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I t O G E R S T E R N E ( g r a n d s o n to A r c h b is h o p S t e r n e ) L i e u t e n a n t i n H a n d a s id e ’s r e g i m e n t , w a s m a r r ie d to A g n e s H e b e r t , w id o w o f a c a p ta in o f a g o o d f a m ily : h e r f a m ily n a m e w a s , 1 b e l i e v e , N u t t le — th o u g h u p o n r e . c o l l e c t i o n , t h a t w a s th e n a m e o f h e r f a t h e r - i n - l a w , w h o w a s a n o t e d s u t l e r in F l a n d e r s , in Q u e e n A n n e ’s w a r s , w h e r e m y f a t h e r m a r r ie d h is w if e ’s d a u g h te r ( N . B. h e w a s in d e b t to h i m ) w h ic h w a s in S e p te m b e r 2 5 , 1 7 1 1 , O ld S ty le . — T h i s N u t t le h a d a s o n by m y g r a n d m o t h e r
— a fin e p e r s o n o f a m a n , b u t a g r a c e l e s s w h e lp — w h a t b e c a m e o f h im I k n o w n o t — T h e f a m ily , i f a n y le f t, liv e n o w a t C lo n m e l, in th e S o u th o f I r e l a n d , a t w h ic h to w n I w a s b o r n , N o v e m b e r 2 4 , 1 7 1 3 , a fe w d a y s a f t e r m y m o th e r a r r i v e d fro m D u n k ir k . — M y b ir t h - d a y w a s o m in o u s to m y p o o r f a t h e r , w h o w a s , t h e d a y a f t e r o u r a r r i v a l , w ith m a n y o t h e r b r a v e o f f i c e r s , b r o k e , a n d s e n t a d r i f t in to th e w id e w o r ld w ith a w ife a n d tw o c h il d r e n , th e e ld e r o f w h ic h w a s M a ry ; s h e w a s b o r n a t L is le in F r e n c h F l a n d e r s , J u l y 1 0 , 1 7 1 2 , O ld S ty le . — T h is c h ild w a s m o s t u n f o r t u n a t e — s h e m a r r ie d o n e W e e m a n s , in D u b lin — w h o u s e d h e r m o s t u n m e r c if u lly — s p e n t h is s u b s ta n c e , b e c a m e a b a n k r u p t , a n d le f t m y p o o r s i s t e r to s h if t f o r h e r s e l f , — w h ic h s h e w a s a b le to do b u t f o r a
fe w m o n t h s , f o r s h e w e n t to a f r i e n d ’s h o u s e in th e c o u n t r y , a n d d ie d o f a b r o k e n h e a r t . S h e w a s a m o s t b e a u ti f u l w o m a n — o f a fin e f ig u r e , a n d d e s e r v e d a b e tt e r f a te . — T h e r e g i m e n t in w h ic h m y f a t h e r s e r v e d b e in g b r o k e , h e l e f t I r e l a n d a s s o o n a s 1 w a s a b le to be c a r r ie d , w i t h th e r e s t o f h is f a m ily , a n d c a m e to th e f a m ily s e a t a t E lv in g to n , n e a r Y o r k , w h e r e h is m o th e r liv e d . S h e w a s d a u g h t e r to S i r G e o r g e J a q u e s , a n d a n h e ir e s s . T h e r e w e s o jo u r n e d f o r a b o v e te n m o n t h s , w h e n th e r e g im e n t w a s e s ta b l is h e d , a n d o u r h o u s h o ld d e c a m p e d w ith b a g a n d b a g g a g e f o r D u b lin — w ith in a m o n th o f o u r a r r i v a l ,
— m y f a t h e r le f t u s , b e in g o r d e r e d to E x e t e r , w h e r e in a s a d w i n t e r , m y m o th e r a n d h e r tw o c h ild r e n f o llo w e d h i m , tr a v e ll i n g fro m L iv e rp o o l b y la n d to P l y m o u t h . ( M e la n c h o ly d e s c r ip tio n o f t h is j o u r n e y n o t n e c e s s a r y to b e t r a n s m i t te d h e r e . ) In tw e lv e m o n th s w e w e r e a ll s e n t b a c k to D u b lin . — M y m o th e r w ith t h r e e o f u s ( f o r s h e la i d in a t P ly m o u th o f a b o y , J o r a m ) , to o k s h ip a t B r is to l, f o r I r e l a n d , a n d h a d a n a r r o w e s c a p e o f b e in g c a s t a w a y , b y a le a k s p r i n g i n g u p in th e v e s s e l. A t l e n g t h , a f t e r m a n y p e r i l s a n d s t r u g g l e s , w e g o t to D u b lin . T h e r e m y f a t h e r to o k a l a r g e h o u s e , f u r n i s h e d i t , a n d in a y e a r a n d a h a l l ’s tim e s p e n t a g r e a t d e a l o f m o n e y . — In th e y e a r 1 7 1 9, a ll u n h i n g e d a g a i n ; th e r e g i m e n t w a s o r d e r e d , w ith m a n y o t h e r s , to th e Isle o f W i g h t , in o r d e r to e m b a r k f o r S p a i n , in th e V ig o e x p e d itio n . W e a c c o m p a n ie d t h e r e g i m e n t , a n d w e r e d r iv e n in to M ilfo rd H a v e n , b u t l a n d e d a t B r is to l, f ro m th e n c e b y l a n d to P ly m o u th a g a in , a n d to th e I s le o f W ig h t — w e r e I r e m e m b e r w e s ta y e d e n c a m p e d so m e tim e b e fo r e t h e e m b a r k a tio n o f t h e tro o p s
— ( i n t h is e x p e d itio n fro m B r is to l to H a m p s h ir e w e l o s t p o o r J o r a m — a p r e t t y b o y , f o u r y e a r s o l d , o f th e s m a ll
p o x ) m y m o t h e r , s i s t e r , a n d m y s e l f , r e m a in e d a t th e I s le o f W ig h t d u r in g t h e V ig o e x p e d itio n , a n d u n t i l th e r e g i m e n t h a d g o d b a c k to W ic k lo w in I r e l a n d , fro m w h e n c e m y f a t h e r s e n t f o r u s . W e h a d p o o r J o r a m ’s
IV L I F E O F L A U R E N C E S T E R N E .
