tion of

my own conduct. I affure you, that I neither intended, nor do intend, any thing like hoftility: for, however much I may think you mistaken, as a man I esteem and respect you; and have not defignedly failed to hew my respect upon proper occafions, when you were either present or abfent. I now beg leave to offer you my best withes, and fubfcribe myself,

Reverend Sir,

Your real friend,

And very humble servant,

AN

A N

E S S A Y

O N

PRID E.

WE

E define pride, an inordinate Jelf-esteem. This definition, I believe, is generally allowed. It seems properly to characterize every fpecies of this vice. One man efteems himfelf on account of his birth, another values himself upon his

riches, a third

upon

his under

standing,

ftanding, a fourth upon his knowledge. Now all these are proud men because they esteem themselves on account of that which does not merit esteem. Efteem belongs only to virtue. Some very intelligent and knowing perfons have perfuaded themfelves otherwise, and perhaps may be very unwilling to relinquish their perfuafion. They will readily grant, that no merit belongs to the rich man, nor any to the man of family: but to say there belongs none to an exalted understanding, able accurately to investigate truth, to penetrate the receffes of nature,

to

to project and to accomplish mighty schemes; to fay there belongs none to a mind adorned with the acquifitions of science and polite learning--this you will not easily prevail on them to fay. It may be, there is a very powerful argument why they should not be prevailed on. It may be, in fo faying, they would reproach themselves, as having little or no merit, when they have long imagined they had a great deal. Be that as it may, to a candid mind (I doubt not) the position I have laid down will appear to be well founded. Whatever excellence refides in a

fine

fine understanding, it is but na tural excellence; and therefore, though in other refpects different, in this the fame, as what we difcern in a graceful or beautiful figure; which may belong either to the human species, or to brute animals, or to things inanimate. It is true, there are fome weak people, who imagine they have merit on account of external perfonal beauty; but no man was ever weak enough to fancy that merit ought to be attributed to those beautiful and graceful inanimate objects which Nature presents to our eyes. If we enquire, wherein lies the abfurdity

of