173 



pains attending this pursuit, and even its final success, far 

 exceed both in number, duration and intensity any pleasures 

 it can afford. 



To sum up all, I shall conclude with the sage advice of 

 Doctor Johnson : " When, therefore, the desire of wealth is 

 " taking hold of the heart, let us look round and see how it 

 " operates on those whose industry or fortune has obtained 

 " it. When we find them oppressed with their own abun- 

 *' dance, luxurious without pleasure, idle without ease, ira- 

 '* patient and querulous in themselves, and despised or hated 

 " by the rest of mankind, we shall soon be convinced, that 

 " if the real wants of our condition are satisfied, there re- 

 " mains little to be sought with solicitude, or desired with 

 " eagerness." 



The predominant desire of the poor is to obtain riches ; 

 a desire which under the guidance of prudence is per- 

 fectly rational, since money is the representative of most of 

 the necessaries, and of many of the comforts that contribute 

 to render existence a blessing; without some share of it, po- 

 verty may, by many casualties sink into indigence; its pos- 

 session renders them independent, and rescues them from that 

 contumely, neglect and insult to which they are otherwise 

 exposed. 



But to obtain even a moderate pittance of money, what 

 struggles are not the poor obliged to maintain ! what hard- 

 ships 