L I F E O F L A U R E N C E S T E R N E . V
lo ss s u p p lie d d u r in g o u r s t a y in th e I s le o f W i g h t , b y th e b i r t h o f a g i r l , A n n e , b o r n S e p te m b e r 2 3 , 1 7 1 0 . — T h is p r e t t y b lo ss o m f e ll a t th e a g e o f t h r e e y e a r s , in th e b a r r a c k s o f D u b lin — s h e w a s , a s I w e ll r e m e m b e r , o f a fine d e lic a te f r a m e , n o t m a d e to l a s t l o n g , a s w e r e m o s t o f m y f a t h e r ’s b a b e s . W e e m b a r k e d f o r D u b l i n , a n d h a d a ll b e e n c a s t a w a y b y a m o s t v io le n t s t o r m , b u t , th r o u g h th e i n te r c e s s io n s o f m y m o th e r , th e c a p ta i n w a s p r e v a ile d u p o n to t u r n b a c k in to W a l e s , w h e r e w e s ta y e d a m o n th , a n d a t le n g t h g o t to D u b lin , a n d t r a v e lle d by l a n d to W7i c k l o w , w h e r e m y f a t h e r h a d fo r s o m e w e e k s g iv e n u s o v e r f o r lo s t . — W e liv e d in th e b a r r a c k s a t W ic k lo w o n e y e a r , 1 7 2 0 , w h e n D c v ije h e r , so c a lle d a f t e r C o lo n e l D e v ije h e r , w a s b o r n ; fro m th e n c e w e d e c a m p e d to s ta y h a l f a y e a r w ith M r. F e a t h c r s t o n , a c l e r g y m a n , a b o u t s e v e n m ile s f ro m W ic k l o w , w h o b e in g a r e l a ti o n o f m y m o th e r ’s , in v ite d u s to h is p a r s o n a g e a t A n im o . — I t w a s in t h i s p a r i s h , d u r i n g o u r s t a y , t h a t 1 h a d th a t w o n d e r f u l e s c a p e in fa llin g th ro u g h a m i l l - r a c e , w h i l s t th e m ill w a s g o i n g , a n d o f b e in g ta k e n u p u n h u r t — th e s to r y is i n c r e d i b l e , b u t k n o w n f o r t r u t h in a l l t h a t p a r t o f I r e l a n d — w h e r e h u n d r e d s o f th e c o m m o n p e o p le flo c k e d to s e e m e. — F r o m h e n c e w c fo llo w e d th e r e g i m e n t to D u b lin , w h e r e w e la y in th e b a r r a c k s a y e a r . I n t h is y e a r , 1 7 2 1 , I l e a r n e d to w r i t e , e tc . T h e r e g im e n t w a s o r d e r e d In 1 7 2 2 to C a r r i c k f e r g u s , in t h e n o r th o f I r e l a n d ; w e a ll d e c a m p e d , b u t g o t n o f u r t h e r t h a n D r o g h e d a , th e n c e o r d e r e d to M u l l e n g a r , f o rty m ile s w e s t , w h e r e b y P r o v id e n c e w e s tu m b le d u p o n a k in d r e l a t i o n , a c o ll a te r a l d e s c e n d a n t fro m A r c h b is h o p S t e r n e , w h o to o k u s a ll to h is c a s t l e , a n d k i n d ly e n te r ta i n e d u s f o r a y e a r — a n d s e n t u s to th e r e g i m e n t a t C a r r i c k f e r g u s , lo a d e d w ith k in d n e s s e s e tc . — a m o s t r u e f u l a n d te d io u s j o u r n e y h a d w e a l l , in M a rc h to C a r r i c k f e r g u s , w h e r e w e a r r i v e d in s ix o r s e v e n d a y s — lit tl e D e v ije h e r h e r e d ied ; h e w a s t h r e e
VI L I F E O F L A U R E N C E S T E R N F .
y e a r s o ld — h e h a d b e e n l e f t b e h in d a t n u r s e a t a f a r m h o u s e n e a r W ic k l o w , b u t w a s fe tc h e d to u s b y m y f a t h e r . T h e s u m m e r a f t e r — a n o th e r c h ild s e n t to till h i s p l a c e , S u s a n ; th is b a b e to o le f t u s b e h in d iu th is w e a r y j o u r n e y — T h e a u tu m n o f t h a t y e a r , o r th e s p r i n g a f t e r w a r d , I f o r g e t w h i c h , m y f a t h e r g o t le a v e o f h is c o lo n e l to fix m e a t s c h o o l — w h ic h h e did n e a r H a lif a x , w ith a n a b le m a s t e r ; w ith w h o m I s ta y e d s o m e t i m e , till b y G o d 's c a re o f m e , m y c o u s in S t e r n e , o f E lv in g t o n , b e c a m e a f a t h e r to m e , a n d s e n t m e to th e u n i v e r s it y , e tc . e tc . T o p u r s u e th e t h r e a d o f o u r s to r y , m y f a t h e r ’s r e g i m e n t w a s t h e y e a r a f t e r o r d e r e d to L o n d o n d e r ry , w h e r e a n o t h e r s i s t e r w a s b r o u g h t f o r t h , C a t h a r i n e , s ti ll l i v i n g , b u t m o s t u n h a p p il y e s tr a n g e d fro m m e b y m y u n c le ’s w ic k e d n e s s , a n d h e r o w n fo lly — fro m t h is s t a tio n th e r e g i m e n t w a s s e n t to d e fe n d G i b r a l t a r , a t th e s i e g e , w h e r e m y f a t h e r w a s r u n th r o u g h th e b o d y by C a p ta in P h i l l i p s , in a d u e l , th e q u a r r e l b e g a n a b o u t a g o o s e , w ith m u c h d iff ic u lty h e s u rv iv e d - th o u g h w ith a p a r t i a l c o n s t i t u t i o n , w h ic h w a s ’ n o t a b le to w i t h s t a n d th e h a r d s h i p s it w a s b u t to — f o r h e w a s s e n t to .Ja m a ic a , w h e r e h e s o o n fell by th e c o u n tr y f e v e r , w h ic h to o k a w a y b is s e n s e s f ir s t, a n d m a d e a c h ild o f h im , a n d th e n , in a m o n th o r t w o , w a lk in g a b o u t c o n ti n u a ll y w ith o u t c o m p l a in i n g , till th e m o m e n t h e s a t d o w n in a n a rm c h a ir a n d b r e a th e d h is l a s t — w h ic h w a s a t P o r t A n to n io , o n th e n o r th o f th e I s la n d . — M y f a t h e r w a s a l it tl e s m a r t m a n , — a c tiv e to th e l a s t d e g re e , in a ll e x e rc is e s — m o s t p a t i e n t o f f a tig u e a n d d i s a p p o i n t m e n t s , o f w h ic h it p l e a s e d G o d to g iv e h im f u ll m e a s u r e — h e w a s in h is te m p e r s o m e w h a t r a p id a n d h a s ty -— b u t o f a k in d ly , s w e e t d i s p o s i ti o n , v o id o f a ll d e s i g n ; a n d s o in n o c e n t in b is o w n i n t e n t i o n s , t h a t h e s u s p e c te d n o o n e : s o t h a t y o u m ig h t h a v e c h e a te d h im te n tim e s in a d a y , if n in e h a d n o t b e e n s u ff ic ie n t fo r y o u r p u r p o s e — M y p o o r f a t h e r d i e d , M a rc h 1 7 3 1 . —
L I F E O F L A U R E N C E S T E R N E . V II
