ppiness, in truth, is connected in the minds
of different persons with the most opposite deeds and qualities.
Diogenes in his tub, and Alexander at the head of an army, was each
pursuing his gratification; and who shall decide which was the more
successful? Hume, in one of his Essays, remarks, that there is no
question that a boarding-school miss has often experienced as exquisite
delight on finding herself the idol of a ball-room, as an orator when
receiving the rapturous applauses of a delighted audience; and Colley
Gibber says, that on hearing an old actor express admiration at one of
his early performances on the stage, he felt so proud of the
commendation, that he doubted whether "Alexander himself, or Charles
XII., when at the head of their first victorious armies, could feel a
greater transport in their bosoms." After reading this, some may perhaps
think that Pope's epigram on Cibber[14] was not unmerited; but when they
consider that thieves feel a similar exultation, they may rather be
inclined to pity poor human nature. In exemplification of what we have
advanced, we request attention to the following extract from Vaux. Some
of his acquaintances in Newgate had informed him that Mr. Bilger, a
jeweller and goldsmith, was a _good flat_.

"About 5 o'clock in the evening, I entered his shop, dressed in
the most elegant style, having a valuable gold watch and
appendages, a gold eye-glass, &c. I had posted my old friend
and aid-de-camp, Bromley, at the door, in order to be in
readiness to act as circumstances might require, and
particularly to watch the motions of Mr. Bilger and his
assistants on my quitting the premises. On my entrance, Mrs.
Bilger issued from a back parlour behind the shop, and politely
inquiring my business, I told her I wished to see Mr. Bilger;
she immediately rang a bell, which brought down her husband
from the upper apartments. He saluted me with a low bow, and
handed me a seat. I was glad to find no other person in the
shop, Mrs. Bilger having again retired. I now assumed the air
of a Bond-street lounger, and informed Mr. Bilger, that I had
been recommended by a gentleman of my acquaintance to deal with
him, having occasion for a very elegant diamond ring, and
requested to see his assortment. Mr. Bilger expressed his
concern that he happened not to have a single article of that
description by him, b