58 



tertaining books. The less refined from shews, farces, &c. 

 and the grossest and most vulgar, from games of hazard. 



180. Some amusements participate of studies, as various 

 games, particularly that of chess ; solution of enigmas, &c. 

 these are chiefly valuable for being easily procured. 



181. Desire of change, or love o( novelty. When the mind 

 has bestowed sufficient consideration on any object for any 

 considerable time, farther attention to it being superfluous, it 

 naturally declines ; to excite it some new object becomes ne- 

 cessary, as attention alone can save us from ennui. Viliasimt 

 nobis qucBCunque prioribus annis — Vidimus, ^- sordet quodcumque 

 spectavimus olim. No one is struck with the prospect of the 

 rising sun, but we run to see an insignificant meteor. 



182. Desire of gain. — This, when rationally pursued, leads 

 to industry, that is, to employment of the means fitted to- 

 procure the necessaries and comforts of life, suitable to one'* 

 rank, to guard against future wants, and to permit occasi- 

 onal acts of benevolence ; but when extravagantly pursued,, 

 it becomes what Shakespear6 justly calls staunchless avarice, 

 which aims at the accunmlation of riches witiiout a view to- 

 an appropriate end, other than that of mere accumulation; 

 it sometimes (though rarely) becomes so outrageous a passion 

 as to prevent expenditure even to procure the comforts of life, 

 and may well be deemed a species of partial insanity. 



183. Emulation denotes the animating desire of equalling 

 others in the attainment of any praiseworthy object; hence 



it 



