mind is absent, and the thoughts are wandering to fomething else than what is paffing in the place in which we are, we are often miferable.

III. Happiness depends upon the prudent conftitution of the habits.

The art in which the secret of human happiness in a great measure confifts, is to set the habits in fuch a manner, that every change may be a change for the better. The habits themfelves are much the fame; for whatever is made habitual, becomes fmooth, and easy, and nearly indifferent. The return to an old habit is likewise eafy, whatever the habit be. Therefore the advantage is with those habits which allow of indulgence in the deviation from them. The luxurious receive no greater pleasure from their dainties, than the peafant does from his bread and cheese but the peafant, whenever he goes abroad, finds a feast, whereas the epicure must be well entertained to efcape disgust. Those who spend every day at cards, and those who go every day to plough, pass their time much alike; intent upon what they are about, wanting nothing, regretting nothing, they are both for the time in a state of ease: but then, whatever fufpends the occupation of the card-player, diftreffes him; whereas to the labourer, every interrup

tion is a refreshment: and this appears in the different effect that Sunday produces upon the two, which proves a day of recreation to the one, but a lamentable burthen to the other. The man who has learned to live alone, feels his fpirits enlivened whenever he enters into company, and takes his leave without regret: another, who has long been accustomed to a crowd, or continual fucceffion of company, experiences in company no elevation of fpirits, nor any greater fatisfaction, than what the man of a retired life finds in his chimney corner. So far their conditions are equal: but let a change of place, fortune, or fituation, feparate the companion from his circle, his vifitors, his club, common-room, or coffee-house, and the difference of advantage in the choice and conftitution of the two habits will fhew itself. Solitude comes to the one clothed with melancholy; to the other it brings liberty and quiet. You will fee the one fretful and restless, at a loss how to difpofe of his time, till the hour come round that he can forget himself in bed; the other eafy and satisfied, taking up his book, or his pipe, as foon as he finds himself alone; ready to admit any little amusement that cafts up, or to turn his hands and attention to the firft bufinefs

D 3

finefs that presents itself; or content without either to fit ftill, and let his trains of thought glide indolently through his brain, without much ufe, perhaps, or pleasure, but without hankering after any thing better, and without irritation.— A reader, who has inured himself to books of science and argumentation, if a novel, a well written pamphlet, an article of news, a narrative of a curious voyage, or the journal of a traveller, fall in his way, fits down to the repast with relish; enjoys his entertainment while it lafts, and can return, when it is over, to his graver reading, without diftafte. Another, with whom nothing will go down but works of humour and pleasantry, or whofe curiosity must be interested by perpetual novelty, will confume a bookfeller's window in half a forenoon; during which time he is rather in fearch of diverfion than diverted; and as books to his tafte are few, and fhort, and rapidly read over, the ftock is foon exhaufted, when he is left without refource from this principal fupply of harmless amufement.

So far as circumftances of fortune conduce to happiness, it is not the income which any man poffeffes, but the increase of income that affords the pleasure. Two perfons, of whom one begins with an hundred, and advances his income

to

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to a thousand pounds a year; and the other fets off with a thousand, and dwindles down to an hundred, may, in the course of their time, have the receipt and spending of the fame sum of money: yet their fatisfaction, so far as fortune is concerned in it, will be very different: the series and fum total of their incomes being the fame, it makes a wide difference at which end they begin.

IV. Happiness confifts in Health.

By health I understand, as well freedom from bodily distempers, as that tranquillity, firmness, and alacrity of mind, which we call good fpirits; and which may properly enough be included in our notion of health, as depending commonly upon the fame causes, and yielding to the fame management, as our bodily conftitution.

Health, in this sense, is the one thing needful. Therefore no pains, expence, felf-denial, or restraint, to which we fubject ourselves for the fake of health, is too much. Whether it require us to relinquish lucrative fituations, to abftain from favourite indulgences, to control intemperate paffions, or undergo tedious regimens; whatever difficulties it lays us under, a D 4

man,

man, who pursues his happinefs rationally and refolutely, will be content to fubmit to.

When we are in perfect health and spirits, we feel in ourselves a happiness independent of any particular outward gratification whatever, and of which we can give no account. This is an enjoyment which the Deity has annexed to life; and probably conftitutes, in a great measure, the happiness of infants and brutes, especially of the lower and fedentary orders of animals, as of oyfters, periwinkles, and the like; for which I have fometimes been at a lofs to find out amusement.

The above account of human happiness will justify the two following conclufions, which, although found in most books of morality, have seldom, I think, been fupported by any sufficient reafons:

FIRST, that happiness is pretty equally diftributed amongst the different orders of civil fociety.

SECONDLY, that vice has no advantage over virtue, even with refpect to this world's happiness.

CHAP,