S793' the deformed and handsome leg, 151 



pany, they may find persons and conversations more or 

 lefs pleasing : at whatsoever table, they may meet with 

 meats and drinks of better and worse taste, dirties bet- 

 ter and worse drelsed. In whatever climate, they will 

 find good and bad weather : under whatever government, 

 they may find good and bad laws, and good and bad ad- 

 ministration of those laws. In every poem, (or work of 

 genius) they may see faults and beauties. In almost e- 

 very face, and every person, they may discover fine fea- 

 tures and defects, good and bad qualities. 



Under these circumstances, the two sorts of people a- 

 bove mentioned fix their attention, those who are dis- 

 posed to be happy, on the conveniencies of things, the 

 pleasant parts of conversation, the well drefsed diihes, the 

 goodnefs of the wines, the fine weather, 'b'c, <h'c. and en- 

 joy all with chearfulnels. Those who are to be unhappy, 

 think and speak only of the contraries. Hence they 

 are continually discontented themselves ; and, by their 

 remarks, sour the pleasures of society, offend personally 

 many people, and make themselves every where disagree- 

 able. If this turn of roin4 was founded in nature, such 

 unhappy persons would be the more to be pitied. But as 

 the disposition to criticise and be disgusted, is, perhaps, 

 taken up originally by imitation, and is unawares grown 

 into a habit, which, though at present strong, may never- 

 thelefs be cured, when those who have it, are convinced 

 of its bad effects on their felicity, I hope this little admo- 

 nition may be of service to them — and put them on chan- 

 ging a habit, which, though in the exercise it is chiefly 

 an act of imagination, yet has serious consequences in 

 life, as it brings on real griefs and misfortunes. For, as 

 many are offended by, and nobody loves, this sort of people, 

 no one (hows them more than the most common civility 

 and respect, and scarcely that ; and this frequently puts 

 them out of humour, and draws them into disputes and 



