Year: 1862

Lysippus is q man whose greatness OF
soul the whole world admires. His
generosity is such that it prevents de
mand, and saves the receiver the con
fusion of request. His liberaity also
does not oblige more by its greatness,
than by his inmitable grace in giving -
Sometimes he even distributes his boun-
ties to strangers, and has been known to
do good offices to those who professed
themselves his enemies. All the world
are nnaninous in tho rraisa of his gem
erosity: there is only one sort of people
who complain of his conduct,-Lysip-
pus docs not pay his debts.


1t is no difficult matter to account for
a conduct so seemingly incompatible
with itself. There is greatness in being
generous, and there is only simple JUS
tice in satisfying creditors. Generosity
is the pait of u soul raised above the
vulgar. There is in it something OF
what we admire in heroes, and praise
with degree of rapture. Justice, on
the contrary, is mere mechanic virtue,
only fit for tradesmen, and what Is prac'
tised by every broker in Change alley.


In paying his debts man barely does
his duty, and it is an action attended
with no sort of glory. Should Lysip-
pus satisfy his creditors, who would be
at the pains of telling it to tho world:
Generosity is virtue Of very differ
ent complexion. 1t is raised above
duty, and from its elevation attracts the
attention and the praises OF US little
mortals beloy.


In this manner do men generally rcas
on upon justice and generosity. The
first is despised, though virtue essen
tial to the good of society, and the 9th
er attracts our esteem, which too ire-
quently proceeds from an impetuosity OF
temper, rather directed by vanity than
reason. Lysippus is told that his banker
asks a debt of forty pounds, and that
distressed acquaintance petitions for
the same aum He gives it without
hesitating to the latter, for he demands
as favor what the former requires as
debt.


Mankind IN general are not sufficient
y acquainted with the import of the
word justice; it is commonly believed
to consist only in performance of those
duties to which the laws of society can
oblige Us. This | allow is sometimes
the import of the word, aud in this
sense justice is distinguished from equity
but there is Justice still more exten.
sive, and which can be shown to em.
brace all the virtues united.


Justice may be defined, that virtue
which impels us to to give to every per.
son what is his due. In this extended
sense of the word, it comprehends the
practice of every virtue which reason
prescribes, or society should expect
Our duty to our Maker, to each other
and TO ourselves, are fully answered, il
we give them what we owe them. Thus
justice, properly speaking, is the only
virtue; and all the rest have their origin
in it.


The qualities of candor, fortitude
charity, and generosity, for instance
are not in their own nature virtues; and
if ever they deserve the title, it is owing
only to justice which impels and directs
them. Without such moderator, can
dor might become inoiscretion, fortitude
obstinacy, charity imprudcnce, and gen
erosity mistaken profession.


A disintercsted action, if it be not
conducted by justice, is, at best, indif-
ferent in lis nature, and not unfrequent
ly even turns to vice. The expenses OF
society, of presents, of entertainments,
and the other helps to cheerlulness, are
actions merely indifferent, when not re.
pugnant to q better method of dispos.
ing of our supcrhuities; but they be
come vicious when they obstruct or ex.
haust our abili.ias from a more virtuous
disposition of our circumstances.


True generosity is duty as indis