i he influence of the animal system on the rational, as subject to a variety of incidents, impedes the progress of the mind; and the contracted sphere for a capacious faculty to act in; lessens the at better able to manage, and more eager for it than I; and fancying a roving life would agree with me best, I quit the place, taking nothing with me, but resolved to walk the world, and just trust to the charity of good christians, ortainment, which ends in expectade, as it should please God. How I have lived so long, he only knows, and his will be done: but I should not be sorry to be released, if that might be For the Lady's Miscellany. THOUGHTS on HAPPINESS. , Not happiness itself makes good her name Our very wishes give us not our wish. most, From that for which we doat Felicity ? NICHT THOUGHTS. Ushered into a state of existence, where the flattering voice of plea. sure, and the threatning language of pain alternately resound; where Vice is arrayed with splendour, and Virtue scarcely seen, where honor is applied to folly and esteem where shame is due; where favour leans to interest, and where merit is but a name; where friendship is a prostituted term, and gain includes respect: In this inverted paradise, deluded man goes far in search of happiness. If any principle is innate, it is the desire of Happiness, and if any practice in such pursuit is contradictory and vain, it is that of man. -- tion only. Hope sustains the shat- his hoarded mass; but alas! what All the treasures of an eastern prince, cannot procure health, contentment, or peace to the troubled mind. On the contrary, where riches are possessed, care and anxiety will intrude. The infatuated mortal, whose soul is wrapt with anxious care to increase his accumulated wealth, fails in acquir ing that enjoyment, which afflu. ence was designed to afford. Vain then is the effort of obtaining Happiness, from a source thus despi cable and mean. Others are seek. ing this inestimable prize in a life of dissipation and extravagance, but such persons labour under greater delusion than the former, and if no un eceived ere it be too late, will find it by sad experience. The poiite rake, the modern beau. and the votaries of fashion seek happiness in a way, which by the more prudent and considerate. would be deemed the extreme of misery; their happiness is but of shor: duration, too trivial to com pensate for the dreadful remorse that ensues. The libertine, in the slavery of sensuality, with his debauched associates, enjoys what he calls Happiness. In the midst of his revellings, he considers himself in the height of bliss, when in truth he is in the depths of wretchedness. Let us review the opposite character, and revert to the formal pharisee, who imagines by his piety he insures not only happiness here, but hereafter. Such, by a regular course of living, may be nearer an enjoyment of this privilege but even here, happiness is not to be found. The vicissitudes of life, and the afflictions incidental to all, will ever interrupt fruition The philosopher, likewise who regulates his conduct by reason. is a stranger to this refined acquisition, and though he supposes him self a participant of it, yet in the end finds himself deceived. From the perplexity annexed to a crude system of action, he often embar rasses his mind, and is deluded in the object in the dark researches of mystery he is bewildered, and as reason is overpowered by infinitude his discoveries terminate, his curiosity is checked, his wisdom con founded, and his happiness ended. By taking a more regular survey of the different pursuits of mankind, from the monarch to the peasant, we may observe, their grand and united aim is happiness-The monarch, whose ideas are more exalted, and whose person more dignified, would scorn to parake of that, which the subject would ejoice at power, grandeur, and dignity, are the three principal things, that constitute his supposed happiness. In these he is often frustrated, his power checked, his grandeur lessened, his dignity debased. The works of Providence tend often to effect these changes. Many suppose that in the splendour of a court, happiness is to be found, but the seat of royalty is often the region of misery: for by reason of their exalted situations, troubles are more numerous Others in a medium btween riches and poverty, look for Happiness, and if any where, it is most likely to be found here, but relative, incidental and personal afflictions even to them impede and subside this blessing. The peasant, in his silent cettage, remote from the busy scenes of the me'ropolis, is often thought to possess it, but povery impedes, though rusticity promotes by fame and popularity, some are led to imagine happiness is to be attained, but alas! not the most renowned warrior, or learned sage, could ever in this way scoure permanent bliss: for as fame and popularity when attending us seem pleasing, its declension or removal is on the other hand debasing. Thus, while on one part it holds forth complete felicity, on the other it threatens inexpressible dis tress. While success accompanies the undertakings of the statesmen, and the voice of faction is no longer heard, being surrounded by num. bers, who unite in a constant suc. cession of praises, he vainly fancies himself happy; but how soonis he complete fruition in that which is to come. That which admits of, and is liable to interruption, cannot justly be called happiness: but this which revalation informs us of admits of no interruption. The consolations of religion are the earnest of future happiness, though liable to many impediments whereas that bliss. which the soul in a state of separation from the body is capacitated to enjoy, is such as no tongue can describe, thought conceive, or words express. Hence it is self evident, that man is designed for greater happiness than this transitory life can afford. Felicity strict awakened from his golden dream:ly considered, is that state which his schemes having been frustrated, mistakes appear evident, and thus his fame declines; and