1812. 
REMARKS ON DANCING. 
413 
Mattivi and Mollemmi were among the most constant dancers ; 
but the whole party rested themselves at frequent intervals of* two or 
three minutes. In this manner, and without any variation, they con- 
tinued the amusement during the whole day. The pleasure which 
they derived from it, seemed to have more the nature of soothing 
enjoyment, than of mirth. Laughter was rarely to be observed, and 
talking was as seldom heard among those who were engaged in the 
dance. The women and children seemed to take equal delight in the 
scene, though merely spectators. 
Dancing appears to have been in all ages of the world, and 
perhaps in all nations, a custom so natural, so pleasing, and even 
useful, that we may readily conclude that it will continue to exist 
as long as mankind shall continue to people the earth. We see 
it practised as much by the savage as by the civilized ; as much by the 
lowest as by the highest classes of society : and as it is a recreation 
purely corporeal, and perfectly independent of mental qualification 
or refinement, all are equally fitted for enjoying it : it is this, probably, 
which has occasioned it to become universal. All attempts therefore 
at rendering any exertion of the mind necessary to its performance, 
are an unnatural distortion of its proper and original features. Grace 
and ease of motion are the extent of its perfection ; because these 
are the natural perfections of the human body. Every circumstance 
and object by which man is surrounded may be viewed in a philoso- 
phic light ; and thus viewed, dancing appears to be a recreative mode 
of exercising the body and keeping it in health, the means of shaking 
off spleen, and of expanding one of the best characters of the heart, 
— the social feeling. Where it does not effect this, the fault 
is not in the dance, but in the dancer : a perverse mind makes all 
things like itself Dancing and music, which appear to be of equal 
antiquity and equally general among mankind, are connected together 
only by a community of purpose : what one is for the body, the other 
is for the mind. 
While affairs were thus going on smoothly, I took the oppor- 
tunity of sending some of my men out to hunt, as our provisions 
were nearly exhausted, and no food of any kind was to be purchased 
