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For the Conmercial and Agricultural Magazine. THOUGHTS ON GOOD TIMES.

N A always wiſh and hope for good times, and a great many expedt better ones; under theſe agreeable les theſe comfortable bópes, and theſe ſweet dreams, our years fy 2way, without having ſeen the acco ompliſhment of them. But what is the reaſon. that good times, in general,( which would bring general fitisaGion to mankind) cannot CU e cauſe ¡s not to be found in the nature of tng s; for this is always un- changeable. The diſappointment of: our wiſhes muft, therefore, be aſcribed to quite other reaſons. Certain it is, that the-cauſe lies entirely in the ideas which we form to ourſelves of good times; and that we look more on individual ranks of men, or períons, than fix our eyes on the whole, in general, It is im- poſſible, that good times, in general, can exif, ſince, in order to effedt that, contradi&tory things nE come to paſs at one and the ſame time. In general, e ideas of good times are un- fixed, Each individual E Vr according to his own fancy, his own paſlion, his own rank, his own prepoſleſſions, and they cannot come unleſs the world ſhould become a place a confuſion. A few examples will clear the probable doubts af our meaning. The induft LE farmer expects good times when he will be amply rewarded for his-fweat and hard labour. He attends the place of worſhip; the parſon tells him, that if men would live a pious life, times would mend: the truth of it is founded in- deed; but the farmer only makes à miftake in the application 5 ſuſt, he makes a miſtake when he imagines living a‘pious life, 15, R opying, the outward ceremonies of religion; and, ſecond=- ly, when he forms to himſelf conceptions E good times, after his own fancy. He thinks thoſe are good times when his fields PAE well, and grain riſes in‘price; when his orchards bring uch fruit, Jud he can get a high price ,for it; when butter, €

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e ſe, cattle;&c. are at a high rate. Theſe are his good times; though many pe ople will be hurt by them, who will have Zad . 2724 69 i

:s; but he does‘not conſider, that he has nothivg but the

filling of hi is OWN po ckets in view.: « Citizens think thoſe good times, when all trades have plenty wark, and they can make themſelves recreations, by frequent= 1g taverns, riding in chaiſes,‘on horſe-back,&c. Owners of houſes wiſh for good tenants, who will pay ihem high rents at fixed times; who. do not make much diſturbance, keep them- ves quiet, without ſpoiling any thing, and afcrer whom they > to mind.

The tavern-kéeper expeâs cuſtomers, e ſurround his bar in c'uſters, ſpend much, and do not make a ong ftay, to make m for other rs, who fil] his pockets.

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