of our nature, these poor people, whose
ignorance is their excuse, have been instigated to, both by the French
and English colonies, who, with a fury truly diabolical, have offered
rewards to those who brought in the scalps of their enemies. Rousseau
has taken great pains to prove that the most uncultivated nations are
the most virtuous: I have all due respect for this philosopher, of
whose writings I am an enthusiastic admirer; but I have a still greater
respect for truth, which I believe is not in this instance on his side.

There is little reason to boast of the virtues of a people, who are
such brutal slaves to their appetites as to be unable to avoid
drinking brandy to an excess scarce to be conceived, whenever it falls
in their way, though eternally lamenting the murders and other
atrocious crimes of which they are so perpetually guilty when under its
influence.

It is unjust to say we have corrupted them, that we have taught them
a vice to which we are ourselves not addicted; both French and English
are in general sober: we have indeed given them the means of
intoxication, which they had not before their intercourse with us; but
he must be indeed fond of praising them, who makes a virtue of their
having been sober, when water was the only liquor with which they were
acquainted.

From all that I have observed, and heard of these people, it appears
to me an undoubted fact, that the most civilized Indian nations are
the most virtuous; a fact which makes directly against Rousseau's ideal
system.

Indeed all systems make against, instead of leading to, the
discovery of truth.

Pere Lafitau has, for this reason, in his very learned comparison of
the manners of the savages with those of the first ages, given a very
imperfect account of Indian manners; he is even so candid as to own, he
tells you nothing but what makes for the system he is endeavoring to
establish.

My wish, on the contrary, is not to make truth subservient to any
favorite sentiment or idea, any child of my fancy; but to discover it,
whether agreable or not to my own opinion.

My accounts may therefore be false or imperfect from mistake or
misinformation, but will never be designedly warped from truth.

That the savages have virtues, candor must own; but only a love of
paradox can make any man assert they have more than polished nations.

Your Lordship asks me what is the general moral character of the
Canadians; they are simple and hospitabl