4 
different: and hence, if the human dif- 
fers from the brutal fpecies, it is ridicu- 
Tous to place human happinefs in the gra- 
tification of appetites which we poffefs in 
common with brutes. 
In the next place, the ature or being 
of every thing confitts in that part of the 
thing which is moft excellent; for that 
which is moft excellent is moft principal, 
and nothing can have a more principal 
~ fubfittence than being. And hence, hu- 
man felicity confifts in a perfect tntellec- 
tual energy ; for intelleét is our principal 
art. The felicity, therefore;or ‘an ir- 
rational is:very different from that of a 
rational animal,-and of a boy from that 
of a man, who leads an intclleétual life, 
or in other words, who energizes habi- 
tually, according to the fummnit or flower 
of his nature. 
If thefe definitions, which were adopt- 
ed by all the greatly wife among the an- 
cients, are admitted, 1s it not as abfurd 
for a ratiova! being to defend the pleafures 
of youth, as for aman in a found and vi- 
gilant ftate to praife the dreams of the 
fick, or the reveries of the mad? But fo 
totally ignorant is Sinboren of thefe 
weighty truths, that he even envies the 
frifking and frolic of a calf ! 
It is beautifully obferved by Ariftctle, 
that corporeal pleafures are nothing more 
than remedies againft corporeal pains ; 
and that they fill up the indigence of na- 
ture, but do not perfeét the energy of the 
foul. As this muft be obvious to every 
one, who is in the habit of reflection, it 
is as ridiculous to affert that the happineds 
of man, confidered as. man, confifts in 
fenfual gratifications, as that the felicity 
of the animal life confifis in removing its 
torments when difeafed, and not in the 
vigorous energies which attend it when in 
a healthy condition. Corporeal pleafures, 
therefore, however intenfe, can never be 
‘true pleafures, nor fech as human nature 
principally defires, unlefs it can be fhown 
that the felicity of a difeafed is preferable 
to that of a healthy animal, and that the 
energies of ficknefs are more perfect than 
thofe of health. Hence Ariftotle very 
properly adds, that true pleafures (and 
fuch are the intelleétual) are thofe which 
are not preceded by pain. - Thefe are:al- 
ways laudable, and never tran{cend. the 
becoming. ‘Thefe can triumph over indi- 
gence and oppreffion, and rife in full yi- 
gour when appetite is no more. ‘Thefe 
¢an f{mooth the brow of care, and difpel 
the gloom of defpondence, {weeten the 
kitternefs or grief, and lull agony to reft. 
Mr. Taylor on Youth, @c...Preventative againft Bugs. 
[Julys 
-I only add, in reply to your correfpon- 
dent Philobiblos, that though it fhould be 
admitted that Mofes, by darkne/s upon the 
face of the waters, meant /fagnate air ! 
yet he has not informed us how darknefs 
of any kind could exift prior to the crea- 
tion of the fun. For we know of no phy- 
fical darknefs, but what is the confequence 
of the fun being abfent from one place, 
and prefent at another. As tothe pafiages 
which I have cited from aricient authors, if 
they had been underftood by Phisobiblos, 
he would never have venturéd.to put in 
competition with them thofe which he has 
adduced. I remain, fir, 
Manor Place,~ Your's, &c. , 
Walworth. THomas TAayLor. 
Ss eee 
To the Edhior of the Montbly Mogazine. 
SIR, ttetetg 
ie reading BouTCcHER’s Treatife on 
Foreft-Trees, 1 met with an obferva- 
tion which I think may be intereiting to 
fome of your readers in the metropolis, 
and other populous towns in the king- 
dom, fpeaking of the peculiar properties 
of the yew-tree, he fays, page 191, **T 
add one more very matesial quality in 
the yew-tree, though not related by any 
other writer as I know of, and which is, 
that the wooden part of a bed, made of 
yew, will, moft certainly, mever be ap- 
proached by bugs. This is a truth con- 
firmed to me by the experience of trees 
I had cut down and uted in this way.” 
Wareham, Fulys1797- B. CRACKNELL., 

For the Monthly Magazine. 
HINTs RESPECTING PROVIDENT 
CLuBS, OR FRIENDILY SOCIETIES. 
je the importance of any fubjeét be in 
proportion to its relative eifeét and 
operation upon the comfort and welfare 
of the great mals of the community, 
there are few more important than that 
above adverted to. Under proper regu- 
lations, duly enforced, and fteadily per- 
feveredin, there can be no doubt but that 
thefe focieties may be made to contribute, 
in a very high degree, to the general 
weal. 
There are, however, many difficulties 
and obftacles that, prefent themfelves to 
the attentive obferver ; and thofe men 
will deferve well indeed of their country, 
who can point out any effectual mode of 
furmounting them, and of rendering 
thefe ineftimable inftitutions really pro- 
duétive of all thofe beneficial confe- 
quences that may be derived from them. 
In oxder to accomplish this molt defirable 
i purpofe, 
