PHILOSOPHY, MENTAL. 



74. The above may be considered as 

 the principal sources of the beauties of 

 nature to mankind in general. Inquisitive 

 and philosophical persons have some 

 others, arising- from their peculiar know- 

 ledge and study of natural history, astro- 

 nomy, and philosophy in general : for the 

 profusion of beauties, uses, fitnesses, ele- 

 gance in minute things, and magnificence 

 in great ones, exceed all bounds of ima- 

 gination ; and new scenes, and those of 

 unbounded extent, separately considered, 

 ever present themselves- to view, the more 

 any one studies and contemplates the 

 works of God. Upon the w hole the reader 

 may see that there are sufficient sources 

 for all those pleasures of imagination 

 which the beauties of nature excite in dif- 

 ferent persons ; and that the differences 

 which are, in this respect, found in dif- 

 ferent persons, are sufficiently analogous 

 to the differences of their situations in 

 life, and of the consequent associations 

 formed in them. Those who are closely 

 attentive to what passes within them, may 

 also, when contemplating the beauties of 

 nature, frequently discern the relicts of 

 many of the particular pleasures here 

 enumerated, while they recur in a sepa- 

 rate state, and before they coalesce with 

 the general indeterminate aggregate, and 

 this verifies the account here given. It 

 is also a confirmation of it, that an atten- 

 tive person may observe great differences 

 in the kind and degree of the relish which 

 he has for the beauties of nature in differ- 

 ent periods of his life ; especially as the 

 kind and degree will be found to agree 

 in the main with the foregoing account. 

 To the same purpose it may be observed, 

 that these pleasuies do not cloy very 

 soon, but are of a lasting nature when 

 compared with the sensible ones ; since 

 this follows naturally from the great va- 

 riety of their sources, and the evanescent 

 nature of their constituent parts. 



2. Of the Pleasures and Pains of Am- 

 bition. 



75. The opinions of others concerning 

 us, when expressed by corresponding 

 words or actions, are principal sources of 

 happiness or misery. The pleasures of 

 this kind are usually referred to the head 

 of honour, the pains to that of shame. We 

 are here to inquire by what associations it 

 is brought about, that men are solicitous 

 to have certain particulars concerning 

 themselves made known to the circle of 

 their friends and acquaintance, or to the 

 world in general; and certain others con- 



cealed from them : and also, why all in. 

 dications that these kinds of particulars 

 are made known, so as to produce appro- 

 bation, esteem, praise, &c. or dislike, cen- 

 sure, contempt, &c. occasion such exqui- 

 site pleasures as those of honour and 

 shame. These particulars may be class- 

 ed under four heads : external advan- 

 tages or disadvantages ; bodily perfec- 

 tions and imperfections ; intellectual ac- 

 complishments and defects ; moral ones, 

 that is, virtue or vice. We shall, as be- 

 fore, select the analysis of one of these 

 classes of the feelings of ambition. 



76. The intellectual accomplishments 

 and defects which occasion the feelings of 

 ambition, are, sagacity, memory, inven- 

 tion, wit, and learning ; and their oppo- 

 sites, folly, dulness, and ignorance. Now, 

 it is evident, that independent of the in- 

 trinsic value of the former class, and dis- 

 advantage of the other, the circumstance 

 of their being made known to others, 

 respectively produces certain privileges 

 and pleasures, or subjects to inconvenien- 

 cies and pains. It follows, therefore, that 

 every discovery of this kind to others, al- 

 so every mark of associate of such disco- 

 very, will, by association, raise up the re- 

 licts of those privileges and pleasures, or 

 inconveniencies and pains respectively ; 

 and these being gradually blended toge- 

 ther, and united- with those with which 

 each repetition of the producing cause is 

 accompanied, afford in each instance a 

 peculiar compound pleasure or pain, 

 which, by the custom of our language, has 

 the word honour or shame respectively 

 connected with it. The general account 

 will apply to each of the four classes of 

 the feelings of ambition ; but the feelings 

 of honour or shame connected with this 

 particular class, require a more minute 

 analysis. A great part, perhaps the great- 

 est, is derived from the high-strained en- 

 comiums, applauses, and flatteries, paid 

 to talents and learning, and the outrage- 

 ous ridicule and contempt thrown upon fol- 

 ly and ignorance, in all the discourses and 

 writings of men of genius and literature ; 

 these persons being extremely partial to 

 their own excellencies, and carrying the 

 opinion of the world along with them by 

 the force of their abilities and eloquence. 

 It is also to be observed, that in the educa- 

 tion of young persons, and especially of 

 boys and young men, great rewards are 

 conferred in consequence of intellectual 

 abilities and attainments, and great pun- 

 ishments follow negligence and igno- 

 rance; which rewards and punishments, 

 being respectively associated with the 