though before elated by a stream of commendations, he is now overwhelmed by a torrent of abuse. It is the same among lower orders of people. The man who expects by a circumspect behaviour, and exemplary conduct, to arrive at some mere animal existence without o ther appendages cannot possibly attain to. Yet to brighten the scene we must allow, that here is a comparatively happy man, and who properly answers that enlivening cha acter, shall briefly be the present object of enquiry. To accellerate the growth of the vegetable creation, a soil well addapted is indispensibly requisite, so likewise to felicitate a complex and variegated sphere of action; a permanent basis can a'one produce the superstructure of tranquility and ease. degree of happiness by enjoying the good opinion of people in gen. eral, is disappointed in his expectations, by the calumnies and slander of a censorious world. In all the philosophic researches of human nature, their system of felici- The happy, is the virtuous man, ty was ever subject to the vicissi- he whose principles are emblazontudes of mortality, but the happi-ed with the transparency of truth, mess to which Divine Revelation, and whose practice wears a constant the only proper guide of cur ac- form. To him honor is a sacred tions directs us, is not only in partie, equity the darling of his days, enjoyed in this life, but will have and benevolence the offspring of his life. The law of conscience peace; therefore their quietude of mind was the effect of delusion. The Miser is perhaps content in his riches, and the Libertine in his profligacy, but what ground have they for it? the cause is neither virtuous principles,nor morai practice the effect therefore is present ease at the risk of future misery. Encompassed by difficulties with out, annoyed by impediments within, our wills, our judgment, and our reason, being likewise the slaves. of passion, it cannot be matter of surprize that felicity is scarcely atTotain.be. The mind is the seat of happiness, and whether from natural or external causes it is excluded, unless every obstruction be removed, and the mighty vacuum of desire saturated, there can be no real happiness. Thus too close an attachment to the present is the occasion of so many seeking He then is not always the happy man who possesses most, endures the least, or whose years rol on innoppiness in present things; and outward peace, but the man who for want of more extensive desire though possessing little enjoys knowledge, they disregard futurity; best, and though in a menial sphere as though, like the brute creation is rendered nobly by the dignity hey, were formed but for one of virtue. To acquire happiness,state of existence. It is demonthe philosophers refer us to constrably evident from every princi. tentment, as if, like science it were attainable by study and attention; a reference this, delusory indeed, since that which is a gift is not to be acquired; and such contentment is. Contentment may bc, and often is, the effect of ignorance and inattention: nor does it always proceed from a proper cause. The Prophets ofold spake of many, who cried peace, when there was no ple of action, that the summit of human expectancy is Satisfaction, and this is generally supposed to be included in the idea of happiness. But that a rational ereature, who is convinced that the greatest expanse of human intellection cannot arrive to the completion of desire, in a state where matter and spirit lure co-existent and mutually de praved; that such should pursue it in this contradicted sphere, seems astonishing. Therefore it may be proper to observe, that disappoint ment in this instance, among others, serves to increase our misery, and that true felicity can only be found in that state where we shall be capable of enjoying it; where the objects of sense will not engage our attention, nor the allurements of vice, in any wise impair our comforts. Nothing short of perfection can render us completely happy, since where imperfection gains admission, it ceases to be happiness. As mutation, uncertainty, and interruption,preclude mortals from enjoying temporal felicity, immortality can alone effect a blessing ; where immutability and perpetuity become necessary. From the desk of Poor Robert the Scribe. It is better to go to the house of mourning, than to the house of feasting. 'So so from the motto I see saith the reader, Old Robert is getting quite serious. ' Just so, I assure you, pretty miss, and you would have been serious too, had you been with Old Robert the other evening. It was one of the coldest nights of the season. The wind blew with poor woman was. I entered the habitation. It was a poor shelter. The pale moon beams played on the floor through the chincks, and the wind whistled through the broken windows. On the bed, pale and emaciated with a fever, lay the poor woman. In a cradle by the side of the bed wrapped in a single rug, slept an infant, & in the corner over a small fire. sat a little boy about five years old. There was no other being in the house.-No friend to soothe her distress :-No nurse to moisten her burning lips with a drop of water. Poverty has few allurements--sickness has none: and prudery and uncharitableness readily avail themselves of the frailties of the poor sufferer, to excuse their neglect. I stepped out to procure a loaf of bread for the children: I was not long gone, when on returning to the door, the noise of a foot step on the floor, told me somebody was within. O it was a pleasant sight! A young female friend, whose genius is unknown to her literary acquaintance-whose virtuous and amiable disposition combined with a peculiar agreeableness of manners had preferred to the gay scenes of mirth or the charms of a novel, alone, and unostentatious, visit to the house of poverty and to the bed of sickness! Like an angel of mercy she was adminis remorseless violence :--Aunt Eutering to the comfort of the poor nice was herself ill, and begged I would step up and see how the woman and her infant. I have seen the assemblies of |