"Proposition 11th. A wise man ought to use the least motion possible: for motion, by definition 3d, is performed with difficulty, which includes pain; but pain being contrary to the pleasing sensations, must produce a contrary effect. Yet by proposition 8th, these produce Happiness. Ergo a wise man, &c. Q. E. D. "Corollary 1st. It follows from the last proposition, that a wise man ought to be sparing of his words. "Corollary 2d. It follows, also, that a wise man ought very rarely to laugh. "Scholium. The truth of these two corollaries is acknowledged by all the world; though the real principles upon which they are founded, have not before been discovered. As to talking, Pythagoras, the first man that ever bore the name of philosopher, cnjoined on his disciples, a total abstinence from words for five years, in which time he hoped, I suppose, they might lose the use of speech, &c. "Proposition 13th. A wise man ought to get out of the way, if he sees a beam ready to fall on his head; contrary to the opinion of that great philosopher, Pyrrho: for though, by proposition 2d, he ought to use the least motion possible, yet, since by definition 2d, he is sensible of pain from the impression of certain bodies falling upon him-and a little pain is to be preferred to a great one, he may in this case make use of motion: ergo a wise man, &c. Q. E. D. "Corollary. It follows from the last proposition, that a wise man may now and then go to church in countries where corporeal punishments are inflicted on those who entirely absent themselves; provided at the same time, he does not contradict proposition 6th. "Proposition 14th. A wise man may eat and drink, though it requires motion: for these actions are attended with pleasing sensations, &c. "Corollary. The more pleasure a man takes in eating and drinking, the wiser he is. "Scholium. The last proposition would have been unnecessary, but that some eminent philosophers, as may be seen in Diogenes Laertius, not having formed right notions of Happiness, rather than be at the trouble of eating and drinking, chose to starve. "Proposition 15th. When a wise man finds himself easy, he ought not, on any pretence of being better, to change his state: for by postulatum 1st, one happiness is not greater than another; and by proposition 6th, Happiness cannot arise from views of futurity. Ergo, when a wise man, &c. Q. E. D. "Corollary. Hence appears the folly of those pretended philosophers, who make Happiness consist in a continual advancement towards imaginary perfection; an opinion, which has put men upon turning the world upside down, &c. "Proposition 16th. Man was intended by Nature for lying, lolling, or sitting: for by postulatum 2d, he was made for Happiness; but that is destroyed by motion, as appears by proposition 2d; therefore, he was not made for walking, running, hopping, &c. nor for standing, by axiom 4th; for all animals that are formed to stand, have more legs than two; besides, no animal can change his posture in lying, lolling, or sitting, so much as man. Ergo, man was intended, &c. Q. E. D. "Corollary 1st. It follows from this proposition, that a wise man ought always to have a bed in his room. "Corollary 2d. It follows, also, that he ought not constantly to lie, loll, or sit in the same posture. "Scholium. Hence appears the reason, why all other animals get upon their legs at their first coming into the world; whereas, walking with man, is an art; in which he cannot arrive at perfection, but with much difficulty, and after some years' experience. "Proposition 17th. A wise man ought to consult his own ease in all his actions, without considering how they may affect others; for man may arrive at Happiness by postulatum 2d, and therefore he ought to aim at its but he cannot obtain it by Benevolence (i. e. a disposition to neglect his own good for the sake of others) by proposition 4th. Ergo, a wise man, &c. Q. E. D. "Again-An uncertain evil is rather to be ventured, than a certain one committed, by axiom 6th; but pain being contrary to the pleasing sensations, is an evil, and certain to him who does not consult his own ease: but what gives pain to others, he is not obliged to know, by proposition 2d, and, therefore, it must be uncertain. Ergo, a wise man, &c. Q. E. D. "General Corollary. As it appears from the foregoing propositions, that Happiness consists in ease-since every enjoyment takes its value from conducing towards, and consequently is subordinate to that end, it follows, that a wise man will neglect even corporeal pleasures, where they are not to be had without much difficulty; and consequently in the like case, will contemn all those things which are means only to