1 r e m a in e d a t H a lif a x till a b o u t th e l a t t e r e n d o f th e y e a r , a n d c a n n o t o m it m e n tio n in g t h i s a n e c d o te o f m y s e l f a n d s c h o o lm a s te r — H e h a d th e c e ilin g o f th e s c h o o l
ro o m n e w w h ite - w a s h e d — th e l a d d e r r e m a in e d t h e r e . — I o n e u n lu c k y d a y m o u n te d i t , a n d w r o te w ith a b r u s h , in l a r g e c a p ita l l e t t e r s , L A U . S T E R N E , f o r w h ic h th e u s h e r s e v e r e ly w h ip p e d m e . M y m a s t e r w a s v e ry m u c h h u r t a t t h i s , a n d s a i d , b e fo r e m e , t h a t n e v e r s h o u ld t h a t n a m e be e ffa c e d ; f o r 1 w a s a bo y o f g e n iu s , a n d h e w a s s u r e I s h o u ld c o m e to p r e f e r m e n t — t h i s e x p r e s s io n m a d e m e f o r g e t th e s tr i p e s I h a d r e c e iv e d . I n th e y e a r t h i r t y - t w o * ) m y c o u s in s e n t m e to th e u n i v e r s it y , w h e r e I s ta y e d so m e tim e . ’T w a s th e r e t h a t 1 c o m m e n c e d a f rie n d s h ip w ith M r. 1 1 * * * * , w h ic h h a s b e e n m o s t l a s t in g o n b o th s id e s . — 1 th e n c a m e to Y o rk , a n d m y u n c le g o t m e th e liv in g o f S u t to n — a n d a t Y o r k I b e c a m e a c q u a in t e d w ith y o u r m o t h e r , a n d c o u r te d h e r f o r tw o y e a r s — s h e o w n e d s h e lik e d m e, b u t th o u g h t h e r s e lf n o t r ic h e n o u g h , o r m e to o p o o r, to b e jo in e d t o g e t h e r — s h e w e n t to h e r s i s t e r ’s in S — , a n d I w r o te to h e r o fte n — 1 b e liev e th e n s h e w a s p a r tly d e te r m in e d to h a v e m e , b u t w o u ld n o t s a y s o — a t h e r r e t u r n s h e fell in fo a c o n s u m p tio n — a n d o n e e v e n in g t h a t I w a s s it ti n g b y h e r, w ith a n a lm o s t b r o k e n h e a r t to s e e h e r s o i l l , s h e s a id ,
“ M y d e a r L a m e v , 1 c a n n e v e r b e y o u r s , f o r 1 v e rily b e lie v e 1 h a v e n o t lo n g to liv e — b u t 1 h a v e le ft yo u e v e ry s h il li n g o f m y f o r t u n e : . . — u p o n t h a t s h e s h e w e d m e h e r w ill — th is g e n e r o s i ty o v e rp o w e re d m e . I t p le a s e d G o d t h a t s h e r e c o v e r e d , a n d I m a r r ie d h e r in th e y e a r 1 7 4 1 . M y u n c le * * ) a n d m y s e l f w e r e th e n u p o n v e ry g o o d
* ) l i e w a s a d m i t t e d o f J e s u s C o l le g e , i n t h e u n i v e r s i t y o f C a m b r i d g e , J u l y G, 1 7 3 3 , t i n d e r t h e t u i t i o n o f M r . C a n n o n .
* * ) J a . j u e s S t e r n e , L . L . D . H e w a s P r e b e n d a r y o f D u r h a m , C a n o n R e s i d e n t i a r y , P r e c e n t o r a n d P r e b e n d a r y o f Y o r h , R e c t o r o f R i f e ,
V III L I F E O F L A U R E N C E S T E R N E .
t e r m s , f o r h e s o o n g o t m e th e p r e b e n d a r y o f Y o rk — b u t lie q u a r r e ll e d w ith m e a f t e r w a r d s , b e c a u s e 1 w o u ld n o t w r i te p a r a g r a p h s in th e n e w s p a p e r s — th o u g h h e w a s a p a r t y - m a n , 1 w a s n o t , a n d d e te s te d s u c h d irty w o r k : th in k i n g it b e n e a th m e F ro m t h a t p e rio d , h e b e c a m e , m y b i t t e r e s t e n e m y . B y m y w ife ’s m e a n s I g o t th e liv i n g o f S tillin g to n — a f r ie n d o f h e r s in th e s o u th h a d p r o m is e d h e r , t h a t i f s h e m a r r ie d a c le r g y m a n in Y o r k s h i r e , w h e n th e liv in g b e c a m e v a c a n t h e w o u ld m a k e h e r a c o m p lim e n t o f it. I r e m a in e d n e a r t w e n ty y e a r s a t S u t t o n , d o in g d u ty a t b o th p l a c e s — I h a d t h e n v e ry go o d h e a lt h . B o o k s , p a i n t i n g , f i d d l i n g , a n d s h o o t i n g , w e r e m y a m u s e m e n ts ; a s to t h e s q u ir e o f th e p a r i s h , 1 c a n n o t s a y w e w e r e u p o n a v e ry f r i e n d ly fo o tin g — b u t a t S t i l lin g t o n , th e f a m ily o f th e C — s s h e w e d u s e v e ry k i n d n e s s — ’t w a s m o s t t r u l y a g r e e a b le to b e w ith in a m ile a n d a h a l f o f a n a m ia b le fa m ily , w h o w e r e e v e r c o rd ia l f r i e n d s . In th e y e a r 1 7 G 0 , I to o k a h o u s e a t Y o r k , fo r y o u r m o th e r a n d y o u r s e l f , a n d w e n t u p to L o n d o n to p u b lis h m y tw o f ir s t v o lu m e s o f S h a n d y In t h a t y e a r L o r d F a lc o n b r id g e p r e s e n t e d m e w ith th e c u r a c y o f Cox- w o u l d — a s w e e t r e t i r e m e n t in c o m p a r is o n o f S u t to n . In 17G2 1 w e n t to F r a n c e , b e fo r e th e p e a c e w a s c o n c lu d e d , a n d y o u b o th fo llo w e d m e , 1 l e f t y o u b o th in F r a n c e , a n d in tw o y e a r s a f t e r , I w e n t to I ta ly f o r th e r e c o v e r y o f m y h e a lth — a n d w h e n I c a lle d u p o n y o u , I tr i e d to e n g a g e y o u r m o th e r to r e t u r n to E n g l a n d w ith m e , — s h e a n d y o u r s e l f a r e a t le n g t h c o m e — a n d 1 haver th e in e x p r e s s ib le j o y o f s e e in g m y g i r l e v e ry tilin g I w is h e d h e r .
a n d R e c t o r o f H o r n s e a c u m R i s t o n , b o t h i n t h e E a s t R i d i n g o f t h e c o u n ty o f Y o r k H e d ie d J u n e 9 , 1 7 5 9 .
* ) I t h a t h h o w e v e r b e e n i n s i n u a t e d , t h a t h e f o r s o m e t i m e w r o t e a p e r i o d i c a l e l e c t i o n e e r i n g p a p e r a t Y o r h , i n d e f e n c e o f t h e W h i g
I n t e r e s t . M o n t h l y R e v i e w , V o l . 5 3 , p . 3 1 4 .
L I F E O F L A U R E N C E S T E R N E . I X
I h a v e s e t d o w n th e s e p a r t i c u l a r s , r e la t in g to m y f a m i l y a n d s e l f f o r m y L y d i a , in c a s e h e r e a f t e r s h e m ig h t h a v e a c u r io s i ty , o r h i n d e r m o t i v e , to k n o w th e m .
