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N° LII. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 1750.

QUOTIES FLENTI THESEIUS HEROS

SISTE MODUM, DIXIT, NEQUE ENIM FORTUNA QUERENDA
SOLA TUA EST, SIMILES ALIORUM RESPICE CASUS,

MITIUS 1STA FERES.

OVID.

HOW OFT IN VAIN THE SON OF THESEUS SAID,

THE STORMY SORROWS BE WITH PATIENCE LAID:
NOR ARE THY FORTUNES TO BE WEPT ALONE;
WEIGH OTHERS WOES, AND LEARN TO BEAR THY OWN.

MONG the various methods of

CATCOTTS

which it is not in our power to afford the

A confolation, to which the miferies proper and adequate remedy; they im

infeparable from our prefent ftate have given occafion, it has been, as I have already remarked, recommended by forme writers to put the fufferer in mind of heavier preffures, and more excruciating calamities, than those of which he has himfelf reafon to complain.

This has, in all ages, been directed and practifed; and, in conformity to this cuftom, Lipfius, the great modern mafter of the Stoick philofophy, has in his celebrated treatife on feadiness of mind, endeavoured to fortify the brealt against too much fenfibility of misfortune, by enumerating the evils which have in former ages fallen upon the world, the devastation of wide-extended regions, the fack of cities, and maffacre of nations. And the common voice of the multitude uninftructed by precept, and unprejudiced by authority, which, in queftions that relate to the heart of man, is, in my opinion, more decifive than the learning of Lipfius, feems to juftify the efficacy of this procedure; for one of the firft comforts which one neighbour adminifters to another, is a relation of the like infelicity, combined with circumstances of greater bitternets,

But this medicine of the mind is like many remedies applied to the body, of which, though we fee the effects, we are unacquainted with the manner of operation, and of which, therefore, fome, who are unwilling to fuppofe any thing out of the reach of their own fagacity, have been inclined to doubt whether they have really thofe virtues for which they are celebrated, and whether, their reputation is not the mere gift of fancy, prejulice, and credulity.

Coniolation, or comfort, are words which, in their proper acceptation, fignify tome alleviation of that pain to

To

ply rather an augmentation of the power of bearing, than a diminution of the burthen. A prifoner is relieved by him that fets him at liberty, but receives comfort from fuch as fuggest considerations by which he is made patient under the inconvenience of confinement. that grief which arifes from a great loss, he only brings the true remedy, who makes his friend's condition the fame as before; but he may be properly termed a comforter, who by perfuafion extenuates the pain of poverty, and thews, in the ftyle of Hefiod, that half is more than the whole.

It is, perhaps, not immediately obvious, how it can lull the memory of misfortune, or appease the throbbings of anguish, to hear that others are more miferable; others, perhaps, unknown, or wholly indifferent, whole profperity raises no envy, and whofe fall can gratify no refentment. Some topicks of comfort arifing, like that which gave hope and fpirit to the captive of Sefoftris, from the perpetual viciffitudes of life, and mutability of human affairs, may as properly raife the dejected as deprefs the proud, and have an immediate tendency to exhilarate and revive. But how can it avail the man who languishes in the gloom of forrow, without profpect of emerging into the funfhine of cheerfulnefs, to hear that others are funk yet deeper in the dungeon of misery, shackled with heavier chains, and furrounded with dark defperation?.

The folace arifing from this confideration feems indeed the weakest of all others, and is perhaps never properly applied, but in cafes where there is no place for reflections of more speedy and pleafing efficacy. But even from fuck calamities life is by no means free; a

thoufand

fyftem will not afford
motives to content.

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many reasonable It is,' fays he,

pleafing to look from fhore upon the tumults of a ftorm, and to see a ship ftruggling with the billows; it is pleafing, not because the pain of another can give us delight, but because we have a stronger impreffion of the hap

thoufand ills incurable, a thousand loffes irreparable, a thousand difficulties infurmountable, are known, or will be known, by all the fous of men. Native deformity cannot be rectified, a dead friend cannot return, and the hours of youth trifled away in folly, or loft in ficknefs, cannot be restored. Under the oppreffion of fuch melan-pinefs of fafety. Thus, when we look choly, it has been found useful to take abroad, and behold the multitudes that a furvey of the world, to contemplate are groaning under evils heavier than the various fcenes of diftrefs in which thofe which we have experienced, we mankind are ftruggling round us, and fhrink back to our own ftate, and, inacquaint ourselves with the terribiles vifu ftead of repining that fo much must be forme-the various fhapes of mifery, felt, learn to rejoice that we have not which make havock of terreftrial happi- more to feel. nefs, range all corners almoft without reftraint, trample down our hopes at the hour of harvest, and when we have built our schemes to the top, ruin their foundations.

