Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Happiness Of Life Attributed To The Varieties Of Human Sentiments And Opinions.
women ( strange as it seems to be ) fancying and preferring the hobbling gait of a man with a Avooden leg , before the nimble motions of the most graceful dancing-master ? Others chusing black men or tawnies , or men Avith one eye , one arm , or a 'broken nose , and sometimes without either : others preferring-a crooked back to a strai ght one , or a face uncommonly hard and ordinary , to the most regular set of features ? Thus every one chuses Avhat particularly hits his own fancy
, and an infinity of that produces an infinity of beauty ; and though few people may be beautiful upon comparison , yet every body may be beautiful in the imagination of some one or other ; and to the mind of the lover supposed beauty is full as good as real , and has the same effect . Heaven is certainl y very merciful in making us capable of all this variety of mistakes , for if every one judged of beauty according
to the real proportions that constitute it , eA'ery man ' s affections AA'ould centre upon the same object , which Avould create jealousies and animosity without end , and what in such a case must become of the ordinary men and Avomen Ave haA'e been speaking of ? The superior beauty of each object would be the hatred and malice of all the rest , and there AA'ould be nothing more Avanting than this universal riht
g j udgment of beauty to render the whole world a scene of blood and misery . Thus , I think , haA'e I g iven sufficient proof of the wisdom and goodness of our Maker , in varying our fancies and affections . Many a villain who has skulked about and iiiA'aded the ri ghts of his neighbours , with the dark lanthorn of forgery , has been traced and detected by his hand-writing , which ( like a man ' s face ) is generally
so much his own , as to prevent him from succeeding where he Avould defraud ; and it is lucky that this also is so peculiar almost to every body as seldom to pass but under the greatest artifice : otherwise private welfare , in a commercial nation , might be injured and distressed beyond the ^ ower of a remedy . This , 'however , not being among the natural gifts we receive , is very wisely , on every offence , punished by the Legislature with exemplary rigour .
Court Of Chancery.
COURT OF CHANCERY .
FELLS AND OTHERS v . READ .
A CAUSE of a singular nature Avas lately heard and determined ,, •^ - ^ by the Lord Chancellor , at Lincoln ' s Inn Hall . It was a ' suit instituted by the Plaintiffs , who Avere members of a society or club held in Westminster , consisting principally of inhabitants who had served the office of Overseer of the parish , to compel the defendant to restore an antient ornamented tobacco box belonging . to the cluband
, which had been in their possession upwards of fourscore years . It appeared in evidence that the tobacco box in question . was from its antiquity , ornaments , and other circumstances of great value , held in high estimation b y the club / and that it was delivered to the defenant according- to the usual custom , to be by him delivered to the
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Happiness Of Life Attributed To The Varieties Of Human Sentiments And Opinions.
women ( strange as it seems to be ) fancying and preferring the hobbling gait of a man with a Avooden leg , before the nimble motions of the most graceful dancing-master ? Others chusing black men or tawnies , or men Avith one eye , one arm , or a 'broken nose , and sometimes without either : others preferring-a crooked back to a strai ght one , or a face uncommonly hard and ordinary , to the most regular set of features ? Thus every one chuses Avhat particularly hits his own fancy
, and an infinity of that produces an infinity of beauty ; and though few people may be beautiful upon comparison , yet every body may be beautiful in the imagination of some one or other ; and to the mind of the lover supposed beauty is full as good as real , and has the same effect . Heaven is certainl y very merciful in making us capable of all this variety of mistakes , for if every one judged of beauty according
to the real proportions that constitute it , eA'ery man ' s affections AA'ould centre upon the same object , which Avould create jealousies and animosity without end , and what in such a case must become of the ordinary men and Avomen Ave haA'e been speaking of ? The superior beauty of each object would be the hatred and malice of all the rest , and there AA'ould be nothing more Avanting than this universal riht
g j udgment of beauty to render the whole world a scene of blood and misery . Thus , I think , haA'e I g iven sufficient proof of the wisdom and goodness of our Maker , in varying our fancies and affections . Many a villain who has skulked about and iiiA'aded the ri ghts of his neighbours , with the dark lanthorn of forgery , has been traced and detected by his hand-writing , which ( like a man ' s face ) is generally
so much his own , as to prevent him from succeeding where he Avould defraud ; and it is lucky that this also is so peculiar almost to every body as seldom to pass but under the greatest artifice : otherwise private welfare , in a commercial nation , might be injured and distressed beyond the ^ ower of a remedy . This , 'however , not being among the natural gifts we receive , is very wisely , on every offence , punished by the Legislature with exemplary rigour .
Court Of Chancery.
COURT OF CHANCERY .
FELLS AND OTHERS v . READ .
A CAUSE of a singular nature Avas lately heard and determined ,, •^ - ^ by the Lord Chancellor , at Lincoln ' s Inn Hall . It was a ' suit instituted by the Plaintiffs , who Avere members of a society or club held in Westminster , consisting principally of inhabitants who had served the office of Overseer of the parish , to compel the defendant to restore an antient ornamented tobacco box belonging . to the cluband
, which had been in their possession upwards of fourscore years . It appeared in evidence that the tobacco box in question . was from its antiquity , ornaments , and other circumstances of great value , held in high estimation b y the club / and that it was delivered to the defenant according- to the usual custom , to be by him delivered to the