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while an Englifliman, In afflldive contempla- 

 tion, dwells on misfortune, even to fulcide — a 

 Frenchman, let the alFairs of the moment be 

 never fo adverfe, always finds wherewithal to 

 attach his better hopes ; and, furely, when 

 any occurrence proves lefs happy than we had 

 anticipated, it is wife policy rather to extrad: 

 from it all the good we can, than to give up 

 ourfelves wholly to the fadnefs of difappoint- 

 ment, becaufe it fulfils not our every wifh. 



From this facility of yielding to events, 

 it has been fald that the French people 

 know how to play the game of happinefs 

 better than the Englifli. It may be fo. But 

 ftill it is poffible that the principle, to which 

 T allude, may be carried to excefs. Where it 

 is the efFe£l of a patient and manly fortitude, 

 and employed to fupport us againft injury, 

 misfortune, and difappointment, it is both 

 amiable and virtuous, and may be dignified 

 with the title of phllofophy. But it is fome- 

 times the effed: of frivolity, or depravity- 

 is conneded with vice and diffipation, and 

 highly unworthy. When proceeding from 

 this fource, it fuperfedes all the finer feelings 



