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We cannot however； by the resistless law of our existence； live； except the few who by the accident of their birth are privileged to draw their supplies from the labour of others； without exerting ourselves to procure by our efforts or ingenuity the necessaries of food； lodging and attire。 He that would obtain them for himself in an uninhabited island； would find that this amounted to a severe tax upon that freedom of motion and thought which would otherwise be his inheritance。 And he who has his lot cast in a populous community； exists in a condition somewhat analogous to that of a negro slave； except that he may to a limited extent select the occupation to which he shall addict himself； or may at least starve； in part or in whole； uncontroled； and at his choice。 Such is； as it were； the universal lot。
'Tis destiny unshunnable like death： Even then this dire necessity falls on us； When we do quicken。
I go forth in the streets； and observe the occupations of other men。 I remark the shops that on every side beset my path。 It is curious and striking； how vast are the ingenuity and contrivance of human beings； to wring from their fellow…creatures； 〃from the hard hands of peasants〃 and artisans； a part of their earnings； that they also may live。 We soon become feelingly convinced； that we also must enter into the vast procession of industry； upon pain that otherwise；
Like to an entered tide； they all rush by； And leave you hindmost： there you lie； For pavement to the abject rear； o'errun And trampled on。
It is through the effect of this necessity； that civilised communities become what they are。 We all fall into our ranks。 Each one is member of a certain company or squadron。 We know our respective places； and are marshaled and disciplined with an exactness scarcely less than that of the individuals of a mighty army。 We are therefore little disposed to interrupt the occupations of each other。 We are intent upon the peculiar employment to which we have become devoted。 We 〃rise up early； and lie down late；〃 and have no leisure to trouble ourselves with the pursuits of others。 Hence of necessity it happens in a civilised community； that a vast majority of the species are innocent； and have no inclination to molest or interrupt each other's avocations。
But； as this condition of human society preserves us in comparative innocence； and renders the social arrangement in the midst of which we exist； to a certain degree a soothing and agreeable spectacle； so on the other hand it is not less true that its immediate tendency is； to clip the wings of the thinking principle within us； and plunge the members of the community in which we live into a barren and ungratifying mediocrity。 Hence it should be the aim of those persons； who from their situation have more or less the means of looking through the vast assemblage of their countrymen； of penetrating 〃into the seeds〃 of character； and determining 〃which grain will grow； and which will not；〃 to apply themselves to the redeeming such as are worthy of their care from the oblivious gulph into which the mass of the species is of necessity plunged。 It is therefore an ill saying； when applied in the most rigorous extent； 〃Let every man maintain himself； and be his own provider： why should we help him？〃
The help however that we should afford to our fellow…men requires of us great discernment in its administration。 The deceitfulness of appearances is endless。 And nothing can well be at the same time more lamentable and more ludicrous； than the spectacle of those persons； the weaver； the thresher； and the mechanic； who by injudicious patronage are drawn from their proper sphere； only to exhibit upon a larger stage their imbecility and inanity； to shew those moderate powers； which in their proper application would have carried their possessors through life with respect； distorted into absurdity； and used in the attempt to make us look upon a dwarf； as if he were one of the Titans who in the commencement of recorded time astonished the earth。
It is also true to a great degree； that those efforts of the human mind are most healthful and vigorous； in which the possessor of talents 〃administers to himself；〃 and contends with the different obstacles that arise；
throwing them aside； And stemming them with hearts of controversy。
Many illustrious examples however may be found in the annals of literature； of patronage judiciously and generously applied； where men have been raised by the kindness of others from the obscurest situations； and placed on high； like beacons； to illuminate the world。 And； independently of all examples； a sound application of the common sense of the human mind would teach us； that the worthies of the earth； though miracles； are not omnipotent； and that a certain aid； from those who by counsel or opulence are enabled to afford it； have oft times produced the noblest effects； have carried on the generous impulse that works within us； and prompted us manfully to proceed； when the weakness of our nature was ready to give in from despair。
But the thing that in this place it was most appropriate to say； is； that we ought not quietly to affirm； of the man whose mind nature or education has enriched with extraordinary powers； 〃Let him maintain himself； and be his own provider： why should we help him？〃 It is a thing deeply to be regretted； that such a man will frequently be compelled to devote himself to pursuits comparatively vulgar and inglorious； because he must live。 Much of this is certainly inevitable。 But what glorious things might a man with extraordinary powers effect； were he not hurried unnumbered miles awry by the unconquerable power of circumstances？ The life of such a man is divided between the things which his internal monitor strongly prompts him to do； and those which the external power of nature and circumstances compels him to submit to。 The struggle on the part of his better self is noble and admirable。 The less he gives way； provided he can accomplish the purpose to which he has vowed himself； the more he is worthy of the admiration of the world。 If； in consequence of listening too much to the loftier aspirations of his nature； he fails； it is deeply to be regrettedit is a man to a certain degree lostbut surely； if his miscarriage be not caused by undue presumption； or the clouds and unhealthful atmosphere of self…conceit； he is entitled to the affectionate sympathy and sorrow of every generous mind。
ESSAY VII。 OF THE DURATION OF HUMAN LIFE。
The active and industrious portion of the human species in civilised countries； is composed of those who are occupied in the labour of the hand； and in the labour of the head。
The following remarks expressly apply only to the latter of these classes； principally to such as are occupied in productive literature。 They may however have their use to all persons a considerable portion of whose time is employed in study and contemplation； as； if well founded； they will form no unimportant chapter in the science of the human mind。
In relation to all the members of the second class then； I should say； that human life is made up of term and vacation； in other words； of hours that may be intellectually employed； and of hours that cannot be so employed。
Human life consists of years； months and days： each day contains twenty…four hours。 Of these hours how many belong to the province of intellect？
〃There is；〃 as Solomon says； 〃a time for all things。〃 There must be a time for sleep； a time for recreation； a time for exercise； a time for supplying the machine with nourishment； and a time for digestion。 When all these demands have been supplied； how many hours will be left for intellectual occupation？
These remarks； as I have said； are intended principally to apply to the subject of productive literature。 Now； of the hours that remain when all the necessary demands of human life have been supplied； it is but a portion； perhaps a small portion； that can be beneficially； judiciously； employed in productive literature； or literary composition。
It is true； that there are many men who will occupy eight； ten； or twelve hours in a day； in the labour of composition。 But it may be doubted whether they are wisely so occupied。
It is the duty of an author； inasmuch as he is an author； to consider； that he is to employ his pen in putting down that which shall be fit for other men to read。 He is not writing a letter of business； a letter of amusement； or a letter of sentiment； to his private friend。 He is writing that which shall be perused by as many men as can be prevailed on to become his readers。 If he is an author of spirit and ambition； he wishes his productions to be read； not only by the idle； but by the busy； by those who cannot spare time to peruse them but at the expence of some occupations which ought not to be suspended without an adequate occasion。 He wishes to be read not only by the frivolous and the lounger； but by the wise； the elegant； and the fair； by those who are qualified to appreciate the merit of a work； who are endowed with a quick sensibility and a discriminating taste； and are abl