that I wondered they did not go mad, them, as well in the hours of their re or that I did not hear of the canine dif- pofe as toil; and felt my heart warm traction more in this country than in to fee feveral, whom I had obferved ours; and on being told there were very heavily laden on the Saturday, tacertain times (the dog days) when a king a found nap, out-stretched and hapfine was to be paid upon any dog be- py at their mafters doors, on the day ing feen in the street, I fuppofed this in which their leifure is even an allotwas the cafe, till the fummer following, ment and bounty of heaven. All the being at this delightful feafide of Sche- morning and afternoon they have reveling, I obferved, feveral times of the mained baskin in the fun or in the fhade day, thefe draught dogs brought down to in profound tranquillity, while a oumthe beach and bathed; a practice which ber of unthinking whelps, and lazy no doubt equally prevented them from puppies, who had been paffing their time this dreadful diforder beforementioned, in idlenefs all the week, were playing and gave them ftrength to go through their gambols in the ftreet, not without their work. a vain attempt to wake the feniors, and It is fortunate alfo, that Holland is make them join in their amusement. a country fomewhat prone to be ftrict Toward evening, I have, in my funfetin the ceremonies of religion, by obfer- ting rounds, been much pleased to novance of which, the dogs, like their tice the honeft creatures fit at their refmafters, find the feventh a day of un- pective thresholds, looking quite refreshbroken reft: for "Sunday fhines a fab- ed, giving occafionally into a momentary bath day to them." The first impref- frolic, and the next morning returning fion (which is allowed a grand point, to the labours of the week absolutely you know) being much in favour of thefe renewed. induftrious creatures, I had an eye on From Pratt's Gleanings. ON TRAVELLING. "We ride and fail in queft of happiness." IT hath been remarked, by the moft intelligent obfervers of human nature, that mankind are fondest of that which affords the greateft novelty; an ardent defire for which is interwoven in the human frame. For this reafon let a thing be ever fo excellent in itfelf; though we may be, for the prefent, exceffively charmed with the exquifite pleafure it produces, it foon lofes its power of pleafing, which alone is capable of giving it a permanent place in our ef teem. It is, indeed, true, that there is a method of hufbanding our enjoyments, by an exact attention to which we may not only derive from them a greater degree of pleasure while they laft, but extend their power of pleafing to a greater length of time than they ufually continue in order to which we must act in the fame manner as we would do if we wifhed to perpetuate our finances; that CREECH. is, not be too lavish, as a frequent repetition of the fame pleasure ftrips it of its novelty; and, by fo doing, takes away its power of pