On archHedural, rural, domestic, and other Improvements. 309 



wrong notions and habits of those who occupy it : questions which 

 demand extensive enquiry and observation, and which will not be ex- 

 hausted while any thing remains unknown of earth or air injurious to 

 human health and happiness. The subject involves the physical na- 

 ture, circumstances and wants of man, and in no slight degree his 

 welfare as a rational, social and accountable being ; it has an impor- 

 tant relation to his plans, employments and success in life, and in- 

 deed to his whole history ; it is to be studied in all its relations to 

 nature and art, its relations to what is uniform and unalterable in the 

 earth, to the various changes which are taking place in the surface, to 

 various local peculiarites, to the increase and decay of vegetable mat- 

 ter, and the neglect or progress of cuhivation, tfl changes in the course 

 and deposits of streams, to the condition of natural and artificial col- 

 lections of water, to climate and to the long catalogue of local, pe- 

 riodical and epidemic diseases. 



A general reformation of the opinions and tastes of mankind, in 

 respect to this whole subject is greatly to be desired as a means of 

 temporal happiness. No small proportion of the self-procured and 

 the hereditary misery and degeneracy of the race proceeds from ig- 

 norance and neglect of what is every where practicable in relation 

 to this subject. 



Who that closely inspects the sites, plans, materials, and condition 

 of all the habitations in any district of country, or in any town or city, 

 and the character, habits, pecuniary circumstances, pursuits, recrea- 

 tions, and enjoyments of their respective occupants, but must be for- 

 cibly struck with the powerful and discriminating effects of the causes 

 which are involved in this field of enquiry ? Who that traces the 

 progress of an individual from his infancy in a mean, filthy, and ill 

 situated abode, to one that is desirable for its location, structure and 

 other advantages, can fail to perceive the operation of these causes ? 



Of how many both of the best and the worst members of society, 

 may it not be said, that the influence of such causes on their natural 

 dispositions and tastes, determined their course above or below the 

 level on which they started ? I remember an anecdote, related to 

 me by the late Rev. Doct. Strong, of his ancient preceptor Doct. 

 Bellamy, who, on parting with two of his pupils, by way of caution 

 and advice to them, indicated, as what he had dreamed, his impres- 

 sions, founded no doubt on what he had observed of their capacities, 

 tastes, and habits, respecting their future career. The rising pro- 

 gress of one he traced to a thriving and beautiful parish, a handsome 

 and commodious dwelling, and subsequent usefulness and honor. 



