 fine Qualities and Accomplishments. Wherefore, as I am so singular, so perverse, or so unhappy, as to differ from the Judgment of so wise a World in this Matter, it is the more incumbent upon me to bring Proofs that are self-evident, at the same Time that I treat so reverable a Subject with all possible Delicacy.
In the first Ages of ACORNS, when all that sustained the simple Nature of Man lay open and in common, like Light and Air; as People knew of nothing further that was to be had, they thought there was nothing further to be desired. As they had no Wishes they felt no Wants; and neither Pride, Envy, Covetousness, or Debauchery could commence, before they contrived the Distinctions of Property and Materials of Intemperance, and thereby contrived the Causes of Quarrel and Corruption.
But, as
Horace
says,
quum oppida caeperunt munire,
when they began to build, and set out Land-Marks, to plow and to sow, to spin and to weave, to handle the File and Hammer; in Proportion to the Advancement of Invention and Arts, on Necessity Convenience arose, upon Convenience Elegance, upon Elegance Luxury; new Desires increased and multiplied with the Means of Gratification; real Wishes became the Offspring of imaginary Wants; as those Wishes waxed warm the Passions were enkindled; and the Vices, lastly, grew in mathematical Proportion to the Growth of the Passions.
All Histories, as well profane as sacred, in every Age, in every Nation, and in every Instance, bear unquestionable Testimony to the above State of Facts. And hence ensues the Necessity of our growing worse and worse, till the Pinnacle of Art shall put a Limit to Desire, till Invention shall be exhausted, and no longer prolific of new Wants and additional Wishes in Man.
But, so long as untried Allurements, so long as untasted Pleasures, so long as new Objects can be set up to our Imagination in our eager Pursuit after Happiness on Earth, our Wishes will enflame our Impatience to reach the Prize; in Proportion to that Impatience our Endeavours will be exerted; in Proportion to such Exertion the Fences of Law and Morals will be broke through or trampled down; and, in Proportion to the Insufficiency of moral Restraints, all Sorts of Fraud and Violence, of Licentiousness and Corruption, of Debauchery and Profligacy must prevail throughout the World.
From what you say, I should conclude that People of Wealth, of Station and Power, are the least impassioned and the most virtuous of all living; forasmuch as they are already in Possession of what their Inferiors so
