on the Produce of his 0W7i Land. 147 



In point of health, if you will indulge me in talking 

 about myself, as a familiar example, I will inform you 

 how I have profited, by VirgiPs advice. When I re- 

 sided at Dover, in a flat country and vapid atmosphere, 

 the faculty advised me to live above the climate. Be- 

 sides my meridian before dinner, I generally drank 

 wine in the afternoon. All would not do. I was obliged 

 to fly for my life to this hill country. While I resided 

 in Wilmington, I continued my usual habits. Soon 

 afterwards I was attacked by the gout, and had regu- 

 lar fits for some years. Since I became a farmer and 

 indulged the Virgilian economy, I have never had the 

 gout. For more than 12 years, I have been free from 

 this scourge of intemperance. Although I am now 

 on the wrong side of 60 years of age, my feet have re- 

 covered their tone and hardihood ; I can walk and 

 ride, and do manual labour as well as ever I could. 

 The trimming of my orchards is an amusement reserv- 

 ed for my own hands : for I would not be hired to let 

 an awkward fellow spoil my fruit trees. — I never learn- 

 ed to reap or mow ; but I can shock wheat or make 

 hay with any body. Besides, I am chief gardener in a 

 lot of two acres. My local situation precludes me 

 from extensive professional duties ; but such as fall to 

 my lot are not neglected. All this too without self-de- 

 nial, so great as might be imagined ; for although I 

 have quit the use of wine, along with other foreign 

 luxuries, I indulge in a cheering glass of spirit and 

 water, once or twice a day. For this purpose, I pre- 

 fer good rye whiskey or high proof apple-brandy : for 

 I scorn to go abroad for any thing that I can get bet- 

 ter at home. 



