CHAP I.] CLIMATE, SEASONS, &C. 57 



1818. 



Jan. 21. in Surrey and Hampshire, and 

 especially with Guildford, Alton, 

 and Southampton, no other towns 

 appear clean and neat, not even 

 Bath or Salisbury, which last is 

 much about upon a par, in point of 

 cleanliness, with Philadelphia ; and, 

 Salisbury is deemed a very cleanly 

 place. Blandford and Dorchester 

 are clean; but, I have never yet seen 

 any thing like the towns in Surrey 

 and Hampshire. If a Frenchman, 

 born and bred, could be taken up 

 and carried blindfold to Guildford, I 

 wonder what his sensations would 

 be, when Jie came to have the use 

 of his sight ! Every thing near Guild- 

 ford seems to have received an in 

 fluence from the town. Hedges, 

 gates, stiles, gardens, houses inside 

 and out, and the dresses of the 

 people. The market day at Guild- 

 ford is a perfect show of cleanliness. 

 Not even a carter without a clean 

 smock-frock and closely-shaven and 

 clean-washed face. Well may Mr. 

 Birkbeck, who came from this very 

 spot, think the people dirty in the 

 western country ! I'll engage he 



