Characteristicks of Men, Manners, Opinions, Times - Volume 1

Section 2.

Those who have beheld a crowd under the power of this passion have admitted that they saw in the faces of men something more ghastly and terrible than is expressed at other times on even the most passionate occasion. Such is the force of * companionship original: "Society" in bad, as well as in good passions; and any feeling original: "Affection" is so much stronger for being social and communicative.

Thus, my Lord, there are many panics among mankind, besides merely that of fear. And thus religion is also a panic when fanaticism original: "Enthusiasm" of any kind arises, as it often will on melancholy occasions. For vapors depressive spirits or moods naturally rise; and in bad times especially, when the spirits of men are low—whether in public calamities, or during periods of unwholesome air or diet, or when convulsions happen in nature, such as storms, earthquakes, or other amazing prodigies—at such seasons the panic must necessarily run high, and the magistrate of necessity must give way to it. For to apply a serious remedy and bring the sword, or fasces a bundle of rods and an axe, symbols of the magistrate's power to punish, as a cure, would only make the case more melancholy and increase the very cause of the disorder. To forbid men’s natural fears, and to endeavor to overpower them by other fears, must necessarily be a most unnatu-

* See below, p. 110, etc. and VOL. II. p. 100, 106, etc. 127, etc.