gs has afforded a theme
to philosophers, moralists, and divines, from the earliest records of
antiquity; "Vanity of vanities!" says the preacher, "all is vanity!" Nor is
there any one, I suppose, who has passed the meridian of life, who has not
at some moments felt the nihility of all things.

Weariness of life in its moderate degree has been esteemed a motive to
action by some philosophers. See Sect. XXXIV. 2. 3. But in those men, who
have run through the usual amusements of life early in respect to their
age; and who have not industry or ability to cultivate those sciences,
which afford a perpetual fund of novelty, and of consequent entertainment,
are liable to become tired of life, as they suppose there is nothing new to
be found in it, that can afford them pleasure; like Alexander, who is said
to have shed tears, because he had not another world to conquer.

Mr. ----, a gentleman about fifty, of polished manners, who in a few months
afterwards destroyed himself, said to me one day, "a ride out in the
morning, and a warm parlour and a pack of cards in the afternoon, is all
that life affords." He was persuaded to have an issue on the top of his
head, as he complained of a dull head-ach, which being unskilfully managed,
destroyed the pericranium to the size of an inch in diameter; during the
time this took in healing, he was indignant about it, and endured life, but
soon afterwards shot himself.

Mr. ----, a gentleman of Gray's Inn, some years ago was prevailed upon by
his friends to dismiss a mistress, by whom he had a child, but who was so
great a termagant and scold, that she was believed to use him very ill, and
even to beat him. He became melancholy in two days from the want of his
usual stimulus to action, and cut his throat on the third so completely,
that he died immediately.

Mr. Anson, the brother to the late Lord Anson, related to me the following
anecdote of the death of Lord Sc----. His Lordship sent to see Mr. Anson on
the Monday preceding his death, and said, "You are the only friend I value
in the world, I determined therefore to acquaint you, that I am tired of
the insipidity of life, and intend to-morrow to leave it." Mr. Anson said,
after much conversation, that he was obliged to leave town till Friday, and
added, "As you profess a friendship for me, do me this last favour, I
entreat you, live till I return." Lord Sc---- believed this to be a pious
artifice to gain time, but nevertheless agreed, if