With respect to the pulling off the hat the Quakers have an additional objection to this custom, quite distinct from the objections, that have been mentioned above.  Every minister in the Quaker society takes off his hat, either when he preaches, or when he prays.  St Paul[55] enjoins this custom.  But if they take off their hats, that is, uncover their heads, as an outward act enjoined in the service of God, they cannot with any propriety take them off, or uncover their heads to men, because they would be giving to the creature the same outward honour which they give to the creator.  And in this custom they conceive the world to be peculiarly inconsistent.  For men go into their churches, and into their meetings, and pull off their hats, or uncover their heads, for the same reason as the Quaker-ministers when they pray (for no other reason can be assigned) and, when they come out of their respective places of worship, they uncover them again on every trivial occasion, to those whom they meet, using to man the same outward mark of homage, as they had just given to God.

[Footnote 55:  1 Cor.  Chap. xi.]

CHAP.  V.

Manners and conversation—­Quakers esteemed reserved—­this an appearance owing to their education—­their hospitality in their own houses—­the freedom allowed and taken—­their conversation limited—­politics generally excluded—­subjects of conversation examined in our towns—­also in the metropolis—­no such subjects among the Quakers—­their conversation more dignified—­extraordinary circumstance that takes place occasionally in the company of the Quakers.

The Quakers are generally supposed to be a stiff and reserved people, and to be a people of severe and uncourteous manners.  I confess there is something in their appearance that will justify the supposition in the eyes of strangers, and of such as do not know them:  I mean of such, as just see them occasionally out of doors, but do not mix with them in their own houses.

It cannot be expected that persons, educated like the Quakers, should assimilate much in their manners to other people.  The very dress they wear, which is so different from that of others, would give them a stiff appearance in the eyes of the world, if nothing else could be found to contribute towards it.  Excluded also from much intercourse with the world, and separated at a vast distance from it by the singularity of many of their customs, they would naturally appear to others to be close and reserved.  Neither is it to be expected that those, whose spirits are never animated by music, or enlivened by the exhibitions of the theatre, or the diversions which others follow, would have other than countenances that were grave.  Their discipline also, which calls them so frequently to important duties, and the dispatch of serious business, would produce the same feature.  I may observe also, that a peculiarity of gait, which might be mistaken