20 



In my prefent purfult I feel the neceflity 

 of eftablifliing it as a principle to view oc- 

 currences in their beft lights and, Inftead of 

 repining tl at more cannot be obtained, to 

 feek comfort from what falls in my path. 

 Were we to adopt this as a leading maxim, 

 in all fituations, it is more than poffible that 

 we might, often, have happy hours, where we 

 know only thofe of mifery ; for fuch a prin- 

 ciple, applied with wifdom, would tend very 

 much to blunt the fharp thorns of life. As 

 If the evils of the world were not enough fe- 

 vere, we, too commonly, attach ourfelves to 

 the unhappy face of events, brood over fan- 

 cied forrows, and, eagerly, multiply our dif- 

 appointments, wholly overlooking the more 

 favorable features from which peace, har- 

 mony, and comfort might derive. 



Yet fome there are, of men I think the worft. 

 Poor imps ! unhappy if they can't be cursM, 

 For ever brooding over misery's eggs" I 

 # * * * # * * * % * 



This gloomy tendency of our difpofition 

 forms a remarkable charaderlftic between the 

 people of England and thofe of France; 



