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258 advance the prosperity of the republic. They brought with them a large portion of liberality of sentiment, and, from personal suffering and experience, a determined aversion to every species of religious persecution. The sentiments of moderation, which perhaps they at first adopted through necessity, or to place in a disadvantageous view the conduct of their triumphant adversaries, became in course of time fundamental maxims, increasing in solidity and firmness as the lapse of years wore away the asperities of .ersonal resentments.

The respectable sect of Quakers is less numerous in Holland than I should have expected for a religious community whose manners and habits seem so suitable to the genius of the Dutch nation. The Anabaptist congregations are large, and dispersed over all parts of the republic. The members of this persuasion have always shewn themselves warmly attached to civil and religious liberty, and the weight of their influence has constantly been thrown into the patriotic scale.