INTRODUCTION. $ 



justly reckoned unnatural. Indeed, the very purpose for which 

 we engage in commerce is, that we may one day be enabled to 

 retire to the country, where alone we picture to ourselves days 

 of solid satisfaction and undisturbed happiness. It is evident 

 that such sentiments are natural to the human mind. All 

 men, even though born in cities, possess the same ideas, which, 

 if they be not erased by poverty and disease, haunt them 

 through the whole journey of life. Perhaps it is in this sphere 

 only that man may approach the simplicity of nature, and at- 

 tain the enjoyments and pleasures of pristine innocence. 



But laying aside these considerations, which may be slighted 

 or misconceived, let me add a motive more common, and 

 likely to be more generally attractive ; I mean the ease, liberty", 

 and independence of a country residence. Large cities, from 

 their very nature, are scenes of continual activity. There 

 every individual must fill up with vigour and constancy the 

 plaee which he occupies in society ; he must often forego his 

 own pleasures, in order to accommodate himself to the inte- 

 rests, wishes, humour, or caprices of those with whom he is 

 connected. He must enter into their business and amuse- 

 ments ; speak and think in a certain degree upon the same 

 topics ; dress, and even perform many of the animal functions, 

 in the fashion of his neighbours, or he will be despised, and 

 discarded, from society. But even though he conform as much: 



