274 Of the Effects on Society Bk. iv. 



wards burn with a brighter, purer, and steadier 

 flame; and the happiness of the married state, 

 instead of only affording the means of immediate 

 indulgence, would be looked forward to as the 

 prize of industry and virtue, and the reward of a 

 genuine and constant attachment.* 



The passion of love is a powerful stimulus in the 

 formation of character, and often prompts to the 

 most noble and generous exertions ; but this is 

 only when the affections are centred in one ob- 

 ject, and generally when full gratification is de- 

 layed by difficulties-t The heart is perhaps never 



* Dr. Currie, in bis interesting obsen'ations on the character 

 and condition of the Scotch peasantiy, prefixed to his Life of Burns, 

 remarks, M-ith a just knowledge of human nature, that, "in ap- 

 " preciating the happiness and virtue of a community, there is 

 " perhaps no single criterion on which so much dependence may 

 " be placed as the state of the intercourse between the sexes. 

 " Where this displays ardour of attachment, accompanied by pu- 

 " rity of conduct, the character and the influence of women rise, 

 " our imperfect nature mounts in the scale of moral excellence ; 

 " and from the source of this single affection, a stream of felicity 

 " descends, which branches into a thousand rivulets that enrich 

 " and adorn the field of life. Where the attachment between the 

 " sexes sinks into an appetite, the heritage of our species is com- 

 " paratively poor, and man approaches to the condition of the 

 " brutes that perish." Vol. i. p. 18. 



+ Dr. Currie observes, that the Scottish peasant in the course 

 " of his passion often exerts a spirit of adventure, of which a Spa- 

 " nish cavalier need not be ashamed." Burns' Works, vol. i. p. 1 C. 

 It is not to be doubted that this kind of romantic passion, which. 

 Dr. C. says, characterizes the attachment of the hnmblest people 

 of Scotland, and which has been greatly fostered by the elevation 

 of mind given to them by a superior education, has had a most 

 powerful and most beneficial influence on the national character. 



