Part 61 (1/2)

'Indeed! What has he done more?'

'Taken possession of property which is ht is it yours?'

'It was bequeathed randfather; and since that by his executor'

'The uncle of this Wakefield, I think you told me?'

'Yes A lawyer One Thornby; as induced by death-bed terrors to restore what he had robbed '

'That is, he lived a knave, and died a fool and a fanatic'

'I suspect that he died as he had lived Knavery and fanaticism are frequently coupled'

'And how do you intend to proceed?'

'I do not know I have not yet consulted a lawyer'

'Consulted a lawyer? You surprise me! When last I saw you, I was half convinced by you that a man cannot justly seek redress at law

Its sources you proved to be corrupt, its powers inadequate, and its decisions never accurate; therefore never just This was your language You reprobated those acco rules by which I endeavoured to obtain happiness; and urged arguments that ives you an impulse, are your principles become as pliant as mine; which you so seriously reproved?'

I paused, and then replied--'I i found an opportunity of retorting uponat what you still consider as folly'

'Indeed youyou of your own doctrine to induce you to put it in practice The virtue that consists only in words is but a vapour'

'Surely you will allow this is an extreme if not a doubtful case I do not mean to commence an action, till I have considered it very seriously: but I presume you do not require infallibility of me? Or, if you do, it is what I cannot expect from myself I have frequently been led to doubt whether principles the most indubitable must not bend to the mistakes and institutions of society 'This doubt is to me the most painful that can cross the mind: but it is one froreatly altered How strenuous, how firm, how founded, were all your maxims; when last we met'

'And so, I am persuaded, the maxims of truth will always remain'

'Then why depart from them? Another of them, which I likewise recollect to have heard froulate property, whether by will, entail, or any other descent, are all unjust: for that effects of all kinds should be so appropriated as to produce the greatest good'

'I do not see how that can be denied But this is strongly to the point in my favour, as I suppose: for the institutes of society render the application of the principle ireater chance of being applied to a good purpose, if allotted to me, than if retained by this Wakefield; whose vices are extraordinary'

'You believe him to be a man of so would be of the first order, were it worthily eood application of the property in contest, if it should both enable and induce hi?'

'Oh, of that there is no hope'

'How do you know? I believe you have thought the same of me: but you may chance to be mistaken And noill tell you a secret I am in the very predicament of this Wakefield A relation is dead, who has left his property away froht is more than I can discover; at least in the spirit of those lahich pretend to regulate such matters: for their spirit is force Lands wrested fron to the robber I a to your code, I ought to resign I certainly ought not according to e to you that I think well of the man who claims the property I withhold But I cannot think so well of him as of hts as with my own I know lad to do hiood, but I should be sorry to dofallen into erroneous habits, ofpleasures that are dangerous and of short duration I have ridiculed your arguotten the spirit that is abroad been unknown to or unnoticed by ence I revelled in pleasure, squandered all I could procure, and was led by one successful artifice to another, till I became what I can certainly no otherwise justify than by the selfish spirit of the world In this I find the rule is for each to seize on all that he can, with safety; and to s, hoard, or waste it at will I have attempted to profit by vice which I knew not how to avoid But, if there be a safer road to happiness, I a it as you can be The respect of the world, the security from pains and penalties, and the approbation of my own heart, are all of theht much, have hadfacts and sensations as largely perhaps as another

'I will not deny that to trick selfishness by its own arts, to laugh at its stupidity, and to outwit its conte, are practices that have tickled my vanity; and have perhaps formed one of my chief sources of pleasure But habit and pleasure led , and the kind, with almost as much avidity as on those of an opposite character

'However, though I did not want plausible arguments in my own justification, I cannot affirhts have occurred, other prospects have been contemplated, and my dissatisfaction has increased You cannot but have reo e The sober man becomes a drunkard, the drunkard sober, and the spendthrift soh perhaps h I adefiance to lect, their pity, or their scorn Be it want of courage or want of wisdom, I have not an intention to shut myself out from society If I may be admitted on fair and liberal terms, I am content: but, I honestly tell you, admitted I will be I have shut the door of dependency upon myself, were I so inclined Offices of trust would not be committed to me