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pleased with human misfortunes. If they be disagreeable, as they undoubtedly are, ought not the painful emotion they produce to repel the spectator from them, in order to be relieved from pain? Such would be the conjecture, in thinking of this matter be forehand; and fuch would be the effect, were man purely a felfish being. But the benevolence of our nature gives a very different direction to the painful paffion of fympathy, and to the defire involved in it. Far from flying from diftrefs, we fly to it in order to afford relief; and our fympathy cannot be otherwife gratified than by giving all the fuccour in our power *. Thus external figns of diftrefs, though difagreeable, are attractive; and the fympathy they infpire us with is a powerful cause, impelling us to afford relief even to a stranger as if he were our friend or blood-relation.

This branch of human nature concerning the external figns of paffion, is fo finely adjusted to answer its end, that those who understand it the best will admire it the

*See chap. 2. part 7.

most.

most. These external figns, being all of them refolvable into colour, figure, and motion, should not naturally make any deep impreffion on a fpectator. And fuppofing them qualified for making deep impreffions, we have feen above, that the effects they produce are not what would be expected. We cannot therefore account otherwise for the operation of thefe external figns, than by afcribing it to the original conftitution of human nature. To improve the social state, by making us inftinctively rejoice with the glad of heart, weep with the mourner, and fhun those who threaten danger, is a contrivance illustrious for its wisdom as well as benevolence. With refpect to the external figns of diftrefs in particular, to judge of the excellency of their contrivance, we need only reflect upon feveral other means feemingly more natural, that would not have answered the end propofed. I am attracted by this amusing fpeculation, and will not afk pardon for indulging in it. We fhall in the first place reverse the truth, by putting the cafe that the external figns of joy were dif agreeable, and the external figns of distress VOL. II. agreeable.

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agreeable. This is no whimsical supposition; for these external figns, so far as can be gathered from their nature, feem indifferent to the production of pleasure or pain. Admitting then the fuppofition, the question is, How would our fympathy operate? There is no occafion to deliberate for an anfwer. Sympathy, upon that fuppofition, would be not lefs deftructive, than according to the real cafe it is beneficial. We should be incited, to cross the happiness of others if its external figns were disagreeable to us, and to augment their distress if its external figns were agreeable. I make a fecond fuppofition, That the external figns of distress were indifferent to us, and productive neither of pleasure nor pain. This would annihilate the ftrongeft branch of fympathy, that which is raised by means of fight. And it is evident, that reflective fympathy, felt by those only who have more than an ordinary fhare of fenfibility, would be far from being fufficient to fulfil the ends of the social state. I fhall approach nearer truth in a third fuppofition, That the external figns of distress being disagreeable, were productive

productive of a painful repulfive emotion. Sympathy upon this fuppofition would not be annihilated; but it would be rendered useless. For it would be gratified by flying from or avoiding the object, instead of clinging to it, and affording relief. The condition of man would in reality be worse than if fympathy were totally eradicated; because fympathy would only ferve to plague those who feel it, without producing any good to the afflicted.

Loath to quit fo interesting a subject, I add a reflection, with which I fhall conclude. The external figns of paffion are a strong indication, that man, by his very constitution, is framed to be open and fincere. A child, in all things obedient to the impulfes of nature, hides none of its emotions: the favage and clown, who have no guide other than pure nature, expose their hearts to view by giving way to all the natural figns: and even when men learn to diffemble their fentiments, and when behaviour degenerates into art, there ftill remain checks, which keep diffimulation within bounds, and prevent a great part of its mischievous effects. T 2 The

The total fuppreffion of the voluntary figns during any vivid paffion, begets the utmost uneafiness, which cannot be endured for any confiderable time. This operation becomes indeed lefs painful by habit: but luckily the involuntary figns, cannot by any effort be fuppreffed or even diffembled. An abfolute hypocrify, by which the character is concealed and a fictitious one affumed, is made impracticable; and nature has thereby prevented much harm to fociety. We may pronounce therefore, that nature, herfelf fincere and candid, intends that mankind should preferve the fame character, by cultivating fimplicity and truth, and banishing every fort of diffimulation that tends to mischief.

CHAP.