e happiness,
it is superfluous to enquire whether it be founded in the rights of
man: the oeconomy of the state is liberally supplied without the aid of
taxes; and the magistrates must reign with prudence and equity, since
they are unarmed in the midst of an armed nation.

The revenue of Berne, excepting some small duties, is derived from
church lands, tithes, feudal rights, and interest of money. The republic
has nearly 500,000 pounds sterling in the English funds, and the amount
of their treasure is unknown to the citizens themselves. For myself
(may the omen be averted) I can only declare, that the first stroke of a
rebel drum would be the signal of my immediate departure.

When I contemplate the common lot of mortality, I must acknowledge that
I have drawn a high prize in the lottery of life. The far greater part
of the globe is overspread with barbarism or slavery: in the civilized
world, the most numerous class is condemned to ignorance and poverty;
and the double fortune of my birth in a free and enlightened country, in
an honourable and wealthy family, is the lucky chance of an unit against
millions. The general probability is about three to one, that a new-born
infant will not live to complete his fiftieth year. [Note: Buffon,
Supplement a l'Hist. naturelle, vii. p, 158-164, of a given number
of new-born infants, one half, by the fault of nature or man, is
extinguished before the age of puberty and reason,--a melancholy
calculation!] I have now passed that age, and may fairly estimate the
present value of my existence in the three-fold division of mind, body,
and estate.

1. The first and indispensable requisite of happiness is a clear
conscience, unsullied by the reproach or remembrance of an unworthy
action.

--Hic murus aheneus esto,
Nil conscire sibi, nulla pallescere culpa.

I am endowed with a cheerful temper, a moderate sensibility, and a
natural disposition to repose rather than to activity: some mischievous
appetites and habits have perhaps been corrected by philosophy or time.
The love of study, a passion which derives fresh vigour from enjoyment,
supplies each day, each hour, with a perpetual source of independent
and rational pleasure; and I am not sensible of any decay of the mental
faculties. The original soil has been highly improved by cultivation;
but it may be questioned, whether some flowers of fancy, some grateful
errors, have not been eradicated with the