Ossian Collection > Journey to the western islands of Scotland

2i6 A JOURNEY TO THE
ture. Perhaps experience, improving on
experience, may in time efFed it.
Thofe who have long enjoyed dig^
nity and power, ought not to lofe it with-
out fome equivalent. There was paid
to the Chiefs by the pubUck, in ex-
change for their privileges, perhaps a fum
greater than moft of them had ever pof-
feflcd, which excited a third for riches, of
which it ftiewed them the ufe. When the
power of birth and flation ceafes, no hope
remains but from the prevalence of money.
Power and wealth fupply the place of each
other. Power confers the ability of grati-
fying our defire without the confent of
others. Wealth enables us to obtain the
Confent of others to our gratification,
power, fimply confidered, whatever it con-
fers on one, muft take from another.
"Wealth enables its ovs^ner to give to others,
by taking only from himfelf. Power pleafes
the violent and proud : v;calth delights the
placi^