OCTOBER2O.
Wearrivedhereyesterday.Theambassadorisindisposed,andwillnotgooutforsomedays.Ifhewerelesspeevishandmorose,allwouldbewell.IseebuttooplainlythatHeavenhasdestinedmetoseveretrials;butcourage!alightheartmaybearanything.Alightheart!Ismiletofindsuchawordproceedingfrommypen.Alittlemorelightheartednesswouldrendermethehappiestbeingunderthesun.ButmustIdespairofmytalentsandfaculties,whilstothersoffarinferiorabilitiesparadebeforemewiththeutmostself-satisfaction?GraciousProvidence,towhomIoweallmypowers,whydidstthounotwithholdsomeofthoseblessingsIpossess,andsubstituteintheirplaceafeelingofself-confidenceandcontentment?
Butpatience!allwillyetbewell;forIassureyou,mydearfriend,youwereright:sinceIhavebeenobligedtoassociatecontinuallywithotherpeople,andobservewhattheydo,andhowtheyemploythemselves,Ihavebecomefarbettersatisfiedwithmyself.Forwearesoconstitutedbynature,thatweareeverpronetocompareourselveswithothers;andourhappinessormiserydependsverymuchontheobjectsandpersonsaroundus.Onthisaccount,nothingismoredangerousthansolitude:thereourimagination,alwaysdisposedtorise,takinganewflightonthewingsoffancy,picturestousachainofbeingsofwhomweseemthemostinferior.
Allthingsappeargreaterthantheyreallyare,andallseemsuperiortous.Thisoperationofthemindisquitenatural:wesocontinuallyfeelourownimperfections,andfancyweperceiveinothersthequalitieswedonotpossess,attributingtothemalsoallthatweenjoyourselves,thatbythisprocessweformtheideaofaperfect,happyman,——aman,however,whoonlyexistsinourownimagination.Butwhen,inspiteofweaknessanddisappointments,wesettoworkinearnest,andperseveresteadily,weoftenfind,that,thoughobligedcontinuallytotack,wemakemorewaythanotherswhohavetheassistanceofwindandtide;and,intruth,therecanbenogreatersatisfactionthantokeeppacewithothersoroutstripthemintherace.
NOVEMBER26.