672 THE CHOICE OF A SITUATION BOOK III. 



wild, or cultivated situation, as trie result of their enquiry 

 dictates. 



8. Some retire to the country merely through disgust at 

 public life. These should choose a solitary situation, or at 

 least one distant from the capital, of a character and in a coun- 

 try and neighbourhood analogous to their intention; where 

 they mean to close their life " amid books and solitude," amuse 

 themselves by the pursuit of rural science or rural sports and 

 amusements, or engage in the improvement of their estate; 

 and by promoting the comforts of the neighbouring peasantry 

 ensure their gratitude, and the name of " poor man's friend." 

 This practice will amply compensate the lost friendship or ill 

 usage of " that sea of sin, a w icked world." 



9. There are a few who retire to the country to indulge in 

 grief for past misfortunes. It is true, the reverse of this prac- 

 tice commonly takes place; yet there are some pure and vir- 

 tuous minds that even the present age cannot vitiate. Those, 

 when under affliction, can find no solace in flattery, corruption, 

 or a vortex of amusements, which may dissipate the time of the 

 idle, but never touch the soul of the truly good. There can be 

 no true solace in the hour of keen affliction, but by reposing in 

 the Deity, or contemplating his attributes and laws in the works 

 of nature; — but nature, either in man or in material objects, is 



