INTRODUCTION. XXVU 



Coftly and fuperb buildings in cities, and magnificent 

 manfions in the country, are objects of general admiration. 

 They are confidered as the nobleft external ornaments of 

 poliflied life. They excite the commendation of foreigners, 

 who often bring a bias from the manfions of monkifli fu- 

 perftition, and the fplendid diftincElions of a feudal ariftocra- 

 cy. Elegant edifices, thickly reared, are the conftant theme 

 of exultation among ourfelves: the degree of that exul- 

 tation too often borders on a mifchievous vanity, and ex- 

 cites an injurious emulation. Emulation of magnificence, 

 in the ftile of accommodation, is generally unfavourable to 

 morals, and (by the fureft of all confequences) to human 

 happinefs. A fuperb and coftly edifice is a cumberfome 

 article of property in itfelf, and is often gradually augmented, 

 to a fize and to a ftyle of fplendour, incompatible with the 

 general intereAs of the owner and his family, rendering 

 doubly difadvantageous the principleof/)r/wo^^«7V«r^, which 

 (however defcnfible on the fcore of family confequence) is 



in itfelf fufficiently embarrafling to numerous families. 



7 he tax laid on pofterity for the fupport of fclitary gran- 

 deur, is often found irkfome; and to fupport, with a fup- 

 pofed confiftency, the dignity of family pofTefiions, leads 

 into numerous expences, unfavourable to the prefent com- 

 fort, and future fecurity of the occupier. Hence the in- 

 cumbrance of ettates, where they cannot be fold — and fuc- 

 celfive fales, where they can, till the manfion is no longer 

 fupportable. The ftately building goes to decay, and ei- 

 ther becomes an unappropriate and dilapidated farm-houfe, 

 or is totally abandoned and pulled down on account of the 

 weight of its repairs. To build another farm-houfe oil a 

 fuitable fcale, is incompatible with the finances of the owner — 

 and at once to get rid of the inconvenience, the land is let 



b 2 jc, 



