The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1804-10-20

maps ms neighbour has another mitrumert Oh
happineis IN his potciton, which may be iui-
ceptble of lefs fortunate application in his
hands, than in thoie of our u,ofalltt. The plea
fure, which he had received is now reciprocal
ted; and thus mutual liberdIity luccesds in
giving birth To greater mats OF enjoyment than
what would have ariien from their contracted
ieihihneis.-Should there even be no one clte to
itlt and partasc of his benefactonS ihould his
be the only open bofom in which this ;yften
may ieeh friendly aiylu,n even then the per-
| t0n1l happincis of our moralitt is fecurcd from
defiruttion. The fame confederation which i'm
peis him 70 promote the welfare of others, is
due to his own. The very principles by which
! he is wont TO regulate his conduct to Others,
| would now jultify greater degree of attention
20 ms perional welfare; and even for the fur
render which his principles may then recon-
mend, he will Snioy the refources of an unbound
cd con.otation. The fympathy OF thofe ON whom
he has Conferred voluntary benefit, the appro-
| baton OF the diinteretted perlons who diap-
prove even of ms principles, the conclouinetS OF
IN uniuied integrity, Ill elevate him above the
dominion of ielfihnefs, and the turbulence Of
the paiiions.
| Such is the man of general Ju,2ice. Such is
the man whc calculates all the consequences of
/ his actions, and denominates them jutt or unutt,
according to the general happmefs or mifery
which will moA probably attend them. How
would a man of this character fupportthe claims
OF the poor 10 greater refinement aud inftru6ti-
on! BY what arguments might he with TO vim
dcate the propriety OF ettabliihins fchools and
elemofinary-houiesf for theattainmentofthefe in
teretiuS objects Perhaps he might reaion in
the following manner
Every civilized fociety produces more than
enough for the fubiifeuce and comfortable &C
communication of its members. The earth, when
properly foGcited, amply repays the tolls OF the
hulbandnan. The employment of machines
| greatly iupcrcsdeS the ufe of manual llbour, and
READERS the induftry of man aitonlhingly pro-
duttive in the arts and manufactures. Hence &
very individual will have more of his own work
| to enjoy, and more to exchange for the labour
of others. The neceiIaries aud conNeiencies of
life will thus increafe in quantity ard extend in
circulation. Many Of thoit finer arts too, which
embeih iociety, which awaken the ingenuity
OF the mind or furnih the initruments OF phio-
tOphicll reiearch, will invite the laboir & obtain
the patronage OF men. Yet after all the various
deductions from the general wealth, which the
coniumption of thote various articles NUT &C
c2.ion, there will always remain in the hands of
certain individuals, iupcrnumerary Fund of
conhdeiablc amount, Whole particular dettina-
ton will attract the anxious aud vigilant at
tenton of the friend of Society. Shall it go to
the iupport of an uleiefs number of fervants in
the HouieS Of the rich ? Shall it maintain
! fpcndid equpageS, or raite magnificent pala-
ces Shall it ninilter to the folles of the young
the vices OF the old, to the triuinphs of pride,
or the fchemes Of ambition? Or can it receive
4 more uiefrl deaination
! Here more particular view of fociety will
readily iuggeit to usa more fortunateapplcation
Although every civilized country contains a
great abundance OF the neceiaries aud convent
encies of life, they do not always receive an e
qua! or nearly equal diftribution. Adyerfe Gtu-
atoms have cxpofed many individuals 10 the
things and arrows of fortune The want of in
! duitry, the want OF prudence, unexpected milf
fortunes or unjuit Perfecuton, have heaped up
on their heads tliieafe, poverty and dfconfolati-
on. Many have been diiab!ed in the battles of
their country: And many unhappy female,
who has wandered from the path of propriety
has enlifed the agonies of want underline BAN
ners OF infarny. Shall thefe n,isfortuues pats by
withoutthe necenaryrefef Ard yetthefeabode
! OF miery viii frequently contain more unfor-
tunate Objects, WHO have even a greater claim
upon our Juice. Let Us enter their houfes.
/ You will obterye their children with tattered
garments andpallid countenances. Converts
with them, & perhaps you may find the ipirit Of
uiefuI cunohty Numbering, their minds a.
wake only to Young debauchery and cunning
prudence. When deforned child was born
among the ancient Spartans, it was their barba-
rous policy to expoit it to an early death. Ills
true that civilized fociety, does not murder The
children OF Che vjctched, yet how often does
The fu1iet them 10 imbeciIity aud difeaie, by
frequent abitinence, and Inefficient fupport 4
trib: of the olde+ Germans ufed to rcierve their
deformed children for the rlepial purpole of
drawing their vehicles. Civilized Soc;ety, tits
true, does not turn the children of the wreiched
into brutes, yet how often do they wear the
form of man, diysfcd of all pretenGons to the
dignity of his nature And yet let the capaci-
ties of thcie unfortunate children be impartially
anayled. VIII not their Frames be found as
complicated and fubte, as thofe of the rich !
Are not their iencs l!hceptibe of imprellion
Can they not fee aud hear, and fmell, and tate
and touch do dNhcately? Is memory wanting
Cannot they compare, reflect and re afon Has
no Individual on whom Fortune frowned un-
feeling at his BIRTH" Attended afterwards To the
! heights of dlitinction and Science Was it
imply the inipirltion OF an ardent genius, or WIS
| 4 moi rather the impoing lellons of experience,
which Dictated TO the pathetic poet ofshe coun-
| ychurchyardhis mof affecting TRAINS! When we
accompany Cray to this melancholy receptacle
of The dead, & when Ike him We mediate oves. the
inouidcUrs rnHsofthep whatisitthat givesa
more thrilling ieniltou tOthe foul, than thecom
PARTON which our imagination is 70 prone to in
| dhse. of what tle{e humble inhabitants of the
hamlet formerly were, with what they were
once capable OF becoming Even At that mo-
/ 80 .sasN ts.i. 49,. ;