APPENDIX.

256

alone that such insuperable barriers are fixed; themembers of each cast adhere invariably to theprofession of their forefathers. From generationto generation, the fame families have followed,and will always continue to follow ^ one uniformline of life.

Such arbitrary arrangements of the variousmembers which compose a community, seem, atfirst vievV, to be adverse to improvement either inscience or in arts; and by forming around thedifferent orders of men , artificial barriers, whichit would be impious to pass, tend to circumscribethe operations of the human mind within anarrower sphere than nature has allotted to them.When every man is at full liberty to direct hisefforts towards those objects and that end whichthe impulse of his own mind prompts him toprefer, he may be expected to attain that highdegree of eminence to which the uncontrouledexertions of genius and industry naturally conduct.The regulations of Indian policy, with respect tothe different orders of men , must necessarily, atsome times, check genius in its career, and confineto the functions of an inferior cast, talents fittedto shine in a higher sphere. But the arrangementsof civil government are made, not for what isextraordinary but for what is common; not forthe few, hut for the many. The object of thefirst Indian legislators was to employ the mosteffectual means of providing for the subsistence,the security, and happiness of all the members ofthe community over which they presided. With

this