196 
inthe learned world; and I have made the 
obfervation, that, in thefe refpeéts, the 
Weft of England is inferior to the Faftern 
or Northern parts. To what particular 
caufe it be owing, I cannot determine ; 
but, certain it is, that a very confiderable 
portion of mental debility, of intellectual _ 
fupinenefs, of comparative ignorance of 
even the commen civilities of polithed life, 
is oofervable amongft.the inhabitants of 
this town. That they fhould be lefs fenfi- 
ble of the varied beauties of nature by 
which they are furrounded than ftrangers, 
may eafily be accounted for; as, however 
beautiful the fcenery, it lofes its effe&t upon 
thofe who perpetually behold it. Mercan- 
tile fpeculation—literary pleafures—the- 
refinements of focial life, are equally neg- 
lected. . 
To play the came of whift, and ccca- 
fionally to employ a few hours in fifhing, 
conftitute the principal objets of purfuit. 
Te may I think be admitted, that educa- 
tion in this town has never been thought 
of importance: certain it is, the objects of 
it have never been attained. 
If however we may judge from appear- 
ances, a flight proipeét of improvement is 
vifible: there are now two boarding- 
{chools for young gentlemen, both lately 
opened ; one is kept by the curate of one 
of the parifhes, and the other by a Diffent- 
ing minifter; and, if proper encourage- 
ment be given to them, it is to be prefum- 
ed, a confiderable change for the better 
may be expeéted in the intellectual attain- 
ments of the rifing generation. 
It muft not be forgotten, that there is a 
fmall bock-fociety, principally confined to 
the circulation of pamphlets and reviews ; 
and there was another formed upon a ra- 
ther broader fcale, but is has declined; 
becaufe amongft its members no one 
could be found both willing and compe- 
tent to manage its concerns. And as a 
proof that improvement may be expected, 
it is with pleafure I add, that I have heard 
a book-fociety has juft been formed, com- 
pofed entirely of ladies, with the exception 
of a clergyman, whom they have defied 
to act for them as treafurer and fecretary. 
Public-library there is none; and, except 
among profeffional men, no private ones, 
‘The inhabitants in general are to be claf- 
fed among the middle rank in foctety: 
there are a few opulent families ; a great 
many poor ; but the poor are fupplied with 
food, inthearticle of fifh, at a very cheap 
rate. In other refpeéts, “ provifions are 
higher than in the neighbouring towns. 
‘The population, lately afcertained, is 
Walks by the Fire-fide. 
[ O&ober | ly 
about five thoufand, exclufive of failors ; 
but the proportion of females is very 
large. . NavurTicus, 
Dartmouth, Fuly 13, 1801. 
—_—— a 
For the Monthly Magazine. 
WALKS by the FIRE-SIDE. 
' ET me retire at times from this 
buftle of life, and commune with 
myielf in the clofet of my heart. JT now 
fit in the centre of a crowded city. Placed 
in the nave of this great wheel, it moves 
turbulently round, but I am ftill. A vo- 
luntary and temporary feceffion from fo- 
ciety may have a tendency to brace and 
invigorate the mind, to giveit a mafculine 
independence, a happinefs (ubftantive and 
felf.denied. Yet, I ought to confider, 
that fuch feclufion may degenerate into a 
fullen and felfifh eftrangement from the 
world, which, after all that has been faid of 
it, is, toufe Voltaire’s phrafe, a very paf- 
fable world. Certain it is, that terreftrial 
enjoyment can never refult from a cynical 
ifolation. Short retirements ought rather 
to urge a {weet return. Like an healthful 
excurfion in the country, this felf-fequef- 
tration will promote the better health of 
the heart, and refrefh it with a purer air; 
for, were it more corrupt and contaminat- 
ed than what common intercourfe with 
the world affords, who would be fo hardy 
as to talk with himfelf ? 
I once was alone upon the Lake of 
K— ; alone—for the boatmen, as to any 
touch of fociety, were no better than their 
boat: indeed they were worfe, for their 
indifference to the beauties of the place 
checked my feelings, and reprefied the 
coming infpiration of the fcenery. When 
I efcaped from them, and ftood alone in 
the midft of vaft nature, I was fenfible of 
a pleafurable elevation and expanfion of 
foul ; a feeling of being placed nearer to 
God, by being farther trom man ; a fenfa- 
tion of felf-[ufficiency, which kept me 
buoyed above the earth, yet in full pro- 
fpect of its fublime beauties. I thought 
myfelf Lord of Inisfallan, with all its 
{weet variety of grateful green; and I 
walked through this garden of nature 
with a degree of that proud independence 
which diftinguifhes a moft amiable favage, 
Jean Jaques Roufleau. But a drizzling 
fain began to fall, and, from the fame mo- 
ment, my enthufiafm began tocool. The 
Genius of the Lake deferted_ me, and I, 
who thought I could {pend my life in this 
grand wooded amphitheatre, in a delight- 
ful dilation of mind over this fair mei 
re (@) 
= 
