[ 76 ] 



deemed all who poffelTed excellence in whatever department 



as his rivals. 



To the fchemes of his two moft diftinguiflied poems ob- 

 jeiftions have been often made. The fcheme of the Traveller 

 was, as he tells us, an endeavour to fliew " that there may be 

 " equal happinefs in ftates that are differently governed from 

 " our own ; that every ftate has a particular principle of hap- 

 *' pinefs, and that that this principle in each" (in his firft edi- 

 tion he adds, and particularly in our own) " may be carried to 

 " a mifchievous excefs." This pofition of a particular principle 

 of happinefs to each ftate, which he afTumes as a known truth, 

 muft appear at leaft a difputable pofition : that all fpecies of 

 happinefs are equal cannot be granted, and it is certainly a 

 grofs degradation of human nature to fay, that after nobler 

 aims are repreffed 



Low delights fucceeding faft behind 

 In happier meannefs occupy the mind. 



The conclufion which was written by Dodlor Johnfon gives 

 us all which Goldfmith's poem rationally eftabliflies, that human 

 blifs centers only in the mind — that ftate oiFences and their 

 punifliments 



To men remote from power but little known 

 Leave reafon, faith and confcience all their own ; 



and 



