[QueryJ-users] nse of the inhabitants by rai

[Miesch <sil...@in...>]

And publishing this comment was never fulfilled. I did, indeed, from
time to time, put down short hints of the sentiments, reasonings, etc.,
to be made use of in it, some of which I have still by me; but the
necessary close attention to private business in the earlier part of my
life, and public business since, have occasioned my postponing it; for,
it being connected in my mind with _a great and extensive project_, that
required the whole man to execute, and which an unforeseen succession of
employs prevented my attending to, it has hitherto remain'd unfinish'd.
In this piece it was my design to explain and enforce this doctrine,
that vicious actions are not hurtful because they are forbidden, but
forbidden because they are hurtful, the nature of man alone considered;
that it was, therefore, everyone's interest to be virtuous who wish'd to
be happy even in this world; and I should, from this circumstance (there
being always in the world a number of rich merchants, nobility, states,
and princes, who have need of honest instruments for the management of
their affairs, and such being so rare), have endeavoured to convince
young persons that no qualities were so likely to make a poor man's
fortune as those of probity and integrity. My list of virtues contain'd
at first but twelve; but a Quaker friend having kindly informed me that
I was generally thought proud; that my pride show'd itself frequently in
conversation; that I was not content with being in the right when
discussing any point, b