-iii.i.2.ii. OF VOLITION. ^ 



driacifm, fee Clafs 1. 2. 4. 10. by the people, and are general- 

 afcribed to the want of voluntary power, or of induftry ; but 

 I believe it is generally owing to want of motive or ftimulus | 

 and that the pain attending this flate of our ideas or mufcles is 

 occafioned by accumulation of voluntary power, as above men* 

 tioned. The cure of this difeafe, is popularly known to confift 

 in any kind of voluntary exertion of the mind, or of the body \ 

 one of our poets has perfonified hypocliondriacifm, and well ad- 

 vifes the ufe of exercife, or exertion to oppofe the monfter,andfays> 



tt Throw bat a {fo'ne; die giant dies." 



To this fhould be added, that thofc, who have been educated 

 in indolence, do not find or feel ennui, or the pain of exiftencej, 

 when they are inactive ; like our domeftic animals, as dogs and 

 cats, who deep by the fire without inclination to hang or drown 

 themfelves ; as thefe beings, not having been long accuftomed 

 to expend much voluntary power, are not liable to much accu-*- 

 mulationof it, and uneafinefs in confequence; which is not fo 

 however with the more active fquirrel before mentioned. 



But on the contrary, thofe, whofe education has induced them 

 16 ufe much voluntary exertion, and have afterwards had no 

 aclive employment, as happens to fome unmarried ladies, are 

 more liable, as I have repeatedly wimefTed, to this malady ; art 

 idea, which fhould be attended to in female education. 



Another fource of ennui or taedium vitse is alfo derived from 

 wrong education, and is immediately owing to the want of ftim* 

 ulus rather than to the great accumulation of voluntary power ; 

 and is liable to attend fome ladies in high life, whcfe exertions 

 during their early years were excited by the flattery of numer* 

 ous menial fervants. And afterwards, when this flattery ceafes 

 by their living with their equals, they want their accuftomed 

 motive to activity, and in confequence become indolent and un* 

 happy, as further defcribed in Clafs III* 2. I. 8. under the name 

 of Parefis voluntaria 



M. M. The prevention of this malady mud confift in the 

 due care of education. Thofe who are not defigned for very 

 active life, particularly young ladies, {hould not be forced in 

 their early years to ufe too violent or too conftant voluntary ex- 

 ertions- They {hould not be flattered into al! their exertions, 

 but ihould be taught to act from duty to themfelves and others, 

 or for their future advantage as well as for their prefent amu fo- 

 ment. 



Some reftraint in exhaufting the ufual pleafures of the world 

 in early life fhould be laid on young men of fortune 5 and after- 

 wards the pleafures and folitudes of a matrimonial liie arc 



VOL, II. S s ftrongly 



