172 



of sublimer happiness than that A\hich they enjoy. Thii* 

 desire originates in unbounded vmiity, as that of power does 

 from the arrogance of pride. Nor is the pursuit of the for- 

 mer attended with incidents much less painful than those 

 that occur in the pursuit of the latter. The more substantial 

 pleasures of life, nay, even the more refined gratifications of 

 sense are necessarily sacrificed to its attainment ; a system of 

 austere frugality, not to say avarice, must I'igidly be adhered 

 to; the proper education of children neglected, the demands 

 of friendship, of benevolence, generosity and charity rejec- 

 ted. Visionary schemes are often adopted, ending in dis- 

 appointment and loss. Unremitting vigilance and anxiety 

 to prevent the frauds of inferior agents, oppression of tenants 

 by the extortion of extravagant rents, purchases of bad 

 titles, tedious and expensive litigations, are a few of the 

 numerous vextations that attend the pursuit of opulence ; 

 a pursuit which knows no precise limit ; and though its ob- 

 ject should to a certain degree be attained, yet it seldom can 

 be enjoyed, by reason of the different habits necessary for its 

 acquisition, and for its enjoyment. If it succeeds in attract- 

 ing respect from the vulgar, this pleasure must be blunted, 

 if not annihilated by the grating reflection that even this 

 futile regard is not grounded on personal or even ancestrial 

 merit, but solely on adventitious external advantages, that 

 dazzle the vulvar onlv. Hence it is evident, that the 



pains 



