I see in them beings of certain capacities， equal to certain pursuits and enjoyments. It is of no consequence in the question， that they do not see this， that they do not know their own interests and happiness. They do not repine？ Neither does a stone repine. That which you mention as an alleviation， finishes in my conception the portrait of their calamity. Abridged as they are of independence and enjoyment， they have neither the apprehension nor spirit of men. I cannot bear to see human nature thus degraded. It is my duty， if I can， to make them a thousand times happier， than they are， or have any conception of being."
It is not difficult to form a scale of happiness. Suppose it to be something like the following.
The first class shall be such as we may perhaps sometimes find， among the labouring inhabitants of the civilized states of Europe. We will conceive a man， working with his hands every day to obtain his subsistence. He rises early to his labour， and leaves off every night weary and exhausted. He takes a tranquil or a boisterous refreshment， and spends the hours of darkness in uninterrupted slumber. He does not quarrel with his wife oftener than persons of his class regularly do； and his cares are few， as he has scarcely known the pressure of absolute want. He never repines but when he witnesses luxuries he cannot partake， and that sensation is transient； and he knows no diseases but those which rise from perpetual labour. The range of his ideas is scanty； and the general train of his sensations， comes as near， as the nature of human existence will admit， to the region of indifference.
This man is in a certain sense happy. He is happier than a stone.
Our next instance shall be taken from among the men of rank， fortune and dissipation. We will suppose the individual in question to have an advantageous person and a sound constitution. He enjoys all the luxuries of the palate， the choicest viands， and the best-flavoured wines. He takes his pleasures discreetly， so as not， in the pursuit of pleasure， to lose the power of feeling it. He shoots， he hunts. He frequents all public places.