29. There is another temper which though at first sight it looks like the malicious, yet I must designate it the covetous. Many readers will recollect that lately (1836), a man who was keeper of the fire-engines in a southern county, and was entitled to six shillings a time for their use, was detected and brought to justice as an incendiary; and confessed that he himself had, in many instances, set fire to valuable property for no other reason than to get his paltry fee! Well did St. Paul say, "The love of money is the root of all evil." I might adduce instances of sons murdering their fathers for the sake of patrimony. For the same accursed lust of lucre many kings and heirs have been murdered in cool blood. The same vile principle incites the highwayman to murder his victim. 30. The passionate temper is another most deadly evil, and often effects more mischief in one minute than can be repaired through the longest life. Passion is the innate principle of the most degenerate nature brought into active play without reflection or restraint. And yet no character is more kindly excused: He's a very kind-hearted man at bottom: it's true he's easily put in a passion, but then it's soon off again, and he means no ill.' It is true he's very warm and impatient in an argument; but really he's a very liberal-minded man at bottom.' I assure you he means no ill to any man under heaven, and if you'll just allow him his own way, you may manage him very well.' Is not this passing strange?1 31. Take the opinions of wiser heads than mine. 1 Sce remarks about dogs, chap. i. 39. supra. 'It is the common expression that such an one is very good-natured, but very passionate. The expression indeed is very good-natured, to allow passionate people so much quarter: but I think a passionate man deserves the least indulgence imaginable. It is said, It is soon over; that is, all the mischief he does is despatched quickly, which, I think, is no great recommendation to favour. Í have known one of those good-natured passionate men say in a mixed company, even to his own wife or child, such things as the most inveterate enemy of his family would not have spoken, even in imagination. It is certain that quick sensibility is inseparable from a ready understanding; but why should not that good understanding call to itself all its force on such occasions, to master that sudden inclination to anger? 32. One of these good-natured angry men shall, in an instant, assemble together so many allusions to secret circumstances, as are enough to dissolve the peace of all the families and friends he is acquainted with in a quarter of an hour, and yet the next moment be the best-natured man in the world.'1 33. Some of this character pretend to superior liberality of principles. They will talk as freely against king and rulers, right or wrong, as if they were vassals at their own feet; and will affect to defend common rights as if nobody had common honesty but themselves. And though their vindictive passions often dethrone their reason, they deem their motives a sufficient counterpoise for all the madness of their zeal, and all the bad con 1 Spectator, No. 438. sequences of their senseless violence. Such men, like maniacs, may have their lucid intervals; but I always question the private and domestic virtues of those who can regularly fall into wrathful fits in their more public conduct.1 A thoughtless libertine may roll through his debaucheries in comparative obscurity; but the libertinism of a demagogue, like the Dead Sea, blights in its course all that is vital in reason or commendable in principle. 34. It is an admitted principle that God has made nothing in vain; therefore the most noxious animals have their uses: so noxious men may, like those animals, act according to their nature; but the difference is immense when it is taken into count that the one is endowed with reason the other is not. Let passionate people and furious agitators consider this, and see how low they are sunk! 35. I have before admitted that passionate selfindulgent people frequently develope some excellent qualities, but these are greatly nullified by the preponderating admixture of their bad ones. Mrs. More's sentiments are not inappropriate in this place: There is no error more common or more dangerous, than the notion that an unrestrained indulgence of pleasure, and an unbounded gratification of the appetites, is generally attended with a liberal, humane, and merciful temper. Nor is there any opinion more false or more fatal, or which demands to be more steadily controverted, 1 I have known many of these pretended champions for liberty, in my time, yet I do not remember one that was not in his heart and in his family a tyrant.-DR. GOLDSMITH. than that libertinism and good nature are natural and necessary associates.' 36. If you would see passion in its purity, without mixture of reason, behold it represented in a mad hero, drawn by a mad poet. Nat Lee makes his Alexander say thus Away! begone! and give a whirlwind room, Fury! revenge! disdain and indignation, Tear my swol'n breast make way for fire and tempest. The storm is up, and my hot bleeding heart Splits with the rack; while passions, like the wind, Rise up to heaven, and put out all the stars. CHAPTER III. THE SAME SUBJECT CONTINUED. 1. THE peevish temper is a petulant waspish disposition, and, in consanguinity, nearer than first cousin to the passionate. The Spectator, with his wonted acumen, writes as follows: A peevish fellow is one who has some reason in himself for being out of humour, or has a natural incapacity for delight and therefore disturbs all who are happier than himself with pishes and pshaws, and other well-bred interjections at every thing that is said or done in his presence. There should be physic mixed in the food of all which these fellows eat in good company. This degree of anger passes, forsooth, for a delicacy of judgment that won't admit of being easily pleased; but none above the character of wearing a peevish man's livery ought to bear with his ill-manners. 2. Next to the peevish fellow is the snarler. This gentleman deals mightily in what we call irony; and as these sort of people exert themselves most against those below them, you see their humour best in their talk to their servants. 'This is so like you; you are a fine fellow; thou |