M r. S t e r n e le f t Y o rk a b o u t th e e n d o f th e y e a r 1 7 6 7 , a n d c a m e to L o n d o n in o r d e r to p u b lis h T h e S e n ti m e n t a l .T o u r n e y , w h ic h h e h a d w r i tt e n d u r in g th e p re c e d in g s u m m e r a t h is fa v o u r ite liv in g a t C o x w o u ld . H is h e a lth h a d b e e n f o r s o m e tim e d e c l i n i n g , b u t h e c o n tin u e d to v is it h is f r i e n d s , a n d r e t a in e d h is u s u a l flo w o f s p ir i ts . I n F e b r u a r y , 1 7 6 S , h e b e g a n to p e rc e iv e th e a p p ro a c h e s o f d e a th , a n d w ith th e c o n c e r n o f a go o d m a n , a n d th e s o lic itu d e o f a n a ff e c tio n a te p a r e n t , d e v o te d h is a tt e n ti o n to th e f u tu r e w e l f a r e o f h is d a u g h te r . A f t e r a s h o r t s tr u g g l e w ith h is d i s o r d e r , h is d e b ilita te d a n d w o r n - o u t f ra m e s u b m i tt e d to f a te on th e I S t h d a y o f M a r c h , 1 7 6 S , a t h is lo d g in g s in B o n d - s tr e e t. H e w a s b u r ie d a t th e n e w b u r y i n g - g r o u n d , b e lo n g in g to th e p a r i s h o f S t . G e o r g e , H a n o v e r - s q u a r e , o n th e Q2 d o f th e s a m e m o n th , in th e m o s t p r iv a t e m a n n e r ; a n d h a th s in c e b e e n in d e b te d to s t r a n g e r s f o r a m o n u m e n t v e ry u n w o r t h y o f h is m e m o r y ; on w h ic h th e f o llo w in g lin e s a r e in s c r ib e d :
N e a r to th is P la c e , L ie s th e b o d y of T h e R e v e r e n d L a u r e n c e S t e r n e , A . M .
D ie d S e p te m b e r 1 3 th * ) , 1 7 6 8 A g e d 5 3 Y e a r s .
" A l l ! m o l l it e r o s s a q u ie s c a n t.,,
I f a s o u n d h e a d , w a r m h e a r t , a n d b r e a s t h u m a n e , U n s u llie d w o r t h , a n d s o u l w i t h o u t a s ta i n ; I f m e n t a l pow e rs c o u ld e v e r j u s t l y c la im T h e w e ll w o n t r i b u te o f im m o rta l fam e ,
*) T h i s d a t e i t e r r o n e o u s , se o lin o th e f i f t e e n t h o f t h i s p a g e .
X L I F E O F L A U R E N C E S T E R N E .
S t e r n e w a s th e m a n , w h o , w ith g i g a n tic s tr i d e , M o w e d d o w n l u x u r i a n t f o llie s f a r a n d w id e . Y e t w h a t , th o u g h k e e n e s t k n o w le d g e o f m a n k in d U n s e a l ’d to h im th e s p r i n g s t h a t m o v e th e m i n d ; W h a t d id i t c o s t h i m ? r id ic u l’d , a b u s ’d, B y f o o ls i n s u l t e d , a n d b y p r u d e s a c c u s ’d.
I n h i s , m ild r e a d e r , v ie w th y f u tu r e f a te , L ik e h im d e s p i s e , w h a t ’tvvere a s in to h a te .
T h i s m o n u m e n t a l s to n e w a s e re c te d b y tw o b r o th e r m a s o n s ; f o r a lt h o u g h h e d id n o t liv e to b e a m e m b e r o f t h e i r s o c i e t y , y e t a s h i s a ll i n c o m p a ra b le p e r f o r m a n c e s e v id e n tly p r o v e h im to h a v e a c te d b y r u l e a n d s q u a r e , t h e y r e jo ic e in th is o p p o r tu n i ty o f p e r p e t u a t i n g h is h ig h a n d ir r e p r o a c h a b le c h a r a c te r to a f t e r a g e s .
CONTENTS.
Th e w a y s o f P r o v id e n c e ju stifie d to M a n ...
A fflic tio n a nd C o n so la tio n D i s c o n t e n t e d n e s s ...
T h e P r e c e p to r ...
T h e S to r y o f L e F e v r e . . . T h e P u l s e ...
T h e P ie M a n ...
T h e S w o r d ...
T h e A s s ...
T h e A b u s e s o f C o n sc ie n c e R e m a in d e r o f th e S to r y
o f T r im ’s B r o th e r ...
T h e B e g u i n e ...
T h e H obby H o r s e ...
M a r ia ...
M aria a t M o u l in e s . . . . T h e P a r s o n ’s H o r s e ...
S e n s i b i l i t y ...
T h e S u p p e r ...
T h e G r a c e ...
I l l u s i o n ...
L e D im a n c h e ...
T h e M o n k ...
F e llo w F e e l i n g ...
T h e M e rc ifu l M a n ...
P i t y ...
S la n d e r ...
H o u se o f M o u r n in g ...
F r a ilt y ...
I n s e n s ib ilit y ...
U n c e r t a in t y ...
T h e D e a d A s s ...
H u m o u rin g Im m o ra l A p
p e tite s ...
U n i t y ...
O p p o s it io n ...
C a p ta in S h a n d y ’s j u s t if i
c a tio n o f h is o w n P r in c ip le s , e tc ...
M e rc y r eco m m en d ed . . . . I n d o le n c e ...
C o n s o l a t io n ...
T h e S t a r l i n g ... ..
T h e C a p tiv e ...
T h e D w a r f ... ..
C h a r i t y ... 7 5 R e fle c tio n s o n D e a t h . . . . 7 5 O b s e r v a tio n a n d S t u d y . . 76 F e e li n g a n d B e n e fic e n c e 7 7 S l a v e r y ... 7 8 O p p r e s s io n v a n q u i s h e d . . 78 F o r g iv e n e s s o f I n j u r i e s . . 8 0 H a p p i n e s s ...SO T h e T r ib u t e o f A ffe c tio n S 2 Y o r ie k ’s D e a th a B ro k e n
H e a r t ... S 2 P o w e r o f S lig h t I n c id e n ts 8 5 P e r p le x i ti e s in L i f e 86 T h e C o n t r a s t ...86 D r . S lo p a n d O b a d ia h
M e e t i n g ... 8 7 S e lfis h n e s s a n d M e a n n e s s S9 V ice n o t w i th o u t i ts u s e 8 9 D iffe re n c e in M e n 8 9 N o t to b e to o h a s ty in o u r
O p i n i o n s ... 9 0 V a n i t y ... 9 1 A ffe cte d H o n e s t y ...91 A ffe c te d P r i d e ... 91 A ffe cte d S a n c t i t y ... 91 O s t e n ta t io u s G e n e r o s ity 9 2 O n W it a n d J u d g m e n t . . 9 2 O p e n n e s s a n d c a n d o u r in
o u r O p i n i o n s ...9 4 E lo q u e n c e ... 9 5 G e n e r o s i t y ... 9 5 Y o r ic k ’s O p in io n a n d G r a
v i t y ... 9 5 T h e C a l c u la t io n 9 5 M a n , R e fle c tio n s u p o n
h i m ...9 6 M a n ’s L i f e ... 9 7 O n T i m e ... 9 7 T r im ’s D e fin itio n o f R a d i
c a l H e a t a n d M o is tu r e 9 7 T r i m ’s E x p l a n a t i o n o f th e
F i f t h C o m m a n d m e n t . . 9 8 T h e H a p p y P e a s a n t 9 8 F a v o u r s ...9 9 F o r g iv e n e s s t h e m o s t r e
fin e d V i r t u e 9 9
1 7 9 9 10 I S
21
2 3 2 4 2 5 37 3 9 4 4 4 5 4 6 4 6 51 52 5 3 5 4 54 5 6 6 0 6 0 61 61 6 2 6 4 6 4 6 4 6 4
666 6 6 7
6 7 6 9 6 9 7 0 70 71 72
X l l C O N T E N T S . S o litu d e th e N u rse o f
W is d o m ... 100 F l a t t e r y , r e f r e s h i n g to
N a t u r e ...10 0 H e a lth th e g r e a t e s t B le s
s in g ... 100 S o c ie ty a n d F r ie n d s h i p 100 S o r r o w ... 101 S o r r o w a n d H e a v in e s s
o f H e a r t ... 101 D e a t h ... 102 R o o te d O p in io n ... 1 0 2 C o v e t o u s n e s s ... 102 S i m p l ic i ty ... 10 3 H u m i l i t y ... 103 P a t ie n c e a n d C o n t e n t
m e n t ... 103 T h e C o n t r a s t ... 1 0 4 P r id e ... 105 B e a u t y ... 107 W is d o m ... 108 D i s t r e s s ... 10S H u n g e r ... 108 M r . S h a n d y ’s L e t te r to
h is B r o t h e r T o b y o n L o v e ... . . . 10S M r . S h a n d y ’s B e d o f J u s .
