The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1804-10-27

ities CT the foul: they tend to preterSe the
health, vigour and beauty of the animal frame,
to keep alive a moderate, equable and genial ex-
element: they extrguilh every incorporate s
| malignant PATTON they nourlh every grand *
generous fentiment they gid every waking
hour with tranquility and Joy: they !hed fweet-
NETS, refreihment and airy vfions over the lum-
bers of the night: they repeIthe inroadS of dit
cafe, retard the approaches of old age, and gra-
dually conduct rs into th, vale of oblivion "fu!l
OF years and full of honour. Even when laid
upon the bed of death, fnrrounded by affection
ate and afflicted friends the recollection OF life
devotedto the fcrvice of focicty and fpent nc
cordinG TO the principles of juitice, cautes the
ihades of death 10 clofe around the departing
ipirt with ga lefs dilma and melancholy
gloom"
In order to appreciate more july, and
feel more wildly and diRin1ly the hyperion
value of the plcalnres laO defcribed, let us con-
trait, for a moment, philosopher competing an
important treatite, or All orator delivering a lu-
minous and iinpreGive fpeech on a momentous
queition, with Bacchanal in the Ian Rage Of i'll
| toxication.--In the former, we behold the no.
bleit faculties of man exerted for the uoblea
purpote the latter exhibits the infen(ibility of
! the brute, without the nitinGt, the helplefsnels
of an infant, without its nnoceuce--iinks into
the impotence OF ilcep without it's balmy re-
ticihment, and the tofpur of death, without its
healing oblivion.
Inveterately and cxtcnfively as the PATTON
for fenila luxury is Al prefent rooted in the cha
racter or man, three circumstances concur to en-
courage hope, that the gradual dihuiion of
knowledge, will gradually extinguifh It's inrlu-
ence over the human mind. Firt, habits of
this nature, originate Economically, in the grofs
Interpretations of vulgar experience and I'M
ntructed enthusiastically, the pieafures they
produce, are not only poifoned and overbaan-
ced by the pains that accompany them pains
OF every defcripton, diieafe, renorfc, odium,
malignant pa!iions and untirnely death: but can
be purified and enjoyed only, by trampling
without mercy or intermif.ion, on the rights and
Happiness OF our brethrcn.--Thirdly, all confci-
entious and competent judges, and even the We
ry perions, moi inveteratey devoted to thele
pwiuits, concur i'll reprobating their worthless
neis and lnhgnihcance, and i'll admoniihing thoie
tor whole welfare they are concerned, to avoid,
or renounce them. The plea{ures of inteliec-
tual and moral refinement, on the contrary
have permanent foundation, in the nature of
man. Man is not merely IN animal, defined
ITO draw nutrition, propagate and rot."-He
is elientially and eminently an intelligent and
iociai being. He is capable offuiveyiag with de-
light the or,ier and grandeur of the univerfe of
analyiins external fubfances into their clements
and tracing their eudeis combinations: OF rem
derlng the laws Of inann.ate matter fubiervieat
to the execution of his deGgns, and the gratif-
cation of his defires: of connecting truths III All
indefinite and indilIolube chain of improving
and beautiiying the planet he inhabits OF con-
templatins with elevated plea.ure, and promot-
ing by diiintereited exertions, the Improvement
OF ,ocety and the ditTufon of happineiS.
Theie purfuits are farther and more fnrcibly
recommended, by their paramount utility aud
Importance. The happinefS and improvement
OF mankind, and probably of every order of fil-
bordinate intelligence throughout TIE univerfe,
would feem to depend eminently, if not entirely
on the efforts, experience, &progref, of indivdu-
al mind. tits believe, admitted by all ration
al theologians, that il is not only more confor-
mabe to the hifory of mankind, but to the glo-
ry OF God, to believe that created beings are go
verned by laws originally eifablilhed by the al
mighty fat, than that the creator fhoud be con-
ceiyed to retouch, repair, andregulatc what he
has already created. The happineis therefore,
Of every subordinate order of intelligent beings,
mutt be proportional 10 the extent OF their ex-
peience and the energy of their exertions; to the
nnmber, ardor, genius, and independence OF
the minds employed in the inveftigation and diff
futon of knowledge. As ignorance, Incidence,
ancerror are the productive caufes of mifery,
the original fins of human nature, 10 curiofity,
invention, and enquiry, dfenthralled from ref
iraiui, and unappaiied by prejudice, are the only
guides to happineis. The nitruments and
fources of Pieafnre and pain are mixed and con-
founded they only be difinguifheci By
the wifdo,n and Separated By the power Of
intellect. The ditcoyery, determination and
practical application oftruth, is therefore, of all
employments the moR rational and fnblime.
This would ieem TO be the grand end, which
the regular reproduction, progreiIive improve
Tnent and admirable faculties OF rational beings
were calculated TO accomplish. Thus employ
ed and improved, man exhibits no inconclufive
evidence, of an origin tyvly 1ipive.
He grows familiar day by day with God.
Conceptions, atis upon Gods plan and forms
To Gods the reliih Of his foul.
Thus viewed, he is emphatica,ly neral
and immortal being: He becomes the bcne-
factor of his fpecies and furvivee in the me-
mory and for the advantage Of the mott
dftant nation, and the remctef age. Although
ihall probably with fome readers, incur the
charge of tcdioCfnefs b. dwelling longer, on the
comparative value Of ieuipal and mental plea
iure, cannot quit iubieet 70 attractive and i'm
portant, without again exhibiting tbefc pieafiires
III the vivid light OF CoDtrat. The 1noft cxuui-
fife and expenive luxUries of fenfe, are confeC.
icdIy momentary in their duration They are
iucceeded by long intervals of faiiety and loath-
ing They are liable when exceilivciy indug-
ed, not only to degenerate and decay, but TO
paralyis and dettroy tbe orgaus by which they
produced. Not 70 the pieaiIrcs of intellect.
1'hs oftner they are tafcd, the more ardently