an engine for accomplishing its own purposes.

Again: It is not only in situations of importance, or in the stated intercourse of life, but on the most trivial and accidental occasions, that a spirit of consequence will display itself. Let two travellers who never met before, and may never meet again, pass only a few hours together at the same inn, or in the same stage-coach, and there will probably be some exhibition of this nature. In whatever circumstances of society a man is placed, he is willing to impress a flattering idea of himself.

Nor is it inconsistent with this, that persons will sometimes seem to court disgrace, by a voluntary submission to degradation and contempt; which may either arise from an occasional prevalence of some other principle over pride, or be no more than a stratagem of this passion itself. Many cringe to a man in power only to rival or supplant him; or, if their ambition soar not so high, they seek a compensation for the indignities they encounter, in the conse

ness amongst those who are placed at a distance. •'

But however he may stand in the opinion of others, and with whatever contempt or indifference they may think fit to treat him, there is scarce any man who does not appear considerable to himself; he discovers some endowment of nature, some acquired ability, or circumstance of fortune on which to ground his importance. If not distinguished by the inventive power of genius, he finds this defect compensated by a solid understanding; if he cannot, like a certain Greek, raise a small village into a great city, he could do what it seems that Greek could not, play upon the lute; if he has neither to boast of place nor pension, he may perhaps pride himself as an independent country gentleman; or, if destitute of all external advantage, and conscious of none within, he will still imagine some latent excellence, which, if happily brought to light, would elevate him to enviable distinction.

Lastly: From the above observations it may appear, that the principle of which we an engine for accomplishing its own purposes.

Again: It is not only in situations of importance, or in the stated intercourse of life, but on the most trivial and accidental occasions, that a spirit of consequence will display itself. Let two travellers who never met before, and may never meet again, pass only a few hours together at the same inn, or in the same stage-coach, and there will probably be some exhibition of this nature. In whatever circumstances of society a man is placed, he is willing to impress a flattering idea of himself. - Nor is it inconsistent with this, that persons will sometimes seem to court disgrace, by a voluntary submission to degradation and contempt; which may either arise from an occasional prevalence of some other principle over pride, or be no more than a stratagem of this passion itself. Many cringe to a man in power only to rival or supplant him; or, if their ambition soar not so high, they seek a compensation for the indignities they encounter, in the conse

ness amongst those who are placed at a distance. , i

But however he may stand in the opinion of others, and with whatever contempt or indifference they may think fit to treat him, there is scarce any man who does not appear considerable to himself; he discovers some endowment of nature, some acquired ability, or circumstance of fortune on which to ground his importance. If not distinguished by the inventive power of genius, he finds this defect compensated by a solid understanding; if he cannot, like a certain Greek, raise a small village into a great city, he could do what it seems that Greek could not, play upon the lute; if he has neither to boast of place nor pension, he may perhaps pride himself as an independent country gentleman; or, if destitute of all external advantage, and conscious of none within, he will still imagine some latent excellence, which, if happily brought to light, would elevate him to enviable distinction.

Lastly: From the above observations it may appear, that the principle of which we the peace and good order of the world. Men who proudly aspire after authority themselves, must of course be disposed to resist it in others; and if they cannot govern, will be sure to be governed as little as possible. It is the same spirit which in different circumstances produces hard masters and disobedient servants, tyrannic rulers and rebellious subjects; and, as a further aggravation, we may add, that it is a spirit which seldom or never lies dormant; other passions seem more subject to intermission; a miser may sometimes forget his hoards, and a debauchee his pleasures; but when is it that the love of consequence is not stirring in the human heart?

III. The last principle I shall consider is the love of wealth. This is entirely foreign and adventitious. Wealth is not primarily sought for its own sake, but merely as an instrument for obtaining pleasure or consequence, though gradually it becomes a final object. The process may be illustrated in a familiar instance. Give some pieces of money to a child; he may be pleased with