the defire, or envy, of a wife man. It is certain that, with regard to corporal enjoyment, money can neither open new avenues to pleasure, nor block up the paffages of anguifh. Difeafe and infirmity ftill continue to torture and enfeeble, perhaps exasperated by luxury, or promoted by foftness.

Ditto, v. 11, p. 29.

With regard to the mind, it has rarely been obferved, that wealth contributes much to quicken the difcernment, enlarge the capacity, or elevate the imagination; but may, by hiring flattery, or laying diligence aflecp, confirm error, or harden ftupidity. Wealth cannot confer greatnefs; for nothing can make that great, which the decree of nature has ordained to be little. The bramble may be placed in a hot-bed, but can never become an oak. Even Royalty itself is not able to give that dignity, which it happens not to find, but oppreffes feeble minds, though it may elevate the ftrong. The world has been governed in the name of Kings, whose existence has fcarcely been perceived, by any real effects beyond their

own palaces. When therefore the defire of wealth is taking hold of the heart, let us look round and fee how it operates upon those whofe industry, or fortune, has obtained it. When we find them oppreffed with their own abundance, luxurious without pleasure, idle without ease, impatient and querulous in themselves, and defpifed or hated by the reft of mankind, we shall foon be convinced, that if the real wants of our condition are fatisfied, there remains little to be fought with folicitude, or defired with eagerness.

Ditto, ditto, p. 30.

Though riches often prompt extravagant hopes and fallacious appearances; there are purposes to which a wife man may be delighted to apply them. They may, by a rational diftribution to those who want them, ease the pains of helpless disease, ftill the throbs of reftlefs anxiety, relieve innocence from oppreffion, and raise imbecillity to cheerfulness and vigour. This they will enable a man to perform; and this will afford the only happiness ordained for our present state, the confidence of di

vine favour, and the hope of future rewards.

Rambler, v. 3. P. 94°

It is obferved of gold by an old epigrammatiit," that to have it, is to be in fear, and to want it, to be in forrow." Ditto, ditto, p. 155.

Every man is rich or poor, according to the proportion between his defires and enjoyments. Any enlargement of riches is therefore equally deftructive to happiness with the diminution of poffeffion; and he that teaches another to long for what he fhall never obtain, is no lefs an enemy to his quiet, than if he had robbed him of part of his patrimony.

Ditto, v.4, P. 17.

Whofoever rifes above thefe who once pleased themselves with equality, will have many malevolent gazers at his eminence. To gain fooner than others that which all purfue with the fame ardour, and to which all imagine themselves entitled, will for ever be a crime. When those who ftarted with us in the race of life, leave us fo far behind, that we have little hope to overtake them, we revenge our disappointment by remarks

P 3

remarks on the arts of fupplantation by which they gained the advantage, or on the folly and arrogance with which they poffefs it; of them whofe rife we could not hinder, we folace ourselves by prognofticating the fall. Riches, therefore, perhaps do not fo often produce crimes, as incite accufers.

Ditto, ditto, p. 68.

It muft, however, be confeffed, that as all fudden changes are dangerous, a quick transition from poverty to abundance can feldom be made with fafety. He that has long lived within fight of pleasures which he could not reach, will need more than common moderation not to lofe his reafon in unbounded riot, when they are first put into his power.

Ditto, ditto, p. 69.

Of Riches, as of every thing else, the hope is more than the enjoyment. Whilst we confider them as the means to be used at fome future time, for the attainment of felicity, we prefs on our purfuit ardently, and vigorously, and that ardor fecures us from weariness of ourselves; but no fooner

do

do we fit down to enjoy our acquifitions, than we find them infufficient to fill up the vacuities of life.

Idler, v. 11.p. 115.

COMPARISON

between RICHES

and UNDERSTANDING.

AS many more can discover that a man is richer than themselves, fuperiority of understanding is not fo readily acknowledged, as that of fortune; nor is that haughtiness, which the confcioufnefs of great abilities incites, borne with the fame fubmiflion, as the tyranny of affluence.

Life of Savage.

COMPARISON between RICHES and POWER.

POWER and wealth fupply the place of each other. Power confers the ability of gratifying our defires without the confent of others; wealth enables us to obtain the confent of others to our gratification. Power, fimply confidered, whatever it confers on

one