The first effect of this meditation is, that it furnishes a new employment for the mind, and engages the paflions on remoter objects; as kings have fometimes freed themselves from a fubject too haughty to be governed, and too powerful to be crushed, by pofting him in a diftant province, till his popularity has fubfided, or his pride been repreffed. The attention is diffipated by variety, and acts more weakly upon any fingle part, as that torrent may be drawn off to different channels, which, pouring down in one collected body, cannot be refifted. This fpecies of comfort is, therefore, unavailing in fevere paroxyfms of corporal pain, when the mind is every inftant called back to mifery, and in the firft fhock of any fudden evil; but will certamly be of use against encroaching melancholy, and a fettled habit of gloomy thoughts.

It is further advantageous, as it fupplies us with opportunities of making comparisons in our own favour. We know that very little of the pain, or pleafure, which does not begin and end in our fenfes, is otherwife than relative; we are rich or poor, great or little, in proportion to the number that excel us, or fall beneath us, in any of thefe refpects; and therefore, a man whofe uneafinefs arifes from reflexion on any misfortune that throws him below thofe with whom he was once equal, is comforted by finding that he is not yet lowest..

There is another kind of comparison lefs tending towards the vice of envy, very well illuftrated by an old poet, whofe

By this obfervation of the miseries of others, fortitude is ftrengthened, and the mind brought to a more extensive knowledge of her own powers. As the heroes of action catch the flame from one another, fo they to whom Providence has allotted the harder task of suffering with calmnefs and dignity, may animate themfelves by the remembrance of those evils which have been laid on others, perhaps naturally as weak as themselves, and bear up with vigour and refolution againft their own oppreffions, when they fee it poffible that more fevere afflictions may be borne.

There is still another reason why, to many minds, the relation of other men's infelicity may give a lafting and continual relief. Some, not well inftructed in the measures by which Providence diftributes happinefs, are perhaps mifled by divines, who, as Bellarmine makes temporal profperity one of the characters of the true church, have reprefented wealth and ease as the certain concomitants of

virtue, and the unfailing refult of the Divine approbation. Such fufferers are dejected in their misfortunes, not fo much for what they feel, as for what they dread; not because they cannot fupport the forrows, or endure the wants, of their prefent condition, but because they confider them as only the beginnings of more tharp and more lafting pains. To these mourners it is an act of the highest charity to reprefent the calamities which not only virtue has fuffered, but virtue has incurred; to inform them that one evidence of a future state is the uncertainty of any prefent reward for goodness; and to remind them, from the highest authority, of the diftreffes and penury of men of whom the world was not worthy.

No LIII.

T

NO LIII. TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 1750,

Φείδεο τῶν κεανών.

EPIGRAM. VET.

HUSBAND THY POSSESSIONS.

HERE is fcarcely among the evils of human life, any fo generally dreaded as Poverty. Every other fpecies of mifery, thofe, who are not much accustomed to disturb the prefent moment with reflection, can eafily forget, because it is not always forced upon their regard: but it is impoffible to pafs a day or an hour in the confluxes of men, without feeing how much indigence is expofed to contumely, neglect, and infult ; and, in it's loweft ftate, to hunger and nakedness; to injuries against which every paffion is in arms, and to wants which nature cannot sustain.

Against other evils, the heart is often hardened by true or by falfe notions of dignity and reputation: thus we fee dangers every

of kind faced with willingnefs, because bravery in a good or bad caufe is never without it's encomiafts and admirers. But in the profpect of poverty there, is nothing but gloom and melancholy; the mind and body fuffer together; it's miferies bring no alleviations; it is a ftate in which every virtue is obfcured, and in which no conduct can avoid reproach: a ftate in which cheerfulness is infenfibility, and dejection fullennefs, of which the hardships are without honour, and the labours are without reward.

Of thefe calamities there feems not to be wanting a general conviction; we hear on every fide the noife of trade, and fee the streets thronged with numberlefs multitudes, whofe faces are clouded with anxiety, and whofe fteps are hurried by precipitation, from no other motive than the hope of gain, and the whole world is put in motion by the defire of that wealth, which is chiefly to be valued as it fecures us from poverty; for it is more ufeful for defence than acquifition, and is not fo much able to procure good as to exclude evil.

Yet there are always fome whofe paf fions or follies lead them to a conduct oppofite to the general maxims and practice of mankind; fome who feem to rush un poverty with the fame eagernels

with which others avoid it; who see their revenues hourly leffened, and the estates which they inherit from their ancestors mouldering away, without resolution to change their courfe of life; who perfevere against all remonftrances, and go forward with full career, though they fee before them the precipice of deftruction.

