Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1833-10-09


sure TO-DAY, turned over the leaves OF an ex.
cellent old work, and hit upon an essay which
fixed nv attention very agreeably while was
reading it, and have since reflected upon 1t with
pleasure, aad hope with profit.
The remarks of the author upon the value and
the pursuit of riches are just, and are set down
with so much clsarness and elegance. that have
thought the whole essay might well occupy a col
umn Of your paper, seeing that none will be likely
tor cad it attentvely without being pleased or IN.
structed and that il is useful for persons enxag.
ed in any occupation which receives their whole
mental force, to pause once in while and medi
tate upon the course they are pursuing, as well
as read the reflections Of master spirits upon the
tendencies Of their employments Without fur
Their preface, l will introduce you to my author,
without mentioning his name, which is not with.
held because | suppose the reading portion OF
your subscribers is unacqualnted with him, but
that those to whom his remarks may be of the
most essential service may have the advantage oil
novelty in perusins them. NJ.
There is scarcely any sentiment in which,
amidst the innumerable varieties OF inclination
that nature or accident have scattered IN the
world, we find greater numbers concurrlng, than
in the wish for riches-a wish, indeed, so preva
transcendental-as the desire in which all other
desires are included. and Of which the various
purposes which actuate mankind are only subor.
dinate species and different notifications.
Wealth is the general centre Of inclination
the point to which all minds preserve an invaria-
Bile tendency-and from which they afterwards
diverge in numberless directions. Whatever IS
the remote or ultimate design, the immediate care
is to be rich: and in, whatever enjoyment We In.
tend finally to acquIesce, we seldom consider 1t
attainable but BY the means Of money. Of wealth.
therefore, all unanimously confess the value, nor
is there any disagreement but about the use.
No desire can be formed which riches do not
assist to CRAFTY. He that places his happiness in
splendid equipage or numerous dependents. in
refined praise or popular acclamations, IN the &C
emulation of curlosities or the reyels OF luxury,
in splendid edifices or wide plantations, must
still, either BY birth or acquisition, possess rich
es. They may be considered as the elementary
principles Of pleasure, which may be combined
with endless diversity: as the essential and ne
cessary substance Of which only the form Is lett
to be adjusted by choice.
The necessity of riches being thus apparent, it
is not wonderful that almost every mind has been
employed in endeavors to acquire them; that mul-
ttudes have We'd 10 arts by which life Is furnish.
ed with accommodations, and which, therefore,
mankind may reasonably be expected to reward.
1t had indeed been happy, il this predominant
appetite had operated only in concurrence with
virtue, BY influencing none but those who were
jealous to deserve what they were eager to pos
sess, and had abilities to improve their own tor.
tunes BY contributing to the ease or happiness OF
others. To have riches and to have merit would
then have been the same, and success might Tea.
sonably have been considered as proof OF excel.
lence.
But we do not find that any OF The wishes Of
men keep a stated proportion to their powers OF
attainment. Many envy and desire wealth who
can never procure It by honest industry or useful
knowledge. They therefore turn their eyes
about to examine what other methods can be found
Of gaining that which none. however impotent or
worthless, will be content to want.
A little inquiry will discover that there are
more ways &c profit than through the intricacies
Of art, or up the steps Of labor: what wisdom and
virtue scarcely receive at the close of life. as the
recompense of long toll, and repeated efforts, is
brought within the reach Of subtilty and dIshon.
esty by more expeditions and compendious mea-
sures: the wealth Of credulty Is an open prey to
falsehood: and the possessions Of imbecl,ty are
readily stolen away by the cOnveyances of Sc.
cret artifce, or seized by the grippe OF unreslsed
violence.
1t is likewise not hard to discover that riches
always procure protection for themselves, that
they dazzle the eyes Of inquiry, divert the cele.
rity Of pursuit, or appease the feroc'ty OF ven.
geauce. When any man Is incontestably known
to have large possessions. very few think it ne.
ce,sary to inquire by what practices they were
obtained; the resentment Of mankind RACES only
against the struggles Of feeble and timorous cor
ruption; but when it has surmounted the first op.
position, it is afterwards supported BY favor and
animated by applause.
The prospect Of gaining speedily what is ar
IDENTIFY desired. and the certainty Of obtaining.
by every accession Of advantage, an addition Of
security, have so far prevailed upon the passions
Of mankind. that the peace Of life is destroyed BY
q general and incessant struggle for riches. 1t
is observed Of Gold BY an old epigrammatist, that
to hare it is to be in fear, and to oa"t II is to be
IN sorroU.
There is no condition which is not disquieted.
either with the care Of. gaining or Of keeping mo-
ney; and the race Of man may be divided in Po-
litical estimate between those who arc practising
fraud and those who are repeIling it.