But though character be of so much importance in life, there are few who estimate it, either when they view it individually or collectively, as if really is.  It is often, on the one hand, heightened by partiality, and, on the other, lowered by prejudice.  Other causes also combine to afford wrong apprehensions concerning it.  For as different diseases throw out often the same symptoms, and the judgment of the physician is baffled, so different motives produce frequently similar actions, and the man who tries to develop a character, even if he wishes to speak truth, finds himself at a loss to pronounce justly upon it.

As these failings and difficulties have attended men in estimating the character of individuals, so they seem to have attended those who have attempted to delineate that of the society of the Quakers.  Indeed, if we were to take a view of the different traits which have been assigned to the latter, we could not but conclude, that there must have been some mistake concerning them.  We should have occasion to observe, that some of these were so different in their kind, that they could not reasonably be supposed to exist in the same persons.  We should find that others could scarcely be admitted among a body of professing Christians.  The Quaker character, in short, as it has been exhibited to the world, is a strange medley of consistency and contradiction, and of merit and defect.

Amidst accounts, which have been so incongruous, I shall attempt the task of drawing the character of the Quakers.  I shall state, first, all the excellencies, that have been said to belong to it.  I shall state also, all the blemishes with which it has been described to be chargeable.  I shall then enquire how far it is probable that any of these, and in what degree they are true.  In this enquiry, some little reliance must be placed upon my personal knowledge of the Quakers, and upon my desire not to deceive.  It is fortunate, however, that I shall be able, in this case, to apply to a test, which will be more satisfactory to the world, than any opinion of my own upon this subject.  I mean to say that the Quakers, like others, are the creatures of their own education and habits, or that there are circumstances in their constitution, the knowledge of which will assist us in the discussion of this question; circumstances, which will speak for themselves and to which we way always refer in the case of difficulty or doubt.  Their moral education, for example, which has been already explained, cannot but have an influence on the minds of those who receive it.  Their discipline also, which has appeared to be of so extraordinary a nature, and to be conducted in so extraordinary a manner, cannot but have an effect of its own kind.  The peculiar customs, in which they have been described to have been born and educated, and which must of course act upon them as a second nature, must have a correspondent influence again.  From these, and other prominent and distinguishing features in their constitution, I may hope to confirm some of the truths which have been told, and to correct some of the errors that have been stated, on the subject which is now before us.