It is not my purpofe, in this paper, to expoftulate with fuch as ruin their fortunes by expenfive fchemes of buildings and gardens, which they carry on with the fame vanity that prompted them to begin; chufing, as it happens in a thoufand other cafes, the remote evil before the lighter, and deferring the shame of repentance till they incur the miferies of diftrefs. Those for whom I intend my prefent admonitions, are the thoughtlefs, the negligent, and the diffolute, who having, by the vicioufnefs of their own inclinations, or the feducements of allur ing companions, been engaged in habite of expence, and accustomed to move in a certain round of pleafures difproportioned to their condition, are without power to extricate themselves from the inchantments of cuftom, avoid thought because they know it will be painful, and continue from day to day, and from month to month, to anticipate their revenues, and fink every hour deeper into the gulphs of ufury and extortion.

nor can the

This folly has lefs claim to pity, be caufe it cannot be imputed to the vehemence of fudden paffion; mifchief which it produces be extenuated as the effect of any fingle act, which rage or defire might execute before there could be time for an appeal to reason. Thefe men are advancing towards mifery by foft approaches, and destroying themfelves, not by the violence of a blow, which, when once given, can ne-, ver be recalled, but by a flow poifon, hourly repeated, and obftinately continued.

This conduct is fo abfurd when it is examined by the unprejudiced eye of ra tional judgment, that nothing but expe

rience

rience could evince it's poffibility; yet, abfurd as it is, the fudden fall of fome families, and the sudden rife of others, prove it to be common; and every year fees many wretches reduced to contempt and want by their coftly facrifices to pleafure and vanity.

It is the fate of almost every paffion, when it has paffed the bounds which nature preferibes, to counteract it's own purposes. Too much rage hinders the warrior from circumfpection, too much eagerness of profit hurts the credit of the trader, too much ardour takes away from the lover that eafinefs of addrefs with which ladies are delighted. Thus extravagance, though dictated by vanity, and incited by voluptuoufnefs, feldom procures ultimately either applaufe or pleasure.

If praife be juftly eftimated by the character of those from whom it is received, little fatisfaction will be given to the fpendthrift by the encomiums which he purchases. For who are they that animate him in his pursuits, but young men, thoughtless and abandoned like himfelf; unacquainted with all on which the wifdom of nations has impreffed the ftamp of excellence, and devoid alike of knowledge and of virtue? By whom is his profufion praised, but by wretches who confider him as fubfervient to their purposes, Sirens that entice him to fhipwreck, and Cyclops that are gaping to devour him.

Every man whofe knowledge, or whofe virtue,can give value to his opinion, looks with fcom, or pity, neither of which can afford much gratification to pride, on him whom the panders of luxury have drawn into the circle of their influence; and whom he fees parcelled out among the different minifters of folly, and about to be torn to pieces by taylors and jockies, vinters and attornies, who at once rob and ridicule him,and who are fecretlytriumphing over his weakness, when they prefent new incitements to his appetite,and heigh ten his defires by counterfeited applaufe. Such is the praife that is purchafed by prodigality, Even when it is yet not difcovered to be falfe, it is the praife only of those whom it is reproachful to please, and whofe fincerity is corrupted by their intereft; men who live by the riots which they encourage, and who know that when ever their pupil grows wife, they fhall lofe their power, Yet with fuch flat

de

teries, if they could faft, might the cravings of vanity, which is feldom very licate, be fatisfied; but the time is always haftening forward when this triumph, poor as it is, fhall vanish, and when those who now furround him with obfequiousness and compliments, fawn among his equipage, and animate his riots, fhall turn upon him with infolence, and reproach him with the vices promoted by themselves.

And as little pretenfions has the man who fquanders his estate by vain or vicious expences, to greater degrees of pleafure than are obtained by others. To make any happiness fincere, it is neceffary that we believe it to be lafting; fince whatever we fuppofe ourselves in danger of lofing, must be enjoyed with folicitude and uneafinefs; and the more value we fet upon it, the more must the prefent poffeffion be imbittered. How can he then be envied for his felicity, who knows that it's continuance cannot be expected, and who is conscious that a very fhort time will give him up to the gripe of poverty, which will be harder to be borne, as he has given way to more exceffes, wantoned in greater abundance, and indulged his appetites with more profufenefs?

It appears evident that frugality is neceffary even to complete the pleasure of expence; for it may be generally remarked of those who fquander what they know their fortune not fufficient to allow, that in their molt jovial expence there always breaks out fome proof of discontent and impatience; they either scatter with a kind of wild defperation, and affected lavishness, as criminals brave the gallows when they cannot efcape it, or pay their money with a peevish anxiety, and endeavour at once to spend idly, and to fave meanly: having neither firmness tɔ deny their paffions, nor courage to gratify them, they murmur at their own enjoyments, and poifon the bowl of pleafure by reflection on the cost.

Among these men there is often the vociferation of merriment, but very feldom the tranquillity of cheerfulness; they inflame their imaginations to a kind of momentary jollity, by the help of wine and riot, and confider it as the firit bufinefs of the night to itupify recollection, and lay that reafon alleep which difturbs their gaiety, and calls upon them to retreat from ruin,

But

But this poor broken fatisfaction is of fhort continuance, and must be expiated by a long feries of mifery and regret. In a fhort time the creditor grows impatient, the last acre is fold,

the paffions and appetites ftill continue their tyranny, with inceffant calls for their ufual gratifications, and the remainder of life paffes away in vain repentance, or impotent defire.

END OF THE FIRST VOLUME,

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