t i c e ... 110 I m p o s t u r e ... 113 E v i l s ...1 1 4 D e f a m a t i o n ... 1 1 4 C o n t e n t m e n t ... 1 1 4 R e lig io n ...115 T h e D a n c e ... 1 1 5 W is d o m th e B u b b le o f
M a n ...
V ir tu e a n d V i c e 11 7 O p p r e s s io n t h e S o u r c e
o f D i s c o n te n t ... 1 1 7 In s o le n c e b o u n d le s s in
b a s e M i n d s ... 1 1 8 I n j u r y ... 1 1 8 C u r io s ity w o v e in th e
F r a m e o f M a n ... U S S h a m e a n d D is g ra c e ,
M a n s e ld o m a b le to e n c o u n t e r . ... 11 0 E n m it y a n d I l l - w i l l . . . . 120
S h a n d y ’s R e fle c tio n on D e a t h ... 120 T h e T r a n s l a t i o n 121 C o n t e n t m e n t ... 1 2 3 T h e F ille de C h a m b re 1 2 3 T r i m ’s R e f le c tio n s o n
D e a t h ... 126 C o n tu m e lio u s n e s s a n d
S l a n d e r ... 12 9 J u s t i c e ... 1 3 0 S u i c i d e ... 130 J u s t J u d g m e n t o f th e
W o rld ... 1 3 0 I n h u m a n i t y ...13 1 D e a t h - B e d R e p e n ta n c e 1 3 1 Q u a c k e r y its ill E f fe c ts 1 3 2 R e g u la tio n o f S p i r i t . . . . 1 3 2 J u s ti c e a n d H o n e s t y . . . 1 3 3 S l a n d e r ... 1 3 4 C h a r it y to O r p h a n s 1 3 5 S e d u c t i o n ... 137 E p i ta p h o n a L a d y . . . . 137 D r . S lo p a n d S u s a n n a h 1 3 7 C r i ti c is m ... 1 3 8 T h e A d d r e s s ... 1 3 9 T h e T e m p ta tio n a n d
C o n q u e s t... 14 0 R e a s o n to o o fte n g u id e d
b y o u r P a s s i o n s 1 4 2 A p p lic a tio n o f R i c h e s . . 1 4 3 T h e C h a r i t y ... 1 4 3 T h e C a s e o f E l ij a h a n d
th e W id o w o f Z a r e - p lia th c o n s id e r e d . . . . 145 H is to r y o f a W a tc h - C o a t 1 5 6 T h e R e m is e D o o r 167 L e t t e r 'W r i t i n g ... 169 T o m y W ittv W id o w
M rs . F — . .*... 1 6 9 T o M r. G a r r i c k ... 1 7 1 T o M r. W ... 172 F r o m I g n a t i u s S a n c h o to
M r. S t e r n e ... 173 F r o m M r. S t e r n e to I g n a
tiu s S a n c h o ... 1 7 4 T o E l i z a ... 1 7 5 T o th e s a m e ... 1 7 7 T h e P o s t i l l i o n . ...1 7 8
GLEANINGS FROM STERNE.
SE R M O N X L IV .
T H E W A Y S O F P R O V ID E N C E J U S T I F IE D T O M A N.
P s a lm L X X X II I. 1 2 , 1 3.
B e h o ld , th e s e a r e th e u n g o d l y tv h o p r o s p e r i n th e w o r l d , th e y in c r e a s e i n r ic h e s .
V e r il y I h a v e c le a n s e d m y h e a r t i n v a in , a n d w a s h e d m y h a n d s i n i n n o c e n c y .
Th i s c o m p la in t o f th e P s a lm is t’s c o n c e r n in g th e p r o m is c u o u s d istr ib u tio n o f G od’s b le s s in g s to th e j u s t a n d u n j u s t , — th a t the s u n s h o u ld s h in e w ith o u t d is tin c tio n u p o n th e g o o d an d th e b a d ,— an d r a in s d e sc en d u p o n th e r ig h te o u s and u n r ig h te o u s m a n , — is a su b je ct th a t h a s afforded m u ch m a tter fo r in q u iry , a nd a t o n e tim e o r o th er h a s r a ise d d o u b ts to d ish e a rte n a n d p e r p lex th e m in d s o f m en . I f th e s o v e r e ig n L ord o f a ll th e ea rth d o e s lo o k o n , w h e n c e s o m uch d iso rd er in th e fa c e o f t h in g s ? — w h y is it p erm itted , th a t w is e a nd g o o d m en s h o u ld be le ft o fte n a prey to s o m a n y m is e r ie s a nd d is tr e s s e s o f l i f e , — w h ils t th e g u ilty a n d fo o lis h trium ph in th e ir o ffe n c e s, a n d e v e n th e ta b e r n a c le s o f r o b b ers pro sp er.
T o th is it is a n s w e r e d , — th a t th e re fo r e th e re is a fu tu re s ta t e o f rew ards and p u n ish m e n ts to take p la c e a fte r th is lif e , — w h er e in a ll th e se in e q u a litie s s h a ll be m a d e e v e n , w h er e the c ir c u m s ta n c e s o f e v e r y m a n ’s c a s e s h a ll be c o n s id e r e d , a n d w h er e G od s h a ll be j u s tifie d in a ll h is w a y s , and e v e r y m o u th s h a ll b e sto p p e d .
I f th is w a s n o t s o , i f th e u n g o d ly w e r e to p r o sp e r in th e w o r ld , an d h a v e r ic h e s in p o s s e s s io n — a nd n o d is tin c tio n to b e m a d e herea fter^ — to w h a t p u r p o se w o u ld it h a v e been to h a v e m a in ta in e d o u r in te g r ity ? — L o ! th e n , i n d e e d , sh o u ld I h a v e c le a n s e d m y h e a r t in v a i n , a n d w a s h e d m y ha n d s in in n o c e n c y .
