feafons, and a perpetuity of spring; but I am not certain that in this ftate of imaginary happiness they have made fufficient provifion for that insatiable demand of new gratifications, which feems particularly to characterize the nature of man, Our fenfe of delight is in a great measure comparative, and arifes at once from the fenfations which we feel, and thofe which we remember: Thus eafe after torment is pleasure for a time, and we are very agreeably recreated, when the body, chilled with the weather, is gradually recovering its natural tepidity; but the joy ceases when we have forgot the cold: we must fall below ease again, if we defire to rife above it, and purchase new felicity by voluntary pain. It is therefore not unlikely, that however the fancy may be amused with the defcription of regions in which no wind is heard but the gentle zephyr, and no fcenes are displayed but vallies enamelled with un, fading flowers, and woods waving their perennial verdure, we should foon grow weary of uniformity, find our thoughts languish for want of other fubjects, call on heaven for our wonted round of fear fons, and think ourselves liberally recompenfed for the inconveniencies of fummer and winter, by new perceptions of the calmnefs and mildnefs of the intermediate variations.

Every season has its particular power of ftriking the mind. The nakednefs and afperity of the wintry world always fills the beholder with penfive and profound aftonishment; as the variety of the fcene is leffened, its grandeur is increased; and the mind is fwelled at once by the mingled ideas of the present and the paft, of the beauties which have vanifhed

from the eyes, and the waste and defolation that are now before them.

It is obferved by Milton, that he who neglects to vifit the country in fpring, and rejects the pleasures that are then in their first bloom and fragrance, is guilty of fullennefs against nature. If we allot different duties to different feafons, he may be charged with equal difobedience to the voice of nature, who looks on the bleak hills and leaflefs woods, without seriousness and awe. Spring is the feafon of gaiety, and winter of terror; in fpring the heart of tranquillity dances to the melody of the groves, and the eye of benevolence sparkles at the fight of happiness and plenty In the winter, compaffion melts at univerfal calamity, and the tear of softness starts at the wailings of hunger, and the cries of the creation in distress.

Few minds have much inclination to indulge heavinefs and forrow, nor do I recommend them beyond the degree neceffary to maintain in its full vigour that habitual sympathy and tenderness, which, in a world of fo much mifery, is neceffary to the ready discharge of our most important duties. The winter therefore is generally celebrated as the proper season for domeftic merriment and gaiety. We are feldom invited by the votaries of pleasure to look abroad for any other purpofe, than that we may fhrink back with more fatisfaction to our coverts, and when we have heard the howl of the tempest, and felt the gripe of the froft, congratulate each other with more gladnefs upon a clofe room, an easy chair, a large fire, and a smoaking dinner.

Winter brings natural inducements to jollity and converfation. Differences, we know, are never fo effectually

fectually laid afleep, as by fome common calamity: An enemy unites all to whom he threatens danger. The rigour of winter brings generally to the fame fire-fide, thofe, who, by the oppofition of inclinations, or difference of employment, moved in various directions through the other parts of the year; and when they have met, and find it their mutual intereft to remain together, they endear each other by mutual compliances, and often wifh for the continuance of the focial feafon, with all its bleakness and all its feverities.

To the men of ftudy and imagination the winter is generally the chief time of labour. Gloom and filence produce compofure of mind, and concentration of ideas; and the privation of external pleasure naturally causes an effort to find entertainment within. This is the time in which thofe, whom literature enables to find amufements for themselves, have more than common convictions of their own happiness. When they are condemned by the elements to retirement, and debarred from most of the diverfions which are called in to affift the flight of time, they can find new fubjects of enquiry, and preferve themselves from that weariness which hangs always flagging upon the vacant mind.

It cannot indeed be expected of all to be poets and philofophers; it is neceffary that the greater part of mankind fhould be employed in the minute business of common life; minute, indeed, not if we confider its influence upon our happiness, but if we respect the abilities requifite to conduct it. These must neceffarily be more dependent on accident for the means of spending agreeably thofe hours which their occupations

I

occupations leave unengaged, or nature obliges them to allow to relaxation. Yet even on these I would willingly impress such a sense of the value of time, as may incline them to find out for their careless hours amusements of more ufe and dignity than the common games, which not only weary the mind without improving it, but strengthen the paffions of envy and avarice, and often lead to fraud and to profufion, to corruption and to ruin. It is unworthy of a reafonable being to spend any of the little time allotted us, without fome tendency, either direct or oblique, to the end of our existence. And though every moment cannot be laid out on the formal and regular improvement of our knowledge, or in the ftated practice of a moral or religious duty, yet none fhould be fo spent as to exclude wisdom or virtue, or pass without poffibility of qualifying us more or lefs for the better employment of thofe which are to come,

It is fcarcely poffible to pass an hour in honeft con, verfation, without being able, when we rife from it, to please ourselves with having given or received fome advantages; but a man may fhuffle cards, or rattle dice, from noon to midnight, without tracing any new idea in his mind, or being able to recollect the day by any other token than his gain or lofs, and a confused remembrance of agitated paffions, and clamorous altercations.

However, as experience is of more weight than precept, any of my readers who are contriving how to spend the dreary months before them, may confider which of their past amusements fills them now with the greatest satisfaction, and refolve to repeat those gratifications of which the pleasure is moft durable,

NUMB. 81. TUESDAY, December 25, 1759.

AM

Difcite Juftitiam moniti

Hear, and be just.

VIRG.

MONG queftions which have been discuffed without any approach to decifion, may be numbered the precedency or fuperior excellence of one virtue to another, which has long furnished a subject of dispute to men whofe leisure fent them out into the intellectual world in fearch of employment, and who have, perhaps, been fometimes withheld from the practice of their favourite duty, by zeal for its advancement, and diligence in its celebration.

The intricacy of this difpute may be alleged as a proof of that tenderness for mankind which providence has, I think, univerfally displayed, by making attainments easy in proportion as they are neceffary. That all the duties of morality ought to be practifed, is without difficulty discoverable, because ignorance or uncertainty would immediately involve the world in confufion and diftrefs; but which duty ought to be most esteemed, we may continue to debate, without inconvenience, fo all be diligently performed as there is opportunity or need: for upon practice, not upon opinion, depends the happiness of mankind; and controverfies, merely fpeculative, are of fmall importance in themselves, however they may have fometimes heated a difputant, or provoked a faction.

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