I have passed over many passages and parts of chapters, which had an almost exclusive reference to persons in that walk in life. I have added members of sentences, and even whole sentences to the text, where such additions seemed necessary to develope the doctrine to an English reader. In a word, I do not offer the text, as an exact translation, but as the only treatise within the compass of my reading, which has discussed the pursuit of happiness, as a science or an art; and as one which has advanced more eloquent and impressive sentiments upon the subject, than I have elsewhere met. With the slight alterations, which I have made, I have found this book to meet my own thoughts; and I have laid out of the text all phrases and passages, which spoke otherwise. I have availed myself of the words of another, because they have expressed my own views better than I could have hoped to express them myself. This explanation will be my reply to all remarks, touching mistranslation, or liberties taken with the author. ERRATA. Page 44, last line, dele the 5. Page 111, 5th line from bottom, dele 29. Page 121, end of second paragraph, dele 32. Page 149, 2d line from top, dele 51. Page 200, for Note 5, page 44, read 6, page 45. CONTENTS. Page. LETTER I. Introduction, 1 LETTER II. The Physical, Organic and Moral Laws, 8 LETTER III. The same subject continued, 25 LETTER IV. General Views of the subject, 39 LETTER V. Our Desires, 45 LETTER VI. Tranquillity of Mind, 51 LETTER VII. Of Misfortune, 58 LETTER VIII. Of Independence, 67 LETTER IX. Of Health, 73 LETTER X. Of Competence, 83 LETTER XI. Of Opinion, and the Affection of Men, 90 LETTER XII. Of the Sentiment Men ought to Inspire, 95 LETTER XIII. Of some of the Virtues, 100 LETTER XIV. Of Marriage, 108 LETTER XV. Of Children, 117 LETTER XVI. Of Friendship, 124 LETTER XVII. The Pleasures of the Senses, 129 LETTER XVIII. The Pleasures of the Heart, 134 LETTER XIX. The Pleasures of the Understanding, 139 LETTER XX. The Pleasures of the Imagination, 144 LETTER XXI.