It is fa rth e r s a i d , and w h a t is a m o re d ir ec t a n s w e r to th e p o in t, — th a t w h en G od cr ea te d m a n , th a t h e m ight m a k e him c a p a b le o f r e c e iv in g h a p p in e ss a t h is h a n d s h e r e a ft e r , — h e en d o w ed him w ith lib e r ty an d fre e d o m o f
1
2 T H E W A Y S O F P R O V ID E N C E
c h o ic e , w i t h o u t w h ic h h e c o u ld n o t h a v e b e e n a c r e a t u r e a c c o u n t a b le f o r h is a c t i o n s ; — t h a t i t is m e r e ly fro m th e b a d u s e h e m a k e s o f t h e s e g ifts , — t h a t a ll th o s e in s t a n c e s o f i r r e g u la r it y do r e s u l t, u p o n w h ic h th e c o m p la in t is h e re g r o u n d e d , — w h ic h c o u ld n o w a y s b e p r e v e n t e d , b u t b y t h e to ta l s u b v e r s i o n o f h u m a n l i b e r t y ; — t h a t s h o u ld G od m a k e b a r e h is a r m , a n d i n te r p o s e o n e v e ry i n ju s ti c e t h a t is c o m m itte d , — m a n k in d m ig h t b e s a id to do w h a t w a s r i g h t , — b u t , a t th e s a m e t i m e , to lo se th e m e r i t o f it, s in c e th e y w o u ld a c t u n d e r f o rc e a n d n e c e s s i t y , a n d n o t f ro m th e d e te r m i n a ti o n s o f t h e i r o w n m i n d ; — t h a t , u p o n th is s u p p o s itio n , — a m a n c o u ld w ith n o m o re r e a s o n ex p e c t to go to h e a v e n f o r a c ts o f te m p e r a n c e , j u s t i c e , arid h u m a n i t y , t h a n f o r th e o r d in a r y im p u ls e s o f h u n g e r a n d t h i r s t , w h ic h n a tu r e d ir e c te d — t h a t G o d h a s d e a lt w ith m a n u p o n b e tt e r t e r m s ; — h e h a s f ir s t e n d o w e d h im w ith l ib e r ty a n d f r e e - w i l l ; — h e h a s s e t life a n d d e a th , g o o d a n d e v i l , b e fo r e h im ; — t h a t h e h a s g iv e n h im f a c u ltie s to find o u t w h a t w ill b e th e c o n s e q u e n c e s o f e it h e r w a y o f a c t i n g , a n d t h e n l e f t h im to t a k e w h ic h c o u rs e h is r e a s o n a n d d ire c tio n s h a ll p o in t o u t.
I s h a ll d e s is t fro m e n la r g in g a n y f u r t h e r u p o n e it h e r o f th e f o re g o in g a r g u m e n t s in v i n d ic a tio n o f G o d ’s p r o v i d e n c e , w h ic h a r e u r g e d s o o f te n w ith s o m u c h fo rc e a n d c o n v ic t io n , a s to le a v e n o ro o m f o r a r e a s o n a b le r e p l y ; — s in c e th e m is e r i e s w h ic h b e fa l th e g o o d , a n d th e s e e m in g h a p p in e s s o f th e w ic k e d , c o u ld n o t be o th e r w is e i n s u c h a f re e s t a t e a n d c o n d itio n a s t h is in w h ic h w e a r e p la c e d .
I n a ll c h a r g e s o f t h is k i n d , w e g e n e r a l ly ta k e tw o th in g s f o r g r a n t e d ; — 1 s t , T h a t in th e i n s t a n c e s w e g iv e, w e k n o w c e r t a in l y th e g o o d f ro m th e b a d , — a n d , 2 d ly , T h e r e s p e c tiv e s t a t e o f t h e i r e n jo y m e n ts o r s u ff e r in g s .
I s h a ll , th e r e f o r e , in th e r e m a in in g p a r t o f m y d is c o u r s e , t a k e u p y o u r tim e w ith a s h o r t i n q u ir y in to th e d itfic u l- t i e s o f c o m in g n o t o n ly a t th e t r u e c h a r a c t e r s o f m e n ,—
b u t lik e w is e o f k n o w in g e it h e r t h e d e g r e e s o f t h e i r r e a l h a p p in e s s , o r m is e r y , in th is lif e .
T h e f ir s t o f t h e s e w ill te a c h u s c a n d o u r in o u r j u d g m e n t s o f o t h e r s , — th e s e c o n d , to w h ic h I s h a ll co n fin e m y s e lf, w ill te a c h u s h u m ility in o u r r e a s o n i n g s u p o n th e w a y s o f G o d .
F o r th o u g h m is e r ie s o t th e go o d , a n d th e p r o s p e r ity o f th e w ic k e d , a r e n o t in g e n e r a l to b e d e n ie d : — y e t I s h a l l e n d e a v o u r to s h e w , t h a t th e p a r t i c u l a r in s t a n c e s w e a r e a p t to p r o d u c e , w h e n w e c r y o u t in th e w o r d s o f th e P s a l m i s t , L o ! th e s e a r e th e u n g o d l y ,— th e s e p r o s p e r , a n d a r e h a p p v in th e w o r ld ; — I s a y , I s h a ll e n d e a v o u r to s h e w , t h a t w e a r e s o i g n o r a n t o f th e a r t i c l e s o f th e c h a rg e , a n d th e e v id e n c e w e g o u p o n to m a k e tJie n ‘ £ ° ° , 80 la m e a n d d e fe c tiv e , — a s to b e s u f f ic ie n t b y i ts e lf to c h e c k a ll p r o p e n s i ty to e x p o s tu l a te w ith G o d s p ro v id e n c e , a llo w , i n g t h e r e w a s n o o t h e r w a y o f c le a r in g u p th e m a t t e r r e c o n c ile a b ly to h is a t t r i b u t e s ,
J U S T I F I E D T O M A N . 3 A n d , f i r s t,— w h a t c e r t a in a n d i n f a llib le m a r k s h a v e w e o f th e g o o d n e s s o r b a d n e s s o f th e b u lk o f m a n k i n d ?
I f w e t r u s t to fa m e a n d r e p o r t s , — I f t h e y a r e g o o d , h o w d o w e k n o w b u t th e y m a y p ro c e e d fro m p a r t i a l f r i e n d s h i p o r f l a t t e r y ? — w h e n b a d , fro m e n v y o r m a lic e , fro m i l l - n a t u r e d s u r m i s e s a n d c o n s tr u c ti o n s o f t h i n g s ? a n d o n b o th s id e s , fro m s m a ll m a t t e r s a g g r a n d iz e d th r o u g h m i s t a k e , — a n d s o m e tim e s th r o u g h th e u n s k ilf u l r e la tio n o f ev e n t r u t h i ts e lf ? — F ro m s o m e o r a ll o f w h ic h c a u s e s , i t h a p p e n s , t h a t th e c h a r a c te r s o f m e n , lik e th e h is to r ie s o f th e E g y p t ia n s , a r e to be r e c e iv e d a n d r e a d w ith c a u t i o n ; — th e y a r e g e n e r a l ly d r e s s e d o u t a n d d is f ig u re d w ith so m a n y d r e a m s a n d f a b l e s , t h a t e v e ry o r d in a r y r e a d e r s h a ll n o t be a b le to d is tin g u is h t r u t h fro m f a ls e h o o d . — B u t a llo w in g th e s e r e f le c tio n s to be to o s e v e r e in th is m a t t e r , — t h a t no s u c h a th in g a s e n v y e v e r le s s e n e d a m a n ’s c h a r a c te r , o r m a lic e b la c k e n e d i t : — y e t th e c h a r a c t e r s o f m e n a r e n o t e a s i l y p e n e t r a t e d , a s th e y d e p e n d o f te n u p o n th e r e t i r e d , u n s e e n p a r t s o f a m a n ’s l i f e . — T h e b e s t a n d t r u e s t p ie ty is m o s t s e c r e t , a n d t h e w o r s t o f a c t i o n s , f o r d iff e re n t r e a s o n s , w ill be so to o . — S o m e m e n a r e m o d e s t , a n d s e e m to t a k e p a in s to h id e t h e i r v i r t u e s ; a n d , fro m a n a t u r a l d is ta n c e a n d r e s e r v e in t h e i r te m p e r s , s c a r c e s u ffe r t h e i r g o o d q u a li t ie s to be k n o w n : — o t h e r s , o n th e c o n t r a r y , p u t in p r a c t ic e a th o u s a n d lit tl e a r t s to c o u n te r f e i t v i r t u e s w h ic h t h e y h a v e n o t , — th e b e t t e r to c o n c e a l th o s e v ic e s th e y r e a l ly h a v e ; — a n d th is u n d e r f a i r s h o w s o f s a n c t i ty , g o o d n a tu r e , g e n e r o s i ty , o r s o m e v i r t u e o r o t h e r , — to o s p e c io u s to b e s e e n t h r o u g h , — to o a m ia b le a n d d is i n te r e s te d to b e s u s p e c te d . — T h e s e h i n ts m a y be s u f f ic ie n t to s h e w h o w h a r d it is to c o m e a t th e m a t t e r o f f a c t : — b u t o n e m a y go a s te p f u r t h e r , — a n d s a y , t h a t e v e n t h a t , in m a n y c a s e s , c o u ld w e c o m e to th e k n o w le d g e o f i t , is n o t s u ff ic ie n t by i ts e lf to p r o n o u n c e a m a n e it h e r g o o d o r bad^ — T h e r e a r e n u m b e r s o f c ir c u m s t a n c e s w h ic h a tt e n d e v e ry a c tio n o f a m a n ’s life , w h ic h c a n n e v e r c o m e -to th e k n o w le d g e o f t h e w o rld , — y e t o u g h t to h e k n o w n , a n d w e ll w e ig h e d , b e fo r e s e n te n c e w ith a n y j u s t i c e c a n he p a s s e d u p o n h im . — A m a n m a y h a v e d iff e re n t v ie w s , a n d a d iff e re n t s e n s e o f th in g s fro m w h a t h is ju d g e s h a v e , a n d w h a t h e u n d e r s t a n d s a n d fe e ls , a n d w h a t p a s s e s w ith h im , m a y h e a s e c r e t t r e a s u r e d u p d e e p ly t h e r e fo r e v e r . — A m a n . th r o u g h b o d ily in firm ity , o r so m e c o m p le x io n a l d e fe c t, w h ic h p e r h a p s is n o t in h is p o w e r to c o r r e c t , — m a y be s u b je c t to i n a d v e r t e n c i e s , — t o s t a r t s , — a n d u n h a p p y t u r n s o f t e m p e r ; lie m a y lie o p e n to s n a r e s h e is n o t a lw a y s a w a r e o f ; o r , th r o u g h ig n o ra n c e a n d w a n t o f i n f o r m a tio n , a n d p r o p e r h e lp s , h e m a y l a b o u r in th e d a r k : — in a l l w h ic h c a s e s h e m a y d o m a n y th in g s w h ic h a r e w r o n g in th e m s e lv e s , a n d y e t b e i n n o c e n t , — a t l e a s t a n o b je c t r a t h e r to be p itie d t h a n c e n s u r e d w ith s e v e r i ty a n d ill-w ill. — T h e s e a r e d iff ic u ltie s w h ic h s ta n d in e v e ry o n e ’s w a y in t h e f o rm in g a ju d g m e n t o f th e c h a r a c te r s o f o th e r s . — B u t , f o r o n c e , le t u s s u p p o s e th e m
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4 T H E W A Y S O F P R O V ID E N C E
a ll to b e g o t o v e r , s o t h a t w e c o u ld s e e th e b o tto m o f e v e ry m a n ’s h e a r t ; — le t u s a llo w t h a t th e w o r d , r o g u e o r h o n e s t m a n , w a s w r o te s o le g ib ly in e v e ry m a n ’s fa c e , t h a t 110 o n e c o u ld p o s s ib ly m is ta k e i t ; — y e t s till th e h a p p i n e s s o f b o th th e o n e a n d th e o t h e r , w h ic h is th e o n ly f a c t t h a t c a n b r in g th e c h a r g e h o m e , is w h a t w e h a v e s o lit tl e c e r t a in k n o w le d g e o f,— t h a t , b a ti n g s o m e f l a g r a n t i n s t a n c e s , — w h e n e v e r w e v e n tu r e to p r o n o u n c e u p o n it, o u r d e c is io n s a r e lit tl e m o re t h a n r a n d o m g u e s s e s , — F o r w h o c a n s e a r c h th e h e a r t o f m a n ! — it is t r e a c h e r o u s e v e n to o u r s e lv e s , a n d m u c h m o re lik e ly to im p o s e u p o n o t h e r s .
— E v e n in l a u g h t e r ( i f y o u w ill b e lie v e S o lo m o n ) th e h e a r t is s o r r o w f u l ; — th e m i n d s it s d r o o p in g w h i ls t th e c o u n te n a n c e is g a y : — a n d e v e n h e w h o is th e o b je c t o f e n v y to th o s e w h o lo o k n o f u r t h e r t h a n th e s u r f a c e o f h is e s ta t e ,
— m a y a p p e a r a t th e s a m e tim e w o r th y o f c o m p a s s io n to th o s e w h o k n o w h is p r iv a te r e c e s s e s . — B e s id e s t h i s , a m a n ’s u n h a p p in e s s is n o t to b e a s c e r ta i n e d s o m u c h fro m w h a t is k n o w n to h a v e b e fa lle n h im , — a s f ro m h is p a r t i c u l a r t u r n a n d c a s t o f m in d , a n d c a p a c ity o f b e a r in g i t . — P o v e r t y , e x i l e , lo s s o f fa m e o r f r i e n d s , th e d e a th o f c h il d r e n , th e d e a r e s t o f a ll p le d g e s o f a m a n ’s h a p p in e s s , m a k e n o t e q u a l im p r e s s io n s u p o n e v e ry t e m p e r . — Y o u w ill s e e o n e m a n u n d e r g o , w ith s c a r c e th e e x p e n c e o f a s i g h , —w h a t a n o th e r , in th e b itt e r n e s s o f h is s o u l, w o u ld go m o u rn in g fo r a ll h is lif e lo n g : — n a y , a h a s ty w o r d , o r a n u n k in d lo o k , to a s o f t a n d t e n d e r n a t u r e , w ill s tr ik e d e e p e r t h a n a s w o rd to th e h a rd e n e d a n d s e n s e l e s s . — I f th e s e re f le c tio n s h o ld t r u e w ith r e g a r d to m is f o r tu n e s , th e y a r e t h e s a m e w ith r e g a r d to e n jo y m e n ts : — w e a r e fo rm e d d i f f e r e n t ly , — h a v e d iff e re n t t a s t e s a n d p e rc e p tio n s o f t h i n g s ; — b y th e f o rc e o f h a b i t , e d u c a t i o n , o r a p a r t i c u l a r c a s t o f m i n d , — it h a p p e n s t h a t n e it h e r th e u s e o r p o s s e s s io n o f th e s a m e e n jo y m e n t a n d a d v a n t a g e s , p r o d u c e t h e s a m e h a p p in e s s a n d c o n te n t m e n t ; b u t t h a t i t d iffe rs in e v e ry m a n a lm o s t a c c o r d in g to h is te m p e r a n d c o m p le x io n : — so t h a t t h e s e l f - s a m e h a p p y a c c id e n ts in lif e , w h ic h s h a ll g iv e r a p t u r e s to th e c h o le r ic o r s a n g u in e m a n , s h a ll b e re c e iv e d w ith in d if fe r e n c e b y t h e co ld a n d p h l e g m a ti c ; — a n d so o d d ly p e rp le x e d a r e t h e a c c o u n ts o f b o th h u m a n h a p p in e s s a n d m is e ry in t h is w o r l d , — t h a t t rifle s , l ig h t a s a i r , s h a ll b e a id e to m a k e th e h e a r t s o f s o m e m e n s in g f o r j o y ; — a t th e s a m e tim e t h a t o th e r s , w ith r e a l b le s s in g s a n d a d v a n ta g e s , w i t h o u t th e p o w e r o f u s in g t h e m , h a v e t h e i r h e a r t s h e a v y a n d d is c o n te n te d .
