Jenks's Portland gazette. [volume] (Portland [Me.]) 1799-1802, 1799-11-11
MISCELLANY.
Exrad from &C Discusses Gu D.iy11l."

ance for the feli!h affections. Nature has
kindly added 10 benevolence, the deiire OF re-
pptation, in order to make us good members
of fociefy. Spedemur agendc expfeiles the
great principle of activity for the good OF
Others. Nature has fandioned the law OF iei-
preleryation by rewards and Puniihments
The rewards Of lelfatfvity are life and health
the pundhmeats of negligence and Incidence
arc want, d;fesfe and death. Each individual
it is true fhouid coniider, hat nature has en-.
joined the fame law on his neghbor, and there
fore repeet tor the authority of nature would
obge HIM to reipea the rights of Others as
much as his own. But rsaioning as abltrule,
tho as imple as this, would not occur 10 all
men. The fame nature thei efore has impoied
another law, that of promoting tile good, as
well as Rejecting the rights of mankind, and
has ianaioned it by other rewards and puniih
ments. The reward in this cafe, in this life,
are eiieem and admiration of o,hess--the pun
iihments arc neglect and contempt--nor may
any enc imagine that tbefe are not as real as
the others. The deire of the elleem of others
is as real want of nature as hunger-and The
negleef and contempt OF the world as fevere a
pam, as the govt or Gone 1t fooner and off,
ener produces defpar and dclelfataion of ex
iaence--of equal importance to individuals, to
families, and TO nations--it is principle end of
government to regulate this PATTON, which in its
turn becomes principal means of government.
1t is the only adequate iniirpment of order
and differentiation in focis.y, and alone com
mands effeaual obedience to laws, ince with
ont it nei,hsr human reafon nor Handing ar
mics, would ever produce that great effea.
Every peifonal quality, and every blei1ing OF
fortune, is cherifhed in proportion TO its capaci-
ty of gratifying this universal affection for the
elteem, the fympa,hy, admiration and congra.
tulations of the public. Beauty in the face, e.
legance OF figure, grace OF attitude and motion,
riches and honors, every thing, is weighed in
this fcale, and deiired not for the pleaure they
afford, as the attention they command. AS
this is a point of great Importance. it may be
pardonable to expatiate little, upon thee par
ticulars.
"Why are the pe'fonal accomplishments of
beauty, elegance and grace, held ID iuch high
eltimation by mankind? Is it merely for the
pleafure which is received from the Eight of thcie
attributes BY no means The tate for fach
delicaces is not univeifal-in thoic who feeltl
mott lively fenfe of them, it is but a flight fem
fation, and OF ihort continuance bur thofe at.
fractions command the notice and attention of
the rublic-they draw the eyes Of fpedators-
this is the charm that makes them rre6ltible.
Is It for rdch fading petteetions that hulband
or wife is chofcn? Alas, it is well known,
thar a very ihort Familiarity, totally deGroys all
fenie and attention to fueh properties and on
the contrary a very little time and habit de-
firoys all the ayeriion to ugineis and deormity,
when unattended with diff 'aie or i'll temper yet
beauty and sddrefs are couried and admired,
very often, more than diiereiion, VII, fenie, and
many other accomplishments and virtues. of
infinitely more importance to the happinsfs of
private life, as well as TO the utility and crna-
ment of fociety. sit for The momenlous pur.
pole of dancing and drawing, painting and mu
iic, riding or fencing, that men and wc,ren are
defined in this life or any other Yet thof.
who have bea the means of education beRow
more atrent;on and expence on thofe, than on
more fold acquiltions. Why Becauie they
at,rata more forcibiy the attention OF the world,
and procure better advancement in lie. Not
withdrawing all this, a. foon as an eaablilhment
in life is made, they are icuad to have aniwered
their end, and are laid aide neglected.
els there any thing in birth, however illuGr.
Gus or fplendid, which ihould make difference
between one man and another? IF from COM
mon anceaor, the whole human race is defend
ed, they are all of the fame family How then
can they diltinguih families into the more or
the leG ancient |? What advantage is there in
an illuftration of an hundred or a thoufand
years OF what avail are all he hiforcs, pedi-
Yrees, traditions What foundation has the
whole fcence of geneslogy and teraldry' Are
there differences in the breeds of men, as there
are in thoie of horfes ?--lf there are not, thoie
licences have no. foundation in reaion lin preiu-
dice they have very fold one All that phi
lofophy can FAY is, that there is general pre-
fumption, thar man has had iome advantages
of education if he is of family of no.e. Bot
this advantage mutt derived from his father
and mother chiefly, ifnot wholly-Of what inn
portance is il then, in this view, whether the
family is twenty generations upon record, or
only two?
"The mighty fecrer lies in this--an illu0ri-