173 



Yet a late very ingenious and original writer on the princi- 

 ples of moral science tells us, " that an European merchant who 

 " lives in a palace surrounded by luxuries, but whose wants 

 " have increased with his riches (that is, who still continues 

 " his traffic) has little reason to boast of superior happiness 

 " to what the Hottentot enjoys in his hut, in the midst of his 

 " cows and his swine*." As well may he tell us that a savage 

 feeding on a half putrified whale, is as happy as an Alderman 

 feeding on turtle. It is certain that extreme hunger renders 

 the coarsest food highly agreeable ; but it is by affording relief 

 from pain, rather than by conferring positive pleasure. Dr. 

 Paley thinks, that " the luxurious receive no greater pleasure 

 " from their dainties, than the peasant does from his bread 

 " and cheese-j-." — This is evidently confounding the pleasures 

 of taste. If so, the peasant would never require meat or any 

 thing else. Hence it appears very evident, that in Avhatever 

 aspect we view the condition of the poor, its pains will be 

 found far to exceed its pleasures ; both in number, duration 

 and poignancy ; and consequently far inferior to the share of 

 happiness which the rich have, at least the power of enjoying, 

 but the poor have not, supposing both equally governed by 

 the rules of prudence. The slightest infraction of these rules 

 may prove fatal to the poor, but is easily remedied or repaired 

 by the rich. The poor may lie in jail during life for a debt 



of 



* p. 12. -J- Principles of Moral and Political Philosophj^ p. 24-. 