A la s 1 i f th e p r in c ip le s o f c o n te n tm e n t a r e n o t w ith in u s , th e h e ig h t o f s ta t io n a n d w o r ld ly g r a n d e u r w ill a s s o o n a d d a c u b it to a m a n ’s s t a t u r e a s to h is h a p p in e s s .
T h i s w ill s u g g e s t to u s h o w l it tl e a w a y w e h a v e g o n e to w a r d s th e p r o o f o f a m a n ’s h a p p i n e s s , — i n b a r e ly s a y i n g , — L o 1 t h is m a n p r o s p e r s in th e w o r l d , a n d th is m a n h a s r ic h e s i n p o s s e s s io n .
W h e n a m a n h a s g o t m u c h a b o v e u s , w e t a k e i t f o r g r a n t e d , — t h a t h e s e e s s o m e g lo rio u s p r o s p e c t s , a n d
J U S T I F I E D T O M A N . 5 fe e ls s o m e m ig h ty p l e a s u r e s fro m liis h e i g h t ; — w h e r e a s , c o u ld w e g e t u p to h i m , i t is g r e a t o d d s w h e t h e r w e s h o u ld fin d a n y t h in g to m a k e u s to le r a b l e a m e n d s f o r th e p a in s a n d tr o u b le o f c lim b in g u p s o h ig h . — N o th in g , p e r h a p s , b u t m o re d a n g e r s a n d m o re t r o u b l e s s ti ll ; a n d s u c h a g i d d in e s s o f h e a d b e s id e s , a s to m a k e a w is e m a n w is h h e w a s w e ll d o w n a g a in u p o n t h e le v e l. — T o c a lc u la t e , th e r e f o r e , th e h a p p in e s s o f m a n k in d b y t h e i r s ta t io n s a n d h o n o u r s , is th e m o s t d e c e itfu l o f a ll r u l e s ; — g r e a t , n o d o u b t , is th e h a p p in e s s w h ic h a m o d e r a te f o r t u n e , a n d m o d e r a te d e s ir e s , w ith a c o n s c io u s n e s s o f v i r t u e , w ill s e c u r e a m a n . — M a n y a r e th e s il e n t p l e a s u r e s o f th e h o n e s t p e a s a n t , w h o r is e s c h e e r f u lly to h is l a b o u r : — lo o k in to h is d w e llin g , — w h e r e th e s c e n e o f e v e ry m a n ’s h a p p i n e s s c h ie fly lie s , — h e h a s th e s a m e d o m e s tic e n d e a r m e n t s , — a s m u ch j o y a n d c o m f o r t in h is c h il d r e n , — a n d a s f l a t te r in g h o p e s o f t h e i r d o in g W ell, to e n liv e n h is h o u r s a n d to g la d h is h e a r t , a s y o u c o u ld c o n c e iv e in th e m o s t a f f l u e n t s ta t io n . — A n d I m a k e n o d o u b t, in g e n e r a l , b u t if th e t r u e a c c o u n t o f h is j o y s a n d s u f f e r in g s w e r e to be b a la n c e d w ith th o s e o f h is b e tt e r s , t h a t th e u p s h o t w o u ld p ro v e to b e lit tl e m o re t h a n t h i s , — t h a t th e r ic h m a n h a d th e m o re m e a t , — b u t th e p o o r m a n th e b e t t e r s to m a c h ;
— th e o n e h a d m o re l u x u r y , — m o re a b le p h y s ic i a n s to a tt e n d a n d s e t h im to r i g h t s ; — t h e o t h e r , m o re h e a lth a n d s o u n d n e s s in h is b o n e s , a n d le s s o c c a s io n f o r t h e i r h e l p ; — t h a t , a f t e r th e s e tw o a r t i c l e s b e tw ix t th e m w e r e b a l a n c e d , — in a ll o t h e r th in g s th e y s to o d u p o n a l e v e l : — t h a t th e s u n s h in e s a s w a r m , — th e a i r b lo w s a s f r e s h , a n d th e e a r t h b r e a t h e s a s l 'r a g a n t u p o n th e o n e a s t h e o t h e r ; — a n d t h a t t h e y h a v e a n e q u a l s h a r e in a ll th e b e a u ti e s a n d r e a l b e n e fits o f n a t u r e . — T h e s e h i n ts m a y be s u ff ic ie n t to s h e w w h a t 1 p ro p o se d fro m th e m ,
— th e d iff ic u ltie s w h ic h a tt e n d u s in j u d g in g t r u l y e it h e r o f th e h a p p in e s s o r t h e m is e ry o f th e b u lk o f m a n k i n d , — th e e v id e n c e b e in g s ti ll m o re d e fe c tiv e in t h is c a s e ( a s th e m a t t e r o f f a c t is to o h a r d to c o m e a t ) — t h a n e v e n in t h a t o f j u d g in g o f t h e i r t r u e c h a r a c te r s ; o f b o th w h ic h , in g e n e r a l , w e h a v e s u c h im p e r f e c t k n o w le d g e a s w ill te a c h u s c a n d o u r in o u r d e te r m i n a ti o n s u p o n e a c h o th e r .
B u t th e m a in p u r p o r t o f th is d i s c o u r s e , i s , to te a c h u s h u m ility i n o u r r e a s o n i n g s u p o n th e w a y s o f th e A lm ig h ty .
T h a t th in g s a r e d e a lt u n e q u a lly in t h is w o r l d , is o n e o f t h e s tr o n g e s t n a t u r a l a r g u m e n ts f o r a f u tu r e s t a t e , — a n d th e r e fo r e is n o t to b e o v e r t h r o w n ; n e v e r t h e l e s s , — I a m p e r s u a d e d th e c h a r g e is f a r fro m b e in g a s g r e a t a s a t f ir s t s ig h t i t m a y a p p e a r ; — o r i f i t i s , — t h a t o u r v ie w s o f th in g s a r e s o n a r r o w a n d c o n fin e d , t h a t i t is n o t in o u r p o w e r to m a k e i t g o o d .
B u t s u p p o s e it o t h e r w i s e , — t h a t th e h a p p in e s s a n d p r o s p e r it y o f b a d m e n w e r e a s g r e a t a s o u r g e n e r a l c o m p la in ts m a k e th e m ; — a n d , w h a t is n o t th e c a s e , — t h a t w e w e r e a b le to c le a r u p th e m a t t e r , o r a n s w e r it
