Class III. i. 2. tr. OF VOLITION, 321 



driacifm, fee Clafs I. 2. 4. 10. by the people, and are general* 

 ly afcribed to the want of voluntary power, or of induftry ; but 

 I believe it is generally owing to want of motive or ftimulus j 

 and that the pain attending this ftate of our ideas or mufcles i? 

 occafioned by accumulation of voluntary power, as above men-* 

 tioned. The cure of this difeafe, is popularly known to confift 

 in any kind of voluntary exertion of the mind, or of the body ; 

 one of our poets has perSonified hypochondriacifm, and well ad* 

 vifestheufeof exercife, or exertion to oppofe the monfter, and Says, 



" Throw but a ftone, the giant dies." 



To this mould be added, that thofe, who have been educated 

 in indolence, do not find or feel ennui, or the pain of exigence, 

 when they are inactive ; like our domeftic animals, as dogs and 

 cats, who fleep by the fire without inclination to hang or drown 

 themselves ; as thefe beings, not having been long accuftomed 

 to expend much voluntary power, are not liable to much accu* 

 mulation of it, and uneafinefs in confequence ; which is not fo 

 however with the more active fquirrel before mentioned. 



But on the contrary, thofe, whoSe education has induced them 

 to uSe much voluntary exertion, and have afterwards had no 

 active employment, as happens to fome unmarried ladies, are 

 more liable, as I have repeatedly witneiTed, to this malady ; an 

 idea, which (hould be attended to in female education. 



Another fource of ennui or tsedium vitse is alio derived from 

 wrong education, and is immediately owing to the want of ftmv- 

 ulus rather than to the great accumulation of voluntary power ; 

 and is liable to attend fome ladies in high life, whofe exertions 

 during their early years were excited by the flattery of numer- 

 ous menial Servants. And afterwards, when this flattery ceafes 

 by their living with their equals, they want their accuftomed 

 motive to activity, and in confequence become indolent and un*> 

 happy, as further defcribed in Clafs III. 2. 1. 8. under the name 

 of Parefis voluntaria. 



M. M. The prevention of this malady muft confift in the 

 due care of education. ' Thofe who are not defigned for very 

 active life, particularly young ladies, mould not be forced in 

 their early years to ufe too violent or too conftant voluntary ex~ 

 ertions. They (liould not be flattered into all their exertions, 

 but mould be taught to act from duty to themfelves and others, 

 or for their future advantage as well as for their prefent amufe- 

 ment. 



Some reftramt in exhaufting the ujfual pieafures of the world 

 in early life mould be laid on young men of fortune ; and after- 

 wards the pieafures and Solitudes of a matrimonial life are 



Vol, II. S s lirongly 



