Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1812-08-31

! This species Of morbid sensbility, rene
| rally speaking, deserves pity rather thar
reproach; for it is found, not i'm the vicion,
and aband oned part OF the community, bu
frequently in persons who, in most respects
| are worthy and estimable.
The following brief considerations are
meant as preventative, if not a cure, oil
the imhuman foible in question.
| those whose characters are substan-
italy good, must needs be sensible, If
they have any competent degree OF self
knowledge, that they are not quite perfect /;
| and why should they be angry that others
know 1t too, and sometimes mention it Il
| mong themselves?
Persons of excessive sensibilitv with res
pect to their own characters, would do well
to call to mind that they themselves, some
times, make free remarks on the foibles of
those whom they highly esteem on the whole,
ana for whom they have sincere regard
Why then should they think hard mat q.
theirs, even their friends, sometimes d. the
same by them?
With Il few exceptions, the individuals of
the community are very little the subjects OF
each others thoughts; the generality being
too busy i'll thinking ofthemselvcs to empiov
many OF their thoughts about their neigh
oors. 30 that we are under mistake wnen
wv NiAhih Nidl liiG llllC WOTlu Oh our aC-
qualntance employ much time in thinking of
ass the scope OF each ones thought lies
nearer home.
In fit of lcvity, or ill humor, some speak
with partial disrcspect OF those persons,
whom, at other times, they mention with
high esteem and aifcCtionate regard, and TO
wards whom, for the most part, they enter
tain real good will. If such be some of our
tellow-travellers in the journey of life, tho
we can place little reliance on their friend
ship, we should by no means count them our
enemies My friend, has for once, spoken
slightly ofme What shall l doi Examine
myself thoroughly. If L find, on the one
hand, that in no wise deserve the slight re-
mark, and, on the other, that have never
myself spoken slighc of any one with whom
| was in the habits of friendship; then, and
not else, have cause to be seriously aft
fronted.
We are apt to think ourselves Of more
consequence with others than we are As
the world goes, mans chief attention is him
self. Could one, by the help OF the magic
rfng,% make himself invisible, and in his m
visibility visit from company TO Company,
and from house to house, among ali his &C
qudntance, with most he would find little or
nothing OF any sort, said about him and
possibly he might find the very same per-
| Sons speaking Ill of him one day, and wen of
| him the next, according to the humor they
| happen to be in at the time.
solomon has given excellent counsel on
| this point. Take no heed to all zvords thai
are aiiokcn, test thou hear thy ScrUant curse
| thee" If we are anXipusly inqulsitive to
know whatsoever is SAID of us, the greater
chance is that We shall reap more pain than
| pleasure from our discoveries. If we happen
tt hear OF an unklnd expression concerning
us, from an unexpected quarter, we had bet
ter, for our own peace sake, impute it to
tnougntlessness, ratner ihan maIignity. Fac
wisest way is, to be anxious to deserve es-
teen, than to be esteemed; to act irreproach-
ably, so as to have the cGnsoling appreciation
OF ones own mind, and cheeriuly TO leave
| consequences to the care of Providence.
| - H.