132 
TRAVELS THROUGH LAPLAND. 
other courfe of travels more adapted to produce reflexions and 
leffons, that may redound to his well-being! How great his ad¬ 
vantage over travellers from the North, who, quitting the rigours 
of their native foil, come among us and contraX, by the force of 
habit, a tafte and paflion for pleafures which their native country 
refufes ! They carry home the defire of enjoying fuch a climate 
and fky as that which they have left ; they feel privations every 
day ; they regret the want of thofe amufements, which are pecu¬ 
liar to a more refined Rate of civilifation, and to a more genial 
climate : they long for the gratification which is derived from 
the culture of fcience, and the perfeXion of the fine arts. But 
happinefs is not efifentially promoted by the mere recolleXion of 
thofe loft enjoyments. The traveller from the South, on the con¬ 
trary, returning from the country which yields no fuch pleafures 
and advantages, hails with enthufiafm the bounteous fun, whole 
favourable influence and benign rays every where diffufe gladnefs, 
fertility, and plenty ; and if, on his return, he is fo fortunate as to 
find peace and fecurity univerfally diffufed over his native country, 
and the empire of laws dilfributing juftice and equal proteXion to 
the people : let him repofe from all his labours and toils; let him 
cultivate in the bofom of his family the civic virtues, anxioufly 
chcrifli that fcience and civility which have fo clofe a connexion 
with virtue and humanity, and teach and aflure his countrymen, 
that they arc the happieft people in the world. 
0 
GENERAL 
