in the COUNTRY. 95 
coftly entertainments of eating, and rich apparel. This appears 
ftrange in the eye of reafon, but it is true : both are necessary 
on some occasions : and yet the firfb is apt to embitter life 
with difeafes, and fhorten the natural period of it, whilft the 
latter is but a fplcndid incumbrance. 
The more virtue and induftry, the more the face of the coun- 
try will be improved ; and the more it is improved, the more 
pleafure it muft afford ; fo that men of true tafte and fortune 
whilft they cultivate the pleafures and advantages of rural life, 
may improve their morals. And fince this poor nation is go- 
verned by fafhion, it may be hoped the time will come, when it 
may be lefs fafhionable to make journies to town, and more fo 
to abftain from the pomp and vanity which prevail in great 
cities. I think it is demonftrable, that the aflembling fo vaft a 
number of people as London contains, is a political disease ; 
it has been often obferved, that it fwells the head out of propor- 
tion to the body. In the country there is fcope to exercife the 
moft fertile genius, without mens preying on each other. Agri- 
culture is the moft antient, and moft honorable of all employ- 
ments : grain and pafturage are the true fources of commerce. 
The means of improving and augmenting them, are worthy the 
ftudy of men of the beft education, not only for the benefit of 
their particular eftates, but for the happinefs of their country 
in general. 
We ought, however, to caft an eye of pity on thofe who 
being betrayed by their vanity, or got into a wrong traff, 
live more expensively than fome sovereign princes. The 
proper 
