The Optimist an enviable Character. 85 



here we found a most comfortable hotel, and, 

 what was infinitely more gratifying to us, letters 

 without number. For above a month I had 

 been without any tidings from Cumberland, 

 and such was now the luxurious feast, in which 1 

 became instantaneously absorbed, that no other 

 idea obtruded until I had perused the whole, 

 and learned with inexpressible delight that all 

 at home were well. In the midst of the ex- 

 tremely diversified objects with which this 

 enchanting country abounds, I could not so 

 rivet my thoughts on new and pleasing objects, 

 as to avoid a frequent recurrence to those of 

 superior interest I had left behind. Though 

 ardent in my pursuits, and anxious for their suc- 

 cessful result, my mind is, unfortunately, so 

 constructed, that I am more disposed to regard 

 the dark than the bright side of all human trans- 

 actions ; and to anticipate ills rather than in- 

 dulge in hope. The optimist is greatly to be 

 envied so far as respects his individual happiness, 

 though I am led to believe he occasionally pays 

 severely for the felicity produced by his unwise 

 credulity. The want of regular communica- 

 tion by letter had been a sad abstraction from 

 the pleasure of our journey : another time I 

 shall endeavour to provide against the recur- 

 ence of a mortification, which has been endured 

 as a merited punishment for our want of 