procure corporeal pleasures, à fortiori. This beautifully reconciles luxury with poverty, which has hitherto been thought a secret only known to certain fraternities of religious institutions. "I chose to prove the last proposition two ways, because I look on it as of the utmost importance: it throws light over most of the obscure cases which may tend to puzzle men in their conduct, in relation to others. It, alone, makes all other books of morality useless. It frees a man from the restraints of civility, the pangs of sympathy, and the remorses of a misguided conscience: and gives him in all situations (not virtually included in proposition 13th) the most unbounded liberty. "All the propositions are of a very extensive nature, and will, upon a superficial view, only produce many others equally beautiful. They will lead men through life with much comfort, and when attended to with that careless sort of diligence, which is the great mark of a true adelph, will save him many troubles that others undergo. I should be sorry to differ in the least point from the illustrious body of freethinkers. Now at first sight, proposition 3d may seem to contradict their most essential maxim; and, therefore, though only such as are strangers to their writings and conversation can make that mistake, I will clear my system from any imputation: and this may be readily done, by only considering the meaning of the word free, when compounded, as in this case, with another word. For example, what does a free-agent mean, but a being who may act or not act as he sees fit: for so soon as he is compelled to do one or the other, he loses his right to the title. "The freethinkers, therefore, by their very name imply, that they are not obliged to think; and, therefore, that thinking is not necessary. Now that which is not necessary to be done, may as well at last be left alone; and if I have carried their grand dogma, a little farther, and said that it is better to be let alone, It was upon such strong proof, that I am sure they themselves will readily allow the justness of my reasoning, &c. &c.” I do not remember having seen the following verses in any American publication, or any where indeed, but in Hogarth Illustrated. They well deserve to be preserved, as a specimen of satirical severity, and poetical merit, unequalled by any of the versifiers of the present day. Miss Catley, better known by the appellation of Nan Catley, a beautiful actress, but very impudent, and who was for many years the first female singer of the English stage, used to perform the part of JuNo in the Burletta of Midas; and the character of a proud imperious scold, was hit off by her in a very dashing stile of caricature. The verses in question were written on the spirited manner in which miss Catley performed that part. All the epithets of the following verses are singularly forcible and appropriate. T. C. Carlisle. Hail vulgar goddess of the foul-mouth'd race, On whose majestic, blush-disdaining face, The steady hand of Fate wrote IMPUDENCE! The goddess from the upper gallery's height, With heedful look the jealous fish-wife eyes: From thee, the roaring bacchanalian crew, In many a tavern round the gardent known, Billingsgate. They ape the brazen honours of thy face, Thee, from his box, the macaroni eyes With levell'd tubet he takes his distant stand; And fears for Reinhold‡ when you lift your hand. So midst the starry honours of the night, The sage explores a comet's fiery course; And shudders at its overwhelming force. Proceed then, Catley, in thy bold career, And rightly let our maidens hear and see The sweetest form assume deformity. Thus, shalt thou arm them with thy best defence, TRANSLATIONS FROM GRIMM'S LETTERS. Letter from Dr. Franklin to Madame Helvetius. "YESTERDAY, after hearing the resolution you announced so positively, of remaining single during life, in honour of your late husband, I retired with mortification and chagrin. Throwing myself on the bed, I fell into a profound sleep, and immediately fancied myself transported to the Elysian fields. I was there asked, methought, if I felt desirous of seeing or conversing with any particular individual of my acquaintance in the world above, Lead me, said I, to the residence of the philosophers" Two of that tribe," replied the shade, "live in yonder garden; they are excellent neighbours and cordially love each other; their names are Socrates and Helvetius"-" Both these personages are objects of my respect, but I would prefer conversing with the latter, as I know something of the French language, but not * Push about the jorum: a song in the character of Juno and Midas, † Opera-glass, + Reinhold performed Jupiter. |