356 DISORDERED EYES. 



Ere I clofe this paper, I muft give vent to the full- 

 nefs of my heart by making the grateful confeffion, 

 that I have caufe to reckon all the fufFerings I have 

 undergone from diftempered eyes among the greater! 

 benefits conferred upon me by divine providence. Had 

 they not befallen me ; had my eyes always remained 

 ferviceable in proportion to the infatiablenefs of my 

 thirft after knowledge ; I mould in all probability have 

 long ago fallen a facrifice to the exceffive ardour in 

 which it is likely I fhould have profecuted my ftudies. 

 Whereas thus I fee myfelf forced humbty to retreat 

 within the bounds prefcribed by nature to finite beings, 

 which I fooiifhly attempted to overleap, and to reduce 

 the degree of my exertions to a due proportion with that 

 of my powers. Therefore, that lam ftill alive — or, at 

 leaft, that, by an immoderate application, the facul- 

 ties and health of my body are not entirely deftroyed; 

 that I have not yet loft all my feelings towards the 

 charms of nature and of friendfhip, and towards all the 

 animating and innocent pleafures of focial life ; all this 

 I eventually owe to the wife difpenfation, which at the 

 time it befell me made me almoft doubtful of the un- 

 bounded goodnefs of the great parent of mankind. 

 Let every man reflect whether all the misfortunes he 

 has gone through have not had a limilar tendency. 



For no other reafon than that fuch of your readers, 

 as may any way be interefted in this matter, may 

 know who is their voucher for the truth of this rela- 

 tion, I fubfcribe my name, Campe. 



