94 BRAMBLES AND BAY LEAVES. 



exert to procure for himself the necessaries of life, is not less essential 

 to the maintenance of a healthy tone of mind than of a sound and 

 active condition of the bodily organism. No evil can be greater than 

 the rust, alike of body and soul, which results from inactivity. The 

 state of labour is the very condition of enjoyment; not, indeed, the 

 excessive and slavish toil to which a very large portion of mankind 

 have, by a most unfortunate combination of circumstances, been 

 reduced ; but that moderate and well regulated labour of mind and 

 body which conduces so much to the welfare of both, and which would 

 be, under more favourable auspices, fully sufficient to impart com- 

 fort and abundance to all. If men only knew and felt how insepa- 

 rably their own individual happiness is connected with the welfare and 

 prosperity of their species ; if those who have intellect, and power, and 

 wealth at their disposal, could only be persuaded to thrust aside the 

 petty jealousies and cares, the idle parade and prejudices of society, 

 and join heart and hand in the great work of human improvement, 

 how much might be effected ? How much happier, and how much 

 better all might become if a sound and universal spirit of philanthropy 

 were once awakened, capable of embracing within its pale all orders 

 and conditions of men, considering them as they really are, the chil- 

 dren of one common Parent, bound together by the ties of brother- 

 hood, each having a special duty assigned to him to perform, not 

 independently of, but in conjunction with the rest, and exciting all to 

 render each other mutual assistance in surmounting the difficulties 

 and trials of this life of discipline and pupilage." * 



* Fownes. 



