Portland gazette and Maine advertiser., 1808-06-27
Communication.
FOR THE PoR rLAND GAZETTE,

FOR THE PoR rLAHD GAZETTE,
1T is peculiarly unpIealant 70 dwell with
rigour on the frailties Of human nature. But
we are bound TO drag vice from It's lurking
hole, and "trip the falie glare from every iPe-
cies OF wickednels, and not heiitste 10 eXpoie
IL in Al It's Geformity. It is principle gen
orally received, thar man is depraved, that the
crown is fallen from our head" and thar we
are y.rone 10 evil, as the iparks do ay up
ward" The ahorninable crimes of which
mankind have been guilty, would furniih
catalogue too horrid fcr psFuial. Yet, not
withQanding we are willing 10 punilh gBofs
offenders, we perhaps receive and eheriih pre-
penfties, which, though feemingly harmless,
tend to vice. There are many faults and fol-
bIes which do not rank with real crimes, bur
which often lead perlons from the path of
reEtitSde, and csufe bemilhes in their char
a6ters which length OF time can fcarcsly ef-
face. There is one of this kind which fhal
particularly notice, which is Taaiiy. This tru-
ly ridiculous PATTON is mon prevalent in the
young and inexperienced, and may therefore
be more exculable bat il is certainly the
height of folly for perfons of mature age to
be pulled up with lelf-efleem, and 10 be found
trumpetting their fame to every bylfander
When this FLY Paihon FRI begins to make its
appearance, il is often miltaken fer COM
mendable emulation, and deliTe 70 excel IN
noble deeds; but the difference between them
is loon diicOverable, for while IBIS is modellly
fhrinking from the applaufe Of the world, and
filI arriving 10 perform actions truly great and
heroic, t5af, is proudly aGaming airs of i'm
pOrtance, yet rneanly counting a . npIiment
from every Perion, and arrogating 10 himfelf
praiie for EXPLOITS he has never achieved. If
il happens that Nature has endowed the vain
man with talents above mediocrity if he poi.
sehes rhe lear vigour Of mind more than his
aeighbcur /; or, if he chance to be fuccefsfuI
IN his undertakings, his pride is to hear il re-
ported, and TO hear and talk of himlef all
the day long" His own wonderful actions
are the conltant theme Of his difcourfe, & his
friends are continually Narrated with a pom
pous relation Of what they already know.
The prelent day abosnds with naances OF
this kinds but let the conceited egotilt be
told, that he greatly deceives himieIf while he
feels that degree Of felf-complacency. +" Men
lay not, Behold he hath IL, ar fee he po1eiIerh
AZ, bur mark how proud he is Of it" In thefe
latter days, while popular spplaufe is the aim
Of m0lt people, and public diGinctioa the only
criterion Of merit, the f1oliffI eguriR has full
icope tor the ddpiay of his favourite patton.
Self commentator has now become familiar,
and 70 long as this continues, virtue and Ger
ling merit will be unnOticed. The perfon po(-
feiIed of vanity TO comfortable degree, Ia
bours under this peculiar disadvantage, that
by thinking himlelf already in poHeiIion Of
every needful accomplishment, he pays no at
tention to the requirement of uleful knowl-
edge by reading and reflection and, as be
imagIncs no one can teach him, he uegleGs 10
avail ,-nfelf of the knowledge and experience
OF ofhess- He il foremof IN every difpute,
and ,hrults ~ his opinion before il is alked
Ills delight is 10 be arbiter between contend
ing parties; not 70 much for the love Of
peace and tranquility, but in order to ihow
MS coniequence. He is inlrudirg hinleIf in.
ts companies of all ranks where it is poIible
LOT him 70 gain adHiiuance, and Immediately
takes the lead of conversation, without re-
garding age or dilincficn.
Il has become very fashionable FOR charaGt-
ers OF This ltamp to gain very partial knowl-
adse Of Lsvaters treatife or iome other of the
kind, and then Get up for a phyEognomift
Their eye Is now aiquint upon every face they
meet, and no perfon pales them without 1
remark. This they do to fhow that they are
& perions of ohlervation, and are not iaattentive
4 20 the lmalleit varieti Of nature The form
and lines of the forehead, the proportion of
{ ne mole, the color and exprefIion Of the eyes,
ne complexion and many other whimGcal no
I lions are leetured upon by them in whatever
company they are, without any regard to the
4 opinion of thofe prelent; and perhaps being
" engrohed or rather overwhelmed in the a
!, uSndanee Of their own fuppofed knowledge,
.hat they forget that iome may differ from, them
u ientIment But enough has been laid -
as very evident that with many perfons van
2Sliy Is ruling palion. Therefore, LEI all thcfe
VIC are rating themfelges high in their own
Estimation, be adyiled to sOnGder for a moment
'hl't others have a. good right to an opinion
; q their own as themielyes that ~ egotiim
they betray want Of real knowledge, and,
9 shat while they are priding themfelves on their
ipPPoied attachments, they are made the laugh
Z 'ng-itnck Of the world.
q ONE or 4 TEouSASD.