rity
of the heart alone, which gives immortality to the labor of a genius. As I
think it to be an indispensable requisite, I feel it my duty now, to
demonstrate it in this conclusion, and last chapter. It is the _sine qua
non_, on which a National Literature should be grounded.

It is a fact: Pope's, or Addison's heart had not been free from envy, and
other petty moral faults which, but obscured their fine qualities of
character, and sentiment. As many philosophers have not yet been entirely
free of selfish feelings, so pernicious to the very philosophy they
professed, it seems to me, that a perfect civilization as Plato, Rousseau,
Bentham, or Fourier are aiming at, must needs be farther off, than
philanthropy expects. But, that such a fortunate philosophical millennium
will come, I do so honestly believe it, that, had it been my choice to
come into this world, I would have postponed it, until that happy future
time.

That many elevated sentiments of morality are originated from the impure
source of selfishness, we must shamefully admit it. Still, had not Pope,
or Addison had, a good share of noble sentiments, they could never have
written so forcibly of morals, without having felt it in their own breast.
Such authors are like the physicians, who though acquainted with the means
of alleviating the endemial sickness of their country, fell themselves the
victims of human frailty. Besides, we learn how to become just, and moral
from the reflections of our own faults, as well as of others: and he, who
acknowledges his own imperfections, is, to my mind, a good man still.
Happy those, who receive from nature, or education, a mild temperament,
free of any selfish consideration.

Men, whose thoughts cannot go beyond the age in which they live, sustain
the impossibility of human perfection; and think, that selfishness is our
human duty. Hence this immoral precept: "Charity begins at home." As I am
obliged to exert my physical strength among cannibals; so obliged am I
also, to be selfish among the selfish, and cunning among the cunning, as
far as the propriety, and the honor of the age, in which I live, will
permit. But, when we speak of a future civilization, we must bring our
mind to a civilized, and educated population: a people, who can easily
distinguish the cunning, roguish, or selfish from the open, sincere, or
generous. And when the cunning, roguish, or selfish will find, that he can
not get the esteem of his contempora