174 



ships to endure ! the inclemency of the seasons while toiling 

 abroad, or irksome confinement, M'hile labouring within 

 doors, scanty enjoyment of food, or firing, cloathing insuffi- 

 cient for their wants, either by day or at night, miserable, 

 sordid smoky inconvenient huts^ or humiliating ssrvitude. 

 Such is the lot of the poor in most countries. 



Neither are they exempt from the moral pains of the rich, 

 with this difference, that the rich may avoid them if they 

 please ; but the poor are much more exposed to them, and 

 in a manner compelled to endure them. Unceasing solici- 

 tude and anxiety, corroding envy, mortified pride, discon- 

 tent, distressing disappointments, and numerous temptations 

 to fraud, theft, robbery, and perjury. 



Even the'iv pleasures are of a baser alloy ; delicacy and re- 

 finement are always banished from them ; that of intoxica- 

 tion, pernicious as it is, is indeed common to both rich and 

 poor; but that of the rich is produced by delicious draughts, 

 that of the poor by impure, muddy, and often nauseous 

 liquors. From mental pleasures, the acquisition of science, 

 refined taste and rational conversation, they are, with a few 

 exceptions, totally excluded. Their usual amusements are of 

 the grossest and most despicable kind — attention to wild ex- 

 travagant fictions; uncouth lamentable ditties; indecent buf- 

 foonery ; scurrilous farces ; ridiculous pantomimes, and other 

 inhuman sports. 



Yet 



