pleasuhes of the country. ]03 



son of Cush, have continued the favourite resort 

 of the great bulk of the people, where arts and 

 sciences flourish, and the affairs of nations are 

 generally transacted; and although I would not 

 detract from the utihty of these vast hives of 

 human industry, ingenuity, and knowledge, yet 

 must I maintain that the amusements of the gay 

 metropohs have a tendency to shorten, whereas 

 those of the country conduce to lengthen the span 

 of man's existence. 



And is there not yet another argument ? Oh ! 

 ye who have the power of residing in the country, 

 and of assisting those in a humbler position than 

 yourselves, what nobler employment can you find 

 than visiting the peasant's hut, and cheering, by 

 the smiles of benevolence, the humble abode of 

 honest industry ? These poor fellows, honoured 

 now and then by an illustrious and friendly visitor, 

 who goes to them as a visitor, and not as a 

 moralist or relieving officer, feel an importance 

 thus conferred upon them which calls for new de- 

 corum on their part, gives them a new character 

 to maintain, awakens a spirit of propriety and 

 cleanliness, a little personal and domestic vanity, 

 which, within certain limits, is the first step to- 

 wards comfort, civilization, and morality. 



The laying out of grounds for the people, into 



