PART I. FOR A COUNTRY RESIDENCE. 66l 



To assist such persons to discover the real tendency of their 

 sentiments in this respect, and to enable them to choose situa- 

 tions analogous to their own minds, or to the objects which 

 they have in view, is the purpose of the following remarks; 

 which I am led to make, not merely from reflection on the 

 subject, but also from having often observed some who, having 

 made choice of situations highly excellent in themselves, but 

 not calculated to promote the recurrence of those ideas which 

 had become necessary to their happiness, have thereby, in some 

 of the finest residences which the country affords, been com- 

 pletely miserable. There is a small residence in Surry, within 

 thirty miles of London, which possesses, I believe, more ad van- 

 tages, both in regard to beauty and profit, than any other 

 within that distance of the metropolis. It contains the most 

 recluse and sequestered scenes, and at the same time commands 

 the most extensive prospects, containing London, Windsor, the 

 Thames, and many other striking objects. The purchaser 

 having left London, and taken possession, after staying a few 

 months found himself dissatisfied, and began to make altera- 

 tions and improvements. These finished, he was equally un- 

 solaced with his situation; though unable to make any parti- 

 cular objection to it, yet continually indicating a want of 

 something further. A friend of mine, having occasion to spend 

 several days with this gentleman, soon discovered the grand 

 reason; which is simply this, that the house is upwards of a 



