PASSION. 
of superior wortli, which reiuiers the pos- 
sessor too proud to act or say any thing de- 
rogatory to the honour of his rank and con- 
nections, is the only justifiable pride. The 
male or female proud of birth, of riches, 
-elegance of person, and those who are 
proud without any of the advantages enu- 
meiated, are equally ridiculous and con- 
temptible ; such unfortunate self-tormentors 
are jealous of every occurrence, lest it 
should, in its consequences, trench upon 
their own importance ; they see and hear 
disrespect in every movement and every 
sound that is uttered, and, full of alarmed 
fl'gn'ty) the features are contracted into a 
contemptuous threatening frown, the head is 
thrown backward, the steps are measured, 
the hand waved, and they stalk into retire- 
ment, where a thousand stinging malicious 
reflections accompany and make them mi- 
serable. 
Vanity is a near relative of pride ; but 
this affection of the soul is generally, though 
not always, personal. They who are for- 
tunate enough to possess superior attrac- 
tions of body and features, cannot but be 
conscious of their claims to admiration, 
which are willingly answered by the public, 
when humility and modesty attend them ; 
but vanity no sooner attempts to point them 
out by the ridiculous arts of dress, and dis- 
position of countenance and limbs, than 
envy commences her operations, and con- 
trives to excite laughter instead of applause. 
Richness of the habit, affected smiles to 
shew a fine set of teeth, and a strutting 
mode of walking, are sure marks of va- 
nity. 
Modesty, the direct opposite of pride 
and vanity, is sometimes carried to excess. 
The natural and acquired advantages we 
possess ought ever to give a tempered con- 
sequence to the front and mien. The really 
modest person often sinks into bashfulness, 
which is a most troublesome though not a 
vicious companion. To shrink from view 
and conceal our attainments is unjust to our 
instructors ; besides, example is required in 
society. Modesty and bashfulness occa- 
sion apprehension and trembling, and deep 
blushes and hesitation in speech complete 
the confusion and errors committed. 
We have hitherto treated on those pas- 
sions which agitate the mind and body in va- 
rious ways without meltingthe soul into what 
is termed sorrow, and its numerous ramifi- 
cations. It is difficult to separate any of the 
sensations under this head from tlie affection 
of self love, though it is beyond a doubt 
that much really disinterested sorrow is felt. 
Grief is the most violent emotion expe- 
rienced by man, and the most difficult to 
conquer. An injury may be forgiven, an 
enemy converted into a friend, and resent- 
ment subdued ; biit grief seizes upon the 
soul after the loss of a relative with irre- 
sistible power, and reason exerts haiself in 
vain to shake it off. The moralist argues 
against its indulgence without effect, be- 
cause the loss cannot be supplied, and the 
mind is compelled to wander in a desert, 
where it searches in vain for its departed 
friend. Grief sometimes affects the facul- 
ties even to derangement, and produces 
melancholy madness, which of all the varie- 
ties of insanity is the most hopeless. In 
cases of this nature the organs of life are 
obstructed, the heart oppressed, the lungs 
are inflated almost to bursting, deep sio-lis 
are essayed for relief, but in vain ; a sud- 
den obstruction recurs in the windpipe, and 
that part of the body seems more affected 
than any other. The unhappy sufferers 
wander, lost in misery, from place to place, 
wring their hands, and strike their feet for- 
cibly on the ground ; raise their eyes, as if 
m silent ejaculation, and the muscles of 
their mouths are drawn down, givin" the 
countenance the expression of dreadful 
agony. It is this state which is the most 
alarming for the safety of the senses; when 
tears and lamentation succeed, immediate 
relief is experienced, and time will produce 
settled sorrow. 
This is attended by a composure of fea- 
tures more affecting to the spectator than 
the most vehement paroxysms of grief; 
The afflicted person seeks retirement to 
weep, loses his appetite, is careless of his 
dress, and views the grave and the gay with 
equal indifference, and, when in this state, 
incurs the danger of falling into an habitual 
melancholy, which, though often the result 
of the loss of friends, is not less frequently 
the consequence of disease. The melan- 
choly man feels an universal listlessness ; he 
is deprived of all desire of exertion, walks ' 
without consciousness, and reposes his 
limbs when fatigued by the mere impulse of 
nature. As it appears his mind is abstracted 
from all external objects, and preys only 
upon itself, the brilliancy of the sun, the 
beauty of the expanse of air and clouds 
the pride of the spring, and the rigour of 
winter, pass in their fascinating varieties be- 
fore him unnoticed, and he is only anxious 
to escape from them by suicide. 
Resignation is one remove towards re- 
