The Virginia Gazette

The Pursuit after HAPPINESS.

It is a very commendable undertaking for a Man, in his Youth, to pursue that Course which seems the best calculated to render his future Days happy; yet how shall he determine which this is when he sees all Mankind, though hastening to the same Goal, yet each pursuing a different Track? Diffident of his own Judgment, by Conviction of its Fallacy, how shall a young Man obtain this elusive Being, Happiness, so universally sought after?

His Thoughts are so confused, by the Variety of Ways taken by its Pursuers, that he knows not which to follow; and loses Half the Time appropriated to its Enjoyment, in deliberating on the Method of obtaining it. And how lamentable is it to reflect that so few of Mankind possess this inestimable Jewel! How many do we see who seem satisfied with the poorest Imitations of it, and court a Shadow through a pretended Love for the Substance! Pretended, did I say? And surely pretended it must be, or such foolish, sordid, and sensual Substitutes, could never be caressed with Avidity and Pleasure. Whither Shall I find thee then, O Happiness! or where is thy Place of Residence! Shall I search for thee in the Harlot's Lap? Thou art not there. Or Seek thee in the Epicure's Delicacies? Yet do I not find thee. Thou neither residest in the Hoard of the Miser, or attendest on the Luxuries of the Extravagant. The ambitious Man grasps at Power, at Honour, at Fame. He clasps them to his Bosom, and thinks his Heart is satisfied; but he soon discovers his Mistake, for he misses thee, and fain would he exchange the applauding Voices of Thousands for thy Friendship and for thy Presence.

To what can these Mistakes be owing? Perhaps to a ridiculous Kind of Pride, more than any other Cause; for when Happiness is sought in Places where she never came, the Pursuer is ashamed to confess to the World that he is deceived and disappointed of his Object, Custom softens the Severity of Virtue, and makes its Practice pleasant; and I fear it too often rivets the Mind to Vice, and that too of such a Nature as to have no other Recommendation to its Execution.

The Fanatic, the Atheist, the Miser, and the Spendthrift, would have you to suppose them happy. How far they err, a small Degree of Reflection will convince an impartial Inquirer; yet, by a Continuance in his Follies, each courts the Title, till by Custom they inure themselves to the Belief or Practice of the greatest Absurdities. Talk with an Academic, he acquaints you that the World is vain and insipid; he reasons gravely on the Folly of pursuing the glittering Tinsel of polite Life, and describes, with ill-natured Satire, the Tediousness and Wearisomeness of modern Conversation; at the same Time informing you that Happiness is acquired only by an extensive Knowledge, launches out in Praise of the Beauties of Homer, and with a Kind of Ecstasy describes the Pleasures of Solitude and learned Ease. He is acquainted, he tells you, with the Ancients, Men who made Reason their Rule of Action, and who lived in an Age of much greater Perfection than the present. These are his Counsellors, and his Companions; these are his Monitors, and his Friends. In short, he speaks with Attic Contempt of the present Age, and concludes with an Assurance that Happiness is confined to the Libraries of the Studious. But how wrong and false his Ideas are, we need not take much Pains to discover; a slight Examination of his Life will be sufficient. It is one continued Scene of Gloom and Spleen; and so uniform does it appear, that, like a Piece of Machinery, it seems confined to a single Course. No tender Passions, no social Feelings, warm his insensible Heart; his Mind, incapable of the Impressions of Society, precludes itself from the Comforts of it, and with a dangerous Partiality pronounces itself perfect, without ever having met with Temptation, or even Opportunity to sin. And is this the boasted Happiness! this the only Mode of obtaining her! Surely no: Nature forbids. Why are the tender Feelings of Benevolence impressed on our Nature, but to be exerted? Am I, like a Vegetable, to be confined to one Spot? Am I to refuse the most pleasing, sympathising Delights of Alliance, and despise the Ties of Affinity? Nature, Reason, and Experience, all exclaim at such a Conduct, and jointly declare it to be far, very far, distant from the true Road to Happiness.

These Reflections operated so strongly on me that I could not avoid leaving my Study to join in the Pursuit of this fleeting Form, Happiness. Disgusted at the stiff, formal, methodical Regularity of the Academic, which on Reflection appears so disgusting, I left my Chamber with hasty Steps, resolving to make my Way into Society and Life, into Gaiety and Enjoyment, at once. I did so, but here also I was mistaken. The first distinguished Character that attracted my Attention was an Officer dressed in the Regalia of his Uniform. Smitten with the beautiful Appearance of his external Adornments, "No Doubt (said I) but I have at last met with my wished for Happiness." Eager to be acquainted with him, I accosted him. He, with an easy free Air, returned my Salute, and our Friendship seemed confirmed at the first Interview. I acquainted him with the Object of my Pursuit, and told him that though I had hitherto, in Idea, sought it in vain, I hoped I had now found it in the Merits of his Profession. "Ah, my Boy (cried he) with a Voice rather vociferous, which I then foolishly attributed to Courage) Valour becomes a Man, it is this gives him the distinguished Excellencies over his Fellow Creatures. Honour is his Reward, and a Reward worthy his Pursuit. The Paths of Glory are the Paths of Happiness; for Death himself, to a brave Man, shows no Terrors or frightful Appearances. Fear not, my Lad (continued he) but here you will obtain that, in the Pursuit of which you complain of having already spent so much Time."

This Speech, delivered with Energy, had a strong Effect upon me. Methought I had never seen any Thing noble before. My Search seemed to end here, and I was about to conclude that Happiness resided only in the Camp and Scenes of War. But Reflection, though suppressed or evaded for a Time, will at length force its Way into the Heart. I could not help considering how despicable must that Man appear, to superior Beings, whose whole Life had been spent in contriving and executing Plans for the Annoyance of Society. Benevolence condemned the Practice; the Reasoning was too forcible. I found myself once more mistaken, and as far from the Point I aimed at as when I first set out.

I left the noisy Camp with Disgust, and despised myself for thinking I could work a Way to Happiness through the Distresses of my Fellow Creatures. Meditating on the Course which I should next pursue, I knew not whither I was wandering to. The Sun approached very near the Horizon, and offered himself to my View without Pain or Uneasiness. The Shadows also were lengthened, to their utmost Lengths, ere I recollected that I had been walking towards Horsey Wood, where dwelt the venerable Hermit Edmund. I had heard much of his Fame, that he had sacrificed his Youth in Defence of his Country; but not meeting with the Encouragement due to his Merit, and at the same Time happening the Death of a young Lady for whom he entertained the warmest Affection, he relinquished the Pleasures of Life, not with Aversion and Discontent, but to indulge himself uninterrupted in the Recollection of past Interviews, and to prepare himself for that unknown Country to whose Boundaries he daily approached. My Situation admitting of no Alternative, I quickened my Pace, to reach his "lonely Cell, and peaceful Hermitage."

Directing my Steps towards a glimmering Light, I soon arrived at his Habitation. The Door stood open, ready to receive the wandering Feet of the Unfortunate. The Hermitage consisted but of one Room, at the upper End of which lay a Mattress woven with Grass; near it stood a Table, whereon was placed a Lamp, before which Edmund lay prostrate in Prayer. I thought I heard him repeat, with Hesitation, the Name of Leonora. He made a Pause when he had uttered it, and moved his Hands to his Eyes; but he soon recovered himself, and seemed to continue his Devotions. I did not interrupt him, but stood awfully pleased with the Solemnity of the Scene. My Heart was not dismayed, but a tranquil inexpressible Serenity ruled within me. In short, I never had experienced so much Happiness in my Pursuit, as I then did by mere Accident. When Edmund had finished his Ejaculations, he lifted himself from the Earth, and sitting down on the Mattress viewed with great Attention a small Something taken out of his Bosom, which had the Appearance of a Miniature Picture, being tied round his Neck with a Piece of black Riband.

It was then I had Leisure to contemplate his Figure. His Face was the mildest I had ever beheld; in it appeared "the Wisdom of the Serpent, tempered with the Inoffensiveness of the Dove," though Time had here and there left Marks of its Ravages. His Eyes were radiant and clear, though suffused with a dewy Moisture when he looked with attentive Composure on what he held in his Hand; which having regarded for some Time, he lifted them towards Heaven with a Transport which exceedingly enlivened his Countenance, and said, with a Warmth of Expression, "May the Almighty keep the Original, as I preserve the Copy!" Then opening his Bosom, he placed the Picture (for such I presume it was) with his right Hand immediately on his Heart, where he held it till he fastened his Vesture to retain it. When he had performed this small Rite, his Countenance gradually relaxed into its usual Composure.

It was then, and not till then, that I approached nearer, and discovered myself to him. He received me with an honest Welcome, and spread before me some delicious Vegetables, and reached me some pure Water from a Vessel in one Corner of the Room. When we had recruited Nature, we began to enter into Conversation with each other. I then acquainted him with the Object of my Pursuit, and related to him the Success of it; adding, that from his Experience I hoped to receive some Directions which would prove useful to my attaining it. The Countenance of the venerable Hermit was gladdened. "It is with Pleasure (said he) my Son, I acquaint you that I can favour your Pursuit. With me dwells a Virgin, whose Name is Religion, whose Presence is essentially necessary to obtain thy wished for Aim. Without her thou never couldst have obtained it; but being attended by her, and following her Directions, do not despair of Success." At this Instant the Virgin made her Appearance; she was arrayed in a white Vesture, Emblem of her Purity; neat, but not gaudy; her Countenance was the Picture of Health and Serenity. Indeed she seemed to diffuse it around her, for every Object brightened at her Approach. "Friend (said she) be assured, as long as you have me for your Companion, you cannot fail of being happy. Happiness is not confined to Place or Age; she is to be met with in every innocent Gratification which this Life can offer, therefore refuse none of them. But remember, that being a Native of Heaven, and not of Earth, it never here arrives at true Perfection. Such as it is, however, it well rewards the Cultivation. In all thy Researches after her, it shall be thy own Fault if I do not attend thee, perhaps invisible to others, yet thou shalt sensibly feel my Presence. For the present, take these short Admonitions with thee: Act honourably, be virtuous, be religious, and be happy."