ESSAYS. 



879 



increased, and now frequently ravage their 

 harmless frontiers.' ' But they should have 

 been destroyed,' cried Asem; 'you seethe 

 consequence of such neglect.' ' Where is 

 then that tenderness you so lately expressed 

 for subordinate animals?' replied the genius, 

 smiling; 'you seem to have forgot that branch 

 of justice.' ' 1 must acknowledge my mis- 

 take,' returned Asem ; ' 1 am now convinced 

 that we must be guilty of tyranny and injus- 

 tice to the brute creation, if we would enjoy 

 the world ourselves. But let us no longer 

 observe the duty of men to these irrational 

 creatures, but survey their connections with 

 one another.' 



As they walked farther up the country, the 

 more he was surprised to see no vestiges of 

 handsome houses, no cities, nor any mark of 

 elegant design. His conductor perceiving 

 his surprise, observed, that the inhabitants 

 of this new world were perfectly content 

 with their ancient simplicity ; each had an 

 house, which, though homely, was sufficient 

 to lodge his little family ; they were too good 

 to build houses, which could only increase 

 their own pride, and the envy of the specta- 

 tor; what they built was for convenience, 

 and not for show. 'At least then,' said Asem, 

 * they have neither architects, painters, or 

 statuaries in their society ; but these are idle 

 art-, and may be spared. However, before I 

 spend much more time here, you should have 

 my thanks for introducing me into the society 

 of some of their wisest men: there is scarce 

 any pleasure to me equal to a refined conver- 

 sation; there is nothing of which I am so 

 enamoured as wisdom.' ' Wisdom,' replied 

 his instructor, ' how ridiculous! We have no 

 wisdom here, for we have no occasion for it; 

 true wisdom is only a knowledge of our own 

 duty, and the duty of others to us; but of 

 what use is such wisdom here ? each intui- 

 tively performs what is right in himself, and 

 expects the same from others. If by wisdom 

 you should mean vain curiosity, and empty 

 speculation, as such pleasures have their 

 origin in vanity, luxury, or avarice, we are 

 too good to pursue them.' ' All this may be 

 right,' says Asem, ' but methinks I observe a 

 solitary disposition prevail among the people; 

 each family keeps separately within their 

 own precincts, without society, or without j 



intercourse.' ' That indeed, is true,' replied 

 the other; 'here is no established society; 

 nor should there be any : all societies are 

 made either through fear or friendship; the 

 people we are among, ere too good lo fear 

 each other; and there are no motives to pri- 

 vate friendship, where all are equally meri- 

 torious.' ' Well then,' said the sceptic, ' as I 

 am to spend my time here, if I am to have 

 neither the polite arts, nor wisdom, nor friend- 

 ship, in such a world, I should be glad at 

 least of an easy companion, who may tell me 

 his thoughts, and to whom I may communi- 

 cate mine.' ' And to what purpose should 

 either do this ?' says the genius : ' flattery or 

 curiosity are vicious motives, and never 

 allowed of here; arid wisdom is out of the 

 question.' 



' Still, however,' said Asem, 'the inhabi- 

 tants must be happy ; each is contented with 

 his own possessions, nor avariciously endea- 

 ours to heap up more than is necessary for 

 his own subsistence: each has therefore lei- 

 sure to pity those that stand in need of his 

 compassion.' He had scarce spoken when 

 his ears were assaulted with the lamentations 

 of a wretch who sat by the way-side, and. in 

 the most deplorable distress, seemed gently 

 to murmur at his own misery. Asem imme- 

 diately ran to his relief, and found him in the 

 last stage of a consumption. ' Strange,' cried 

 the son of Adam, ' that men who are free 

 from vice should thus suffer so much misery 

 without relief!' ' Be not surprised,' said the 

 v\ retch who w as dying ; ' would it not be Hie 

 greatest injustice for beings, who have only 

 just sufficient to support themselves, and are 

 content with a bare subsistence, to take it 

 from their own mouths to put it into mine ? 

 They never are possessed ofasingle meal more 

 than is necessary, and what is barely neces- 

 sary cannot be dispensed with.' 'They should 

 have been supplied with more than i^ neces- 

 sary,' cried Asem: 'and yet I contradict my 

 own opinion but a moment before: all is 

 doubt, perplexity, and confusion. Even the 

 want of ingratitude is no virtue here, since 

 they never received a favour. Th'^y have, 

 however, another excellence, yet bejjind; the 

 love of their country is still, [ hope, ons 01 

 their darling virtues.' ' Peace, Asem,' replied 

 the guardian, with a countenance not less 



