APPENDIX. 79 
which often mortifies us amidft the applaufe, and fupports us 
under the cenfure of the world ; yet ftill, he contends, that 
if we enquire into the origin of its inftitution, we fhall find, 
that its jurifdi€tion is, ina great meafure, derived from the 
authority of that very tribunal whofe decifions it fo often and: 
fo juftly reverfes. 
WueEN we firft come into the world, we, for fome time; 
fondly purfue the impoffible project of gaining the good-will 
and approbation of every body. We foon however find, that 
this univerfal approbation is unattainable; that the moft equi- 
table conduct muft frequently thwart the interefts or the incli- 
nations of particular perfons, who will feldom have candour 
enough to enter into the propriety of our motives, or to fee 
that this conduct, how difagreeable foever to them, is perfectly 
fuitable to our fituation. In order to defend ourfelves from 
fuch partial judgments, we foon learn to fet up in our own 
minds, a judge between ourfelves and thofe we live with. We: 
conceive ourfelves as acting in the prefence of a perfon; who: 
has no particular relation, either to ourfelves, or to:thofe whofe 
interefts are affected by our conduct ; and we ‘ftudy to a@ in 
fuch a manner as to obtain the approbation of this fuppofed 
impartial fpectator. It is only by confulting him, that we can 
fee whatever relates to ourfelves in its proper fhape and dimen- 
fions. 
THERE are two different occafions, on which -we examine. 
our own conduct, and endeavour to view it in the light in 
which the impartial fpe@ator would view it. Firft, when we 
are about to act; and, fecondly, after we have acted. In both. 
cafes, our views are very apt to be partial. 
WHEN we are about to a¢t, the eagernefs of paffion feldom: 
allows us to confider what we are doing with the candour of 
an indifferent perfon. When the action is over, and the paf- 
fions which prompted it have fubfided, although we can un- 
doubtedly enter into the fentiments of the indifferent {pectator 
much 
Account of: 
Dr Smith. 
