Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1847-12-30


gay was admiring the prodigious extent
as well as variety Of the view, when his
lordshp observed, 'And now, Mingay,
of all you see believe there is not an
acre of ground which is not my own
Good God = said the barrster, 'you
must be the happiest of men, In the
whole compass of this scene, will VEN
ture to affirm (said his lordship) that
there is not one so miserable.
MORAL REFLECTIONS ON WEALTH.
MEDIocRITY is THE BEST STATE OF
FoRTUNE.-All desire is that my pow
erty may not be burthen to myself, or
make me so TO others ard that is the
best state of fortune that is neither di-
rectly necesstous, nor far from it. A
mediocrity Of fortune, with a gentleness
of mind, will preserve us from fear or
envy, which is desirable condition, for
no man wants power TO do Mischief
We never consider the blessing of covet-
ing, and the glory of being full in our
selves, without depending upon fortune.
With parsimony little is sufficient /;
and without it nothing whereas frugal
ity makes poor man rich. If we lose
an estate, we had better never have had
it; he that has least to lose has least 10
fear, and those are better satisfied whom
fortune never favored, than whom she has
forsaken. The state is most commodi-
Gus that lies betwixt poverty and plenty.
Diogenes understood this very well when
he put himself into an incapacity OF los
ing any thing.
That course of life is most COM
modious which is both safe and whole
some the body is to be INDUCED no far
Their than for health, and rather mortified
than not kept in subsection to the mind.
1t is necessary 10 provide against hunger,
thirst and cold !; and sometimes for COW
ering to shelter us against other inconve-
niences, but not pin matter whether it
be of turf or marble. A man may lie
as warm, and as dry, under a matched
as under gildcd roof Let the mind be
great and glorious, and all other things
are dcspicable in comparison. The fu-
ture is uncertain, and | had rather beg Of
myself not TO desire any thing, than o.
fortune TO bcstow it.--iSenecu-S Morals.
REFLECTIONS UPON WEALTH. Every
man is rich or poor according to the pro
portion between his desires and his en-
Payments; any enlargement of his wish
es is, therefore, destruction to happiness
with the diminutlon of possession he
that teaches another to long for tina
which he can never obtain, is no less al
enemy to his quiet than if he had rob
bed him of patrimony. The rich lose al
qualifications, because their wants arr
prevented; and, added to the lassitudt
which follows safety, they have pride
proceeding from wealth, which make
them impatient at the loss Of pleasure
though they have no enjoyment from tn,
possession Of it. The odor of ten thou
sand roses pleases but for moment
the pain occasioned by one of the thorn
is long felt. One hardship in the mids
of luxuries, is, to the opulent, as thor
among the flowers. They have livel
sense of it, and the effect Of every thin;
is increased by contrast. Riches are O
no value in themselves ; their use is dis
covered only in that which they procure
They are coveted by narrow mind
(Which confound tie means with tn
ond,) for the sake Of power, influence
and respect; or by those ofless elevate'
and refined sentiments, as necessary t.
sensual enioyments. 1t almost Away
happens that the man who grows ricl
changes his notions Of poverty, state
his wants by some new measure, and
flying from the enemy that pursued him
bends his endeavors to oyertake thos
which he sees before him. Wealth can
not confer greatness; for nothing ca
make that great which the decree of ma
ture has ordained to be little the BRAN
BILE may be planted in a hot bed, but
never will become an oak.