vill PREFAOE. 
is, doubtless, sometimes latent, and often unde- 
veloped. But the Author repeats his belief 
that it is shared by the vast majority of English 
people. He himself was born in a part of England 
famed, the wide world over, for its enchanting 
scenery. Yet he cannot remember that, during 
his residence there in his childhood, his feelings 
were stirred into enthusiastic love of the country, 
though there can be no doubt that this love 
was then born by the influence of his surround- 
ings, and existed—though latent by the absence 
of an exciting cause. But the time came for the 
choice of a profession, and for a residence in the 
metropolis. Then it was that the latent love 
of Nature was developed with full force, and 
became a passion. The absence of woods and 
green fields gave rise to a painful longing to 
renew acquaintance with them on every possible 
occasion, and no recreation was so much prized 
as communion with Nature in her wildest haunts. 
The Author is convinced that his experience is 
