is last--this worse disgrace to a free
government, will finally and forever be done away.

While we look back on our native country with emotions of pity and
indignation at the outrages which humanity has sustained in the
persons of the virtuous Muir, and his patriotic associates; and
deeply lament the fatal apathy into which our countrymen have
fallen; we desire to be thankful to the Great Author of our being
that we are in America, and that it has pleased Him, in his Wise
Providence, to make the United States an asylum not only from the
immediate tyranny of the British Government, but also from those
impending calamities, which its increasing despotism and
multiplied iniquities, must infallibly bring down on a deluded and
oppressed people.

Accept, Sir, of our affectionate and best wishes for a long
continuance of your health and happiness.

The answer of the aged philosopher to this address was:

I think myself peculiarly happy in finding in this country so many
persons of sentiments similar to my own, some of whom have
probably left Great Britain or Ireland on the same account, and to
be so cheerfully welcomed by them on my arrival. You have already
had experience of the difference between the governments of the
two countries, and I doubt not, have seen sufficient reason to
give the decided preference that you do to that of this. There all
liberty of speech and of the press as far as politics are
concerned, is at an end, and a spirit of intolerance in matters of
religion is almost as high as in the time of the Stuarts. Here,
having no countenance from government, whatever may remain of this
spirit, from the ignorance and consequent bigotry, of former
times, it may be expected soon to die away; and on all subjects
whatever, every man enjoys invaluable liberty of speaking and
writing whatever he pleases.

The wisdom and happiness of Republican governments and the evils
resulting from hereditary monarchical ones, cannot appear in a
stronger light to you than they do to me. We need only look to the
present state of Europe and of America, to be fully satisfied in
this respect. The former will easily reform themselves, and among
other improvements, I am persuaded, will be the removal of that
vestige of servitude