PART I. FOR A COUNTRY RESIDENCE. 673 



not to be found in towns; he therefore flies to unfrequented 

 places in the country, lives in the company of truth, and con- 

 verses, with birds and flowers. His friends ought to choose a 

 cottage, or a comfortable, apartment in a decaying castle, situ- 

 ated among woody scenery or copse, and intermingled with 

 lawn, rivulets, and old gardens or orchards which have long 

 been neglected, and through all which he may wander unmo- 

 lested by care, and undisturbed by any other society than that 

 of a faithful domestic. This domestic may by degrees intro- 

 duce sensitive plants and tamed animals to him, as mimosa noli 

 me tang ere, asses, cows, lambs, at first; and afterwards birds, 

 leverets, dogs, and horses. The first class of these, by amusing 

 or becoming attached to him, will excite his attention or love 

 in return; the second, by indicating cheerfulness, vigour, and 

 animation, will by sympathy excite similar feelings and ex- 

 ertions ; and thus by degrees restore him to health, and fit him 

 for the active duties of life. 



10. The last purpose that I shall take notice of is, where a 

 person has in view to feel and enjoy all the appear- 

 ances of nature. He requires few directions; his habita- 

 tion, whatever it be of itself, whether an obscure cottage or vil- 

 lage garret, will be a situation, if possible, where " nature, un- 

 confined, displays all her graces/' His property is all nature ; 

 and, knowing no bounds to his estate, he may therefore change 



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