nclude, that they had dull and gloomy minds, and that they
could not be upon the whole a happy people. Such a conclusion, however,
would be contrary to the fact. On my first acquaintance with them I was
surprised, seeing the little variety of their pursuits, at the happiness
which they appeared to enjoy, but as I came to a knowledge of the
constitution and state of the society, the solution of the problem
became easy.

It will not be difficult to develope the subordinate causes of this
happiness.[42] To shew the first of these, I shall view the society in
the three classes of the rich, the middle, and the poor. Of the rich, I
may observe, that they are not so affluent in general as the rich of
other bodies. Of the middle, that they are upon the whole in better
circumstances than others of the same class in life. Of the poor, that
they are not so poor as others in a similar condition. Now the rich in
the Quaker society have of course as many of the comforts of life in
their power as they desire. The middle classes in this society have more
of these than the middle classes of other denominations. The poor in the
same society have also more of these, in consequence of the handsome
provision which is made for them, than others in a similar situation
with themselves. There is therefore upon the whole a greater
distribution of the comforts of life, among all the ranks of this
society, than is to be found in any other community, in proportion to
their numbers. But this superior state, in point of comfortable
circumstances, ought to be undoubtedly a source of superior happiness.
For where the comforts of life are wanting, it is in vain to suppose men
can be happy, unless their minds are more than usually comforted by
their religion.

[Footnote 42: Religion, which includes positive virtues, and an absence
from vices, joined to a peaceful conscience and a well grounded hope of
a better life, is the first and greatest cause of happiness, and may
belong to all. But I confine myself, in this chapter, to such causes
only as may be called subordinate, and in which the Quakers are more
particularly concerned.]

Another source of their happiness may be found in their domestic
situation. The Quakers, as I have observed before, in consequence of
denying themselves the pleasures of the world, have been obliged to
cherish those which are found in domestic life. In the fashionable
world, men and their wives seldom follow their pleasures t