a traveller's journal. 303 



found in the very loweffc claffes. This indufrxy, in- 

 deed, is not to be compared with that of the northern 

 countries ; which has to provide, not only for the pre- 

 fent day and hour, but, on fair and fine days-, for the 

 dark and rainy, in fummer for winter. Hence the 

 Northlander is compelled by nature to make particular 

 provifions and arrangements ; the hufwife rnuft look 

 after her fairings, her dryings and fmokings, that the 

 kitchen may be fupplied in the winter; the hufbanct 

 muft fee to the cutting down of wood for firing, to 

 the laying up a ilore of fruits of the earth, getting 

 proper fodder for the cattle, Sec. All this robs them 

 of the enjoyment of the nneit days and hours, which 

 are neceilarily devoted to labour. A great part of the 

 year a man ehufes to keep himfelf at home, as the 

 air without is unpleafant and rude; he is obliged to 

 fhelrer himfelf from the ftorm, from the. rain, from 

 the fnow, from the froft : the ieafons are i nee Handy 

 fucceeding. each other, and every man who will not 

 come to ruin muit be a good ceconomiflr. For the 

 quefrion here is not, whether he will difpenfe with all 

 this. It does not depend upon his choice to difpenfe 

 with it ; it would he needlefs to refolve to difpenfe with 

 it, for he cannot if he would; nature herfeli compels 

 him to provide work for himfelf. Certainly thefe na- 

 tural effects, which remain unaltered for thoufands of 

 years, have determined the character of the northern 

 nations, which is fo refpectable in fnch a variety of 

 regards. On the other hand, we judge of the fouthern 

 nations, which have the benefit of fo mild and benign 

 an atmofphere, with too much fe verity from the point 

 of view in which we behold them. What M, de Paw, 



in 



