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PERSONAL DUTIES.

[Part IV.

Probably most persons can recollect the history of prejudicein their own minds. They can remember, when their favorableopinions of men and things did not extend beyond their ownneighbourhood, parish, or city. The distant parts of even theirown State were believed to be far inferior, in all respects, tothose in which they had their birth and education. The inhab-itants of other, and especially far distant States, were supposedto be far less moral, respectable, and estimable, than those oftheir own State. The inhabitants of all foreign countries were con-sidered little better than semi-barbarians. As they have advancedin life, however, and become more acquainted with men andthings, these prejudices have gradually vanished, and upon actualacquaintance, the people of distant States, cities, and countries,have been found to be very much like those of the neighbourhoodor city, which was the original scene of their observations and at-tachments. In like manner, the superiority which we claim forthe times in which we live, over times long since gone by, is,in great part, founded in prejudice.