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Article CURIOUS ACCOUNT OF A DUMB PHILOSOPHER. ← Page 5 of 7 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Curious Account Of A Dumb Philosopher.
father proposed , to settle and practise with him , but to prepare for a longer absence ; which , however , I was easily indulged in , when I palliated my resolution , with a pretence of improving the knowledge I had in physic , . by conversing with the learned of every nation . My stay in Hamburg was no longer than was necessary to settle every thing for seven or eight years voyage and journey , which was the time I hadat leastproposed to allow myself in
, , visiting the principal parts of Europe . My indulgent parents , who thought nothing too much , nothing too expensive , to gratify my inclinations , furnished me with all and more than was requisite ; and being provided with letters of unlimited credit , wherever I should come , I took my last and melancholy leave of them . 'I shall not trouble you with an account of my seven years travels
, in countries perhaps better known to yourself than me , as you have visited them so lately . I shall only in general tell you , that though I did not deny myself a reasonable enjoyment of all those lawful pleasures whir . h mav lip rnllprl cr : tv arid anlhuit . nnrl vy ] -,,,. ') -, mvi ^ parc
I —> w . ' -- ~ " tr >~ J i } > "" "V . ' may reasonably have been supposed to prompt me to , yet I indulged myself no farther in them , than as they were subservient to the great and principal end ! proposed to myself by travelling , the acquisition of knowledge ; prat least no farther , than that they did not interfere with this my main purpose , but served rather as a relaxation ofthe mindwhich an intense studabsolutely requires . I always
, y considered , that there is , or ought to be , a certain severity in pleasure , without which all decency is banished ; and that if reason is not to be present at our greatest satisfactions , of alt tbe races of creatures , the human is tbe most miserable . ' At my return , I found both father and mother dead , and their whole fortunewhich proved more considerable than I had
expect-, ed , some charitable legacies only excepted , bequeathed in trust for my use . I might now have sat down in the midst of an affluent fortune , ' and have enjoyed all the ease and comfort human nature is capable of , on-this side the grave , and my estate would have entitled
nie to the choice of a partner in my happiness , such as I myself should approve of , within the limits of this opulent city : but the itch of travelling , for improvement of useful learning , which had so early seized me , was rather encreased than abated . I , therefore , settled my affairs , and disposed of my estate , so that I could command any part of it when , where , and in what manner I should think fit : andnot content with having alreadseen the most
civi-, y lized countries of Europe , I resolved to visit the more distant parts of the world , and be acquainted with the almost unknown Laplanders , Greenlanders , Tartars , Mcluccos , Indians , Chinese , Japanese , Moors , and even the Hottentots and Cannibals . On these voyages i spent upwards of twenty years , of which I was near two among the Cannibals of America .
'By this means , I not only , in general , discovered the wisdom stiri follies , virtues aud vices , laws , ordinances , and customs of these ftiy distant countrymen , who , in the vulgar opinion , are esteemed simple and savage ; but , at the same time , observed such e ^ traor"OL . yr O
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Curious Account Of A Dumb Philosopher.
father proposed , to settle and practise with him , but to prepare for a longer absence ; which , however , I was easily indulged in , when I palliated my resolution , with a pretence of improving the knowledge I had in physic , . by conversing with the learned of every nation . My stay in Hamburg was no longer than was necessary to settle every thing for seven or eight years voyage and journey , which was the time I hadat leastproposed to allow myself in
, , visiting the principal parts of Europe . My indulgent parents , who thought nothing too much , nothing too expensive , to gratify my inclinations , furnished me with all and more than was requisite ; and being provided with letters of unlimited credit , wherever I should come , I took my last and melancholy leave of them . 'I shall not trouble you with an account of my seven years travels
, in countries perhaps better known to yourself than me , as you have visited them so lately . I shall only in general tell you , that though I did not deny myself a reasonable enjoyment of all those lawful pleasures whir . h mav lip rnllprl cr : tv arid anlhuit . nnrl vy ] -,,,. ') -, mvi ^ parc
I —> w . ' -- ~ " tr >~ J i } > "" "V . ' may reasonably have been supposed to prompt me to , yet I indulged myself no farther in them , than as they were subservient to the great and principal end ! proposed to myself by travelling , the acquisition of knowledge ; prat least no farther , than that they did not interfere with this my main purpose , but served rather as a relaxation ofthe mindwhich an intense studabsolutely requires . I always
, y considered , that there is , or ought to be , a certain severity in pleasure , without which all decency is banished ; and that if reason is not to be present at our greatest satisfactions , of alt tbe races of creatures , the human is tbe most miserable . ' At my return , I found both father and mother dead , and their whole fortunewhich proved more considerable than I had
expect-, ed , some charitable legacies only excepted , bequeathed in trust for my use . I might now have sat down in the midst of an affluent fortune , ' and have enjoyed all the ease and comfort human nature is capable of , on-this side the grave , and my estate would have entitled
nie to the choice of a partner in my happiness , such as I myself should approve of , within the limits of this opulent city : but the itch of travelling , for improvement of useful learning , which had so early seized me , was rather encreased than abated . I , therefore , settled my affairs , and disposed of my estate , so that I could command any part of it when , where , and in what manner I should think fit : andnot content with having alreadseen the most
civi-, y lized countries of Europe , I resolved to visit the more distant parts of the world , and be acquainted with the almost unknown Laplanders , Greenlanders , Tartars , Mcluccos , Indians , Chinese , Japanese , Moors , and even the Hottentots and Cannibals . On these voyages i spent upwards of twenty years , of which I was near two among the Cannibals of America .
'By this means , I not only , in general , discovered the wisdom stiri follies , virtues aud vices , laws , ordinances , and customs of these ftiy distant countrymen , who , in the vulgar opinion , are esteemed simple and savage ; but , at the same time , observed such e ^ traor"OL . yr O