No. CXLIII. Sweet is the breath of vernal shower, The bee's collected treasures sweet, GRAY. THERE appears to be no vice to which mankind is subject, but there is also some virtue which is exactly its reverse; thus courage is the opposite to cowardice, modesty to impudence, humility to pride, and integrity to deceitfulness; but it does not always happen, that each virtue is considered amiable in proportion as its opposite vice is deemed detestable. Is it that men love rather to condemn than praise? In other words, that to punish evil with reproach, is more congenial to our nature, than to reward the good with commendation? or, is the world, in general, so good, that, instances of vicious conduct being rare, we seize more eagerly the opportunities of censure than applause? I am led to this train of thought by having frequently observed how different is the treatment of gratitude and ingratitude: the latter is justly execrated as the blackest vice that can disgrace the human breast. "Ingratitude," says Shak speare, "is as if this mouth should tear this hand for feeding it;" yet its opposite, virtue, is seldom honoured with the "meed of praise; and the most generous service that a man may render to his benefactor, is damped by the cold and chilling remark, “that he has only done his duty." If, in all the occurrences of our responsibility, we could ensure ourselves this seemingly scanty pittance of reward, we might pass through life with satisfaction, and meet even death without fear; but while so few can boast that they have done their duty, it is invidious to withdraw our warm applause from those whose conduct may deserve it. Great opportunities of exercising virtue do not present themselves, every day: but our gratitude can never long remain inactive; but may remind us of benefits received, and obligations due. The truly pious man will never retire to rest, or wake from sleep, but with thanksgiving to that Being, who dispenses happiness with life, and makes adversity itself a source of future blessing. Ingratitude is a constant subject of complaint with all mankind; and this, I fear, proceeds from their being more sensible of the benefits conferred by them, than of those which they receive. If a man do a good office, he never forgets that he has done it, he never sees the person whom he has obliged, but with a self-congratulation of applause; on the contrary, if he receive an obligation from another, he may express a sense of gratitude, at first, with fervour perhaps unfeigned; but time so moderates the ardour of this sense, that he at length forgets his benefactor, and even views him with indignation if he but discontinue for a while his wonted favours. My friend Aimwell complained to me of the ungrateful treatment he suffered from the tradesmen of the neighbouring market-town. The grocer, who at first bowed to the earth with gratitude for the honour of ranking the squire amongst his customers; because he occasionally supplied the Hall with certain petty articles: now that he furnishes almost every thing, mutters to the steward, because the tea used in the family is bought elsewhere. And the butcher, who supplies the house with meat, claims the liberty of coursing, when he pleases, in the park and fields adjoining: and though he owes his existence, as a tradesman, to the squire, yet he resents (as publicly as he dares) the message of the keeper, to remove his sports to greater distance: forgetful of the constant debt of gratitude, he considers as an injury, the refusal of that pri vilege, which he would not presume to expect, but from a cause that ought to make him the more grateful. This sort of ingratitude is much more universal than we at first imagine; for I consider as very nearly allied to it, every fastidious or unreasonable propensity, whether relating to man or beast, or even to inanimate objects, which leads us to expect more, because much is already given thus, while we look on a wellpainted picture, if any little distortion of limb, or error in the drawing, be discovered, we turn from it with disgust, regardless of the numerous excellencies with which it may otherwise abound. Those who have most to give, are most likely to complain of man's ingratitude; for this reason, a king observed, that his power of dispensing favours was the most painful task of royalty since he never gave a place away, but he made ninety-nine discontented, and one ungrateful subject. Nearly to the same purpose, was my Lord B-'s answer, on being asked Why he discontinued giving annual balls? He said, "That his rooms were not large enough to contain more than two hundred persons; and that he feared making all above that number, who were his friends, his enemies; for he had observed, that those ladies who were invited, forget it before next year; but those who were not invited, never forget it while they live." I will conclude my observations on this subject by describing the character of a clergyman now actually living in the county of Norfolk; but whose real name I shall disguise under that of EUCHARIS. This gentleman was early in life presented to the adjoining Rectories of B*** and B**, by a patron, who at that time was unmarried, and therefore had no idea of securing a reversion of the livings to a younger son; and Eucharis has now enjoyed the benefice full thirty years. Being hospitable with economy, and charitable with prudence, the income of his living, with some private fortune, have enabled him to live in splendid affluence, and leave a saving every year for extraordinary purposes, which gratitude has pointed out. He first considered the heavenly Master whom he serves, as his original and greatest Patron; and, though his piety would check the presumption of repaying for the blessings he enjoys, yet he knows, that every attempt in man to show his gratitude is acceptable in the sight of heaven. With this view, he has consecrated part of the annual savings of his income to repair an ancient Gothic structure, where he exhorts his flock to worship; and has actually expended many hundred pounds |