now. The most simple
example is the foundation of the first State of America, say New
England, which has such a marked and such a deep national character. A
great number of persons agreeing in fundamental disposition, agreeing
in religion, agreeing in politics, form a separate settlement; they
exaggerate their own disposition, teach their own creed, set up their
favourite government; they discourage all other dispositions, persecute
other beliefs, forbid other forms or habits of government. Of course a
nation so made will have a separate stamp and mark. The original
settlers began of one type; they sedulously imitated it; and (though
other causes have intervened and disturbed it) the necessary operation
of the principles of inheritance has transmitted many original traits
still unaltered, and has left an entire New England character--in no
respect unaffected by its first character.

This case is well known, but it is not so that the same process, in a
weaker shape, is going on in America now. Congeniality of sentiment is
a reason of selection, and a bond of cohesion in the 'West' at present.
Competent observers say that townships grow up there by each place
taking its own religion, its own manners, and its own ways. Those who
have these morals and that religion go to that place, and stay there;
and those who have not these morals and that religion either settle
elsewhere at first, or soon pass on. The days of colonisation by sudden
'swarms' of like creed is almost over, but a less visible process of
attraction by similar faith over similar is still in vigour, and very
likely to continue.

And in cases where this principle does not operate all new settlements,
being formed of 'emigrants,' are sure to be composed of rather restless
people, mainly. The stay-at-home people are not to be found there, and
these are the quiet, easy people. A new settlement voluntarily formed
(for of old times, when people were expelled by terror, I am not
speaking) is sure to have in it much more than the ordinary proportion
of active men, and much less than the ordinary proportion of inactive;
and this accounts for a large part, though not perhaps all, of the
difference between the English in England, and the English in Australia.

The causes which formed New England in recent times cannot be conceived
as acting much upon mankind in their infancy. Society is not then
formed upon a 'voluntary system' but upon an involuntary. A man in
early