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of kindness for a being of our own species。 A multitude of men feel this kindness for every thing that has animal life。 We would not willingly molest the stranger who has done us no injury。 On the contrary we would all of us to a certain extent assist him； under any unforeseen casualty and tribulation。 A part therefore of the innocence that characterises our species is to be attributed to philanthropy。
Childhood is diffident。 Children for the most part are averse to the addressing themselves to strangers； unless in cases where； from the mere want of anticipation and reflection； they proceed as if they were wholly without the faculty of making calculations and deducing conclusions。 The child neither knows himself nor the stranger he meets in his path。 He has not measured either the one or the other。 He does not know what the stranger may be able； or may likely be prompted to do to him； nor what are his own means of defence or escape。 He takes refuge therefore in a wary； sometimes an obstinate silence。 It is for this reason that a boy at school often appears duller and more inept； than would be the amount of a fair proportion to what he is found to be when grown up to a man。
As we improve in judgment and strength； we know better ourselves and others； and in a majority of instances take our due place in the ranks of society。 We acquire a modest and cautious firmness； yield what belongs to another； and assert what is due to ourselves。 To the last however； we for the most part retain the inoffensiveness described in the beginning of this Essay。
How comes it then that our nature labours under so bitter an aspersion？ We have been described as cunning； malicious and treacherous。 Other animals herd together for mutual convenience； and their intercourse with their species is for the most part a reciprocation of social feeling and kindness。 But community among men； we are told； is that condition of human existence； which brings out all our evil qualities to the face of day。 We lie in wait for； and circumvent each other by multiplied artifices。 We cannot depend upon each other for the truth of what is stated to us； and promises and the most solemn engagements often seem as if they were made only to mislead。 We are violent and deadly in our animosities； easily worked up to ferocity； and satisfied with scarcely any thing short of mutilation and blood。 We are revengeful： we lay up an injury； real or imaginary； in the store…house of an undecaying memory； waiting only till we can repay the evil we have sustained tenfold； at a time when our adversary shall be lulled in unsuspecting security。 We are rapacious； with no symptom that the appetite for gain within us will ever be appeased； and we practise a thousand deceits； that it may be the sooner； and to the greater degree glutted。 The ambition of man is unbounded； and he hesitates at no means in the course it prompts him to pursue。 In short； man is to man ever the most fearful and dangerous foe： and it is in this view of his nature that the king of Brobdingnag says to Gulliver； 〃I cannot but conclude the bulk of your race to be the most pernicious generation of little； odious vermin； that were ever suffered to crawl upon the surface of the earth。〃 The comprehensive faculties of man therefore； and the refinements and subtlety of his intellect； serve only to render him the more formidable companion； and to hold us up as a species to merited condemnation。
It is obvious however that the picture thus drawn is greatly overcharged； that it describes a very small part of our race； and that even as to them it sets before us a few features only； and a partial representation
Historythe successive scenes of the drama in which individuals play their partis a labyrinth； of which no man has as yet exactly seized the clue。
It has long since been observed； that the history of the four great monarchies； of tyrannies and free states； of chivalry and clanship； of Mahometanism and the Christian church； of the balance of Europe and the revolution of empires； is little else than a tissue of crimes； exhibiting nations as if they were so many herds of ferocious animals； whose genuine occupation was to tear each other to pieces； and to deform their mother…earth with mangled carcases and seas of blood。
But it is not just that we should establish our opinion of human nature purely from the records of history。 Man is alternately devoted to tranquillity and to violence。 But the latter only affords the proper materials of narration。 When he is wrought upon by some powerful impulse； our curiosity is most roused to observe him。 We remark his emotions； his energies； his tempest。 It is then that he becomes the person of a drama。 And； where this disquietude is not the affair of a single individual； but of several persons together； of nations； it is there that history finds her harvest。 She goes into the field with all the implements of her industry； and fills her storehouses and magazines with the abundance of her crop。 But times of tranquillity and peace furnish her with no materials。 They are dismissed in a few slight sentences； and leave no memory behind。
Let us divide this spacious earth into equal compartments； and see in which violence； and in which tranquillity prevails。 Let us look through the various ranks and occupations of human society； and endeavour to arrive at a conclusion of a similar sort。 The soldier by occupation； and the officer who commands him； would seem； when they are employed in their express functions； to be men of strife。 Kings and ministers of state have in a multitude of instances fallen under this description。 Conquerors； the firebrands of the earth； have sufficiently displayed their noxious propensities。
But these are but a small part of the tenantry of the many…peopled globe。 Man lives by the sweat of his brow。 The teeming earth is given him； that by his labour he may raise from it the means of his subsistence。 Agriculture is； at least among civilised nations； the first； and certainly the most indispensible of professions。 The profession itself is the emblem of peace。 All its occupations； from seed…time to harvest； are tranquil； and there is nothing which belongs to it； that can obviously be applied to rouse the angry passions； and place men in a frame of hostility to each other。 Next to the cultivator； come the manufacturer； the artificer； the carpenter； the mason； the joiner； the cabinet…maker； all those numerous classes of persons； who are employed in forming garments for us to wear； houses to live in； and moveables and instruments for the accommodation of the species。 All these persons are； of necessity； of a peaceable demeanour。 So are those who are not employed in producing the conveniencies of life； but in conducting the affairs of barter and exchange。 Add to these； such as are engaged in literature； either in the study of what has already been produced； or in adding to the stock； in science or the liberal arts； in the instructing mankind in religion and their duties； or in the education of youth。 〃Civility；〃 〃civil；〃 are indeed terms which express a state of peaceable occupation； in opposition to what is military； and imply a tranquil frame of mind； and the absence of contention； uproar and violence。 It is therefore clear； that the majority of mankind are civil； devoted to the arts of peace； and so far as relates to acts of violence innocent； and that the sons of rapine constitute the exception to the general character。
We come into the world under a hard and unpalatable law； 〃In the sweat of thy brow shalt thou eat bread。〃 It is a bitter decree that is promulgated against us； 〃He that will not work； neither shall he eat。〃 We all of us love to do our own will； and to be free from the manacles of restraint。 What our hearts 〃find us to do；〃 that we are disposed to execute 〃with all our might。〃 Some men are lovers of strenuous occupation。 They build and they plant； they raise splendid edifices； and lay out pleasure…grounds of mighty extent。 Or they devote their minds to the acquisition of knowledge； they
outwatch the bear； With thrice great Hermes； or unsphere The spirit of Plato； to unfold What worlds； or what vast regions hold The immortal mind。
Others again would waste perhaps their whole lives in reverie and idleness。 They are constituted of materials so kindly and serene； that their spirits never flag from want of occupation and external excitement。 They could lie for ever on a sunny bank； in a condition divided between thinking and no thinking； refreshed by the fanning breeze； viewing the undulations of the soil； and the rippling of the brook； admiring the azure heavens； and the vast； the bold； and the sublime figure of the clouds； yielding themselves occasionally to 〃thick…coming fancies；〃 and day…dreams； and the endless romances of an undisciplined mind；
And find no end； in wandering mazes lost。
But all men； alike the busy of constitution and the idle； would desire to follow the impulses of their own minds； unbroken in upon by harsh necessity； or the imperious commands of their fellows。
We cannot however； by the resistless law of our existence； live； except the few who by the accide