PART I. FOR A COUNTRY RESIDENCE. 671 



to husbandry, taste, or the comfort of the inhabitants, is a 

 noble object, and will be more universally approved of, by 

 both present and future generations, than any other species of 

 worth, whether heroic, political, or literary. Mankind in ge- 

 neral look to such persons as to a common father and pro- 

 tector; and the most enlightened philosophers justly consider 

 them as among the true promoters of human happiness. Nume- 

 rous and excellent situations may be found in every quarter of 

 the country; but the mountainous parts of it, and such as are 

 inferior in regard to culture, will produce the greatest benefit 

 to society, and most fame to the benevolent proprietor. There 

 he may clothe the rocky mountains with wood, the heaths and 

 moors wit^ corn-fields and pasture, and the morasses with lakes 

 and meadows; — there he may erect villages, churches, far- 

 meries, and cottages, and every thing which may diffuse around 

 universal content; — there undisturbed by political factions, 

 cruel enemies, or deceitful friends; he may live beloved and 

 reverenced, by his dependants and neighbours. 



7. The choice of a situation, in order to gratify a natural 

 taste for the country and rural life, requires little discussion. 

 Those who have this in view should previously endeavour to 

 distinguish the peculiar turn of their sentiments. They may 

 then either choose a grand, romantic, cheerful, gay, solitary, 



