358 
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To the Editor of the Monthly Magazine. 
SIR, 
di) eee talents, or fuperior pow- 
ers and cultivation of mind, have a 
tendency to produce the happinefs of the 
individual, appears to be queftionabdle, 
and affords an enquiry both curious and . 
important. I do not feel in myfelf a 
capacity for the proper inveftigation of 
this fubjeét ; but you will perhaps, fir, 
allow me, through the medium of your 
valuable Mifcellany, to offer a few ob- 
fervations which have occurred to me 
refpeting it; and to invite, from a cor- 
refpondent more able and ingenious, a 
farther examination of this interefting 
queftion. 
A variety of arguments, on the firft 
view, forcibly ftrike the mind in fupport 
of the affirmative of the pofition, that 
talents, or intelleétual endowments, have 
a direét tendency towards increafing the 
fum of human (or rather of individual) 
happinefs. Virtue, it has been affirmed, 
is but a calculation of confequences, or a 
choice of the beft means to attain a cer- 
tain end, the ultimate benefit, or greater 
fum of enjoyment, fuited to the percep- 
tions and facult¥es of a rational and fen- 
fitive being. Virtue, therefore, is faid, 
by moralifts. to be our true intereft: and, 
from this propofition, it feems to follow, 
asa corrollary, that knowledge, or en- 
largement of mind, has an uniform and 
neceffary connection with virtue, and if 
with virtue, with happinefs; or, that the 
moft wife, the moft virtuous, the moft 
happy, would be almoft fynonymous 
terms. We know nothing of caufes, 
but from their effects ; is, therefore, this 
conclufion warranted by fact and expe- 
rience? Strong mental powers appear to 
be connected with acute and lively fenfa- 
tion, or the capacity of receiving forcible 
impreffions. (I will not, at preient, en- 
quire whether exquifite organs are the 
caufe, or the refult of moral fufceptibility.) 
Hence it is to be fufpected, that ftrong 
minds are frequently enflaved by their 
affions, the diftinétion between fenfe 
and reafon is perhaps merely verbal, 
every thing feems to refoive itfelf into 
the former. Why is adverfity thought 
to be the {chool of improvement? Wh 
is it faid, ‘*‘ Enquire after the fufferings 
of great men, and you will know why 
they are great*?’’ “The rock muft be 
convulfed ere it will produce the 
diamond ;” becaufe talents are invariably 
oe 

tm -~ 
* Lavater’s Aphorifms. 

Are Mental Talents productive of Happinefs ? 
[ May, 
called forth equal to the {pur of the occa-~ 
fion, Misfortune and difficulty put the 
mind upon colleéting its powers; the 
difappointment or the calamity which 
does not overwhelm and flupify, ftimu- 
lates, awakens the ftronger paffions, 
{ets the mind in motion, roufes thofe 
energies which, in the lap of indolence, 
had never exifted. Happinefs,. which 
implies a certain degree of tranquillity, 
and talents, upon this hypothefis, appear 
to be wholly incompatible; yet, admit- 
ting this ftatement, the truly great mind, 
lc may be alleged, is that which, through 
the ftruggle of the paflions, has, at 
length, acquired ftable principles, and 
like the traveller, on the fummit of the 
higheft Andes, views, under aferene fky, 
the clouds of ftorms, from which he has 
efcaped, break harmlefsly beneath his 
feet. Suppofing that habits of inquie- 
tude and effervefcence may be wholly 
and effeétually fubdued ; and that the 
neceifity for watchfulnefs, which implies 
arduous conflict, inconfiftent with tran- 
quil enjoyment, is fuperceded; that the 
mind, accuftomed to vivid emotion, is nei- 
ther exhaufted by this ftimulus, nor inca- 
pacitated from returning to a peaceful and 
temperate ftate—at what period of life 
is this dehrable fituation- likely to be ac- 
quired * May not the yiétory cof us too 
dear ? May not our race be nearly finifhed, 
ere it be achieved? Is a wife and tran- 
quil old age worth the purchafe of ayouth 
of fuffering, anda manhood of warfare > 
If this be the only method of generating 
talents, who would wifh to purchafe 
them, ata rate fo expenfive? But may 
not the mind be roufed by means lefs 
violent and obnoxicus ? May not curiofity 
be awakened, emulation produced, the 
love of diftinétion foftered, by gentler 
methods? If talents are called forth 
equal to the {pur of the occafion (and this 
appears to be an incontrovertible trath, 
founded upon the hiftory and experience 
of all nations and ages) I own, I can 
conceive of none equally efficacious. In 
proportion to the force of the imprefiion 
(which neither overwhelms nor ftupifies) 
will be the vigour of the motive and the 
confequent exertion ; an exaét mechanical 
ratio muft be preferved between them. 
Our attention is never fo effeétually fe- 
cured as by a lively interefl, and that in= 
tereft will be the moft lively, will fugget 
expedients the moft acute and various, 
that concerns and touches us moft nearly. 
Upon this view, we may fay of the man 
of talents, 
“. Heav’s 
