (according to the Custom of his Country) to the usual
Test, namely, to have his Neck in a Halter, while they were debating
about the Utility of the propos’d Law. The Senate being assembled, and
the Votes cast up, the Proposal was condemn’d as a Thing detrimental to
the Commonwealth. They believ’d it would be the Source of perpetual
Troubles, and would sow the Seeds of Discord between the Royal Progeny;
that therefore it was more advisable for the old Law to take Place, and
that the Right of Dominion should still devolve upon the First-Born,
altho’ the younger Issue might excel in the Endowments of the Mind. The
Law therefore not passing, the Projector was strangled. And these are
the only Species of Criminals that are punish’d with Death. For the
_Potuans_ are persuaded, that every Change or Reformation, however well
digested, gives Occasion to Disturbance and Commotion, and puts the
whole State into a fluctuating and unsettled Condition; but if it be a
rash and ill-digested Alteration, it is followed with inevitable Ruin.
The Power of the _Potuan_ Monarchs, altho’ subject to no Laws, is yet
rather a paternal than a regal Power. For being naturally Lovers of
Justice, Power, and Liberty, Things totally incompatible elsewhere, do
here go Hand in Hand.
Among the Laws of this Kingdom, the most salutary is that by which the
Princes endeavour to preserve an Equality between the Subjects, that
is, as far as the Nature of Government will admit. You see here no
different Ranks and Titles of Honour. Inferiors obey their Superiors,
and the Younger the Elder; and this is all.
The subterranean Memoirs shew, that some Ages ago such Classes of
Dignities were in use, and that they were establish’d by Law; but it
appear’d that they were the Source of infinite Disorders. It was an
intolerable Evil, for an elder Brother to give Place to his younger,
or a Parent to his Child; so that at length each shunning the other’s
Company, it put a Stop to all Conversation and good Fellowship. But
these were not the only Grievances. For in Process of Time it came
to that Pass, that the more noble and worthy Trees, whom Nature had
bless’d with the strongest Capacities, and with the greatest Number of
Branches, were seated in the lowest Places at Feasts and Assemblies.
For no Tree of real Virtue and intrinsick Worth, could bring himself
to sue for a Title or Mark of Preheminence, which from his Soul he
despis’d. And on the contrary, the more profligate and worthless Sort
of Trees would incessantly teaze their Royal Master with Petitions,
till they had even extorted a Title that might in a Manner hide the
Poverty of their Nature, and be a Skreen for their Vices. Hence it came
to pass, that Titles were at last look’d upon as certain Indications
of the vilest Trees. Their Festivals and solemn Meetings, were, to
Strangers, a Spectacle the most absurd that can be imagin’d. There
might they behold Brambles and Bushes in the most honourable Seats,
while the lofty Cedar and the noble Oak, each of whom Nature had
adorn’d with ten or twelve Tire of Branches, took the remotest and
most obscure Seats. Even the Ladies had Titles; they were Counsellors
of the Houshold, Counsellors of State, Counsellors of Court. And this
blew up the Coals of Discord more in that weaker Sex than in the other.
To such an Excess this vain Ambition rose, that they to whom Nature
had been so unkind, as to afford them no more than two or three Pair
of Branches, even they absurdly affected the Title of _Trees of ten or
twelve Branches_. This Vanity is just as ridiculous, as if the most
deform’d Monster in Nature should affect to pass for a Beauty, or a
Man of the meanest Original give himself the Airs of a Man of Quality.
When this Evil had arriv’d to its highest Pitch, and the whole Kingdom
upon the Brink of being ruin’d, every Mortal grasping at empty Names,
and dishonourable Titles, a certain Native of _Keba_ had the Hardiness
to propose a Law for the abolishing this Custom. This same Person was,
according to the usual Custom, brought into the _Forum_, with a Halter
about his Neck. The Senate being set, and proceeding to vote, the
Proposal passed without any open Opposition, and was judg’d useful to
the Commonwealth. Upon this he was crown’d with a Garland of Flowers,
and led into the City in Triumph, amidst the Shouts and Acclamations
of the Populace. And when in Process of Time it was discover’d how
advantageous the Repeal of these Laws was, the Projector was advanc’d
to the Honour of _Kadoki_, or High Chancellor.
Ever since this Time, the Law for preserving this Equality among the
Subjects, has been inviolably observ’d. Yet the Repeal did not put a
Stop to all Emulation; for every one now endeavour’d to shine by true
Virtue and real Merit. It appears from the Annals of this Empire, that
from that Time to this, has been but one Projector who twice attempted
to revive the Distinction of Dignities; but for his first Effort he
was condemn’d to the _Venæ-section_, and since he persisted in his
Attempt, he was banish’d to the Firmament. Now therefore no Ranks or
Titles of Honour obtain here, only the supreme Magistrate declares
some Professions to be nobler than others, by which Declaration,
notwithstanding, nobody has a Right of assuming the chief Seats in
publick Assemblies. This small Difference we find in the Edicts and
Letters mandatory of the Sovereign, which generally end with these