APPENDIX. 93 
Tue reverfe of this takes place with refpect to all the focial 
and benevolent affections. The fympathy of the fpe@ator with 
the perfon who feels them, coincides with his concern for the 
perfon who is the object of them. It is this redoubled fympa- 
thy which renders thefe affections fo peculiarly becoming and 
agreeable. 
Tue felfifh emotions of grief and joy, when they are con- 
ceived on account of our own private good or bad fortune, 
hold a fort of middle place between our focial and our unfocial 
paflions. They are never fo graceful as the one fet, nor fo 
odious as the other. Even when exceflive, they are never fo 
difagreeable as exceflive refentment ; becaufe no oppofite fym- 
pathy can ever intereft us againft them: And when moft fuit- 
able to their objeéts, they are never fo agreeable as impartial 
humanity and juft benevolence; becaufe no double fympathy 
can ever intereft us for them. 
Arter thefe general fpeculations concerning the propriety 
of actions, Mr SmirH examines how far the judgments of 
mankind concerning it are liable to be influenced in particu- 
_ lar cafes, by the profperous or the adverfe circumftances of the 
agent. The fcope of his reafoning on this fubjeét is directed 
to fhew, (in oppofition to the common opinion), that when 
there is no envy in the cafe, our propenfity to fympathize with 
joy is much ftronger than our propenfity to fympathize with 
forrow ; and, of confequence, that it is more eafy to obtain 
the approbation of mankind in profperity than in adverfity. 
From the fame principle he traces the origin of ambition, or of 
the defire of rank and pre-eminence ; the great object of which 
paffion is, to attain that fituation which fets a man moft in the 
view of general fympathy and attention, and gives him an eafy 
empire over the affections of others. 
Havine finifhed the analyfis of our fenfe of propriety and of 
impropriety, Mr SmitH proceeds to confider our fenfe of merit 
Vou. IIIs (K) and 
Account of 
Dr Smith 
