21  L


242  AUrOBIOGRAPHT  OF

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,  every  one's  in-
terest 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,  w^ho  have
need  of  honest  instruments  for  the  management  of
their  affairs,  and  such  being  so  rare),  have  endea-
vored to  convince  young  persons  that  no  qualities
were  so  likely  to  make  a  poor  man's  fortune  as  those
of  probity  and  integrity.
M}^  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,  but  was  overbearing,  and  rather  insolent,
of  which  he  convinc'd  me  by  ir.cntioning  several
instances  ;  I  determined  endeavouring  to  cure  myself,
if  I  could,  of  this  vice  or  folly  among  the  rest,  and
I  added  Humility  to  my  list,  giving  an  extensive
meaning  to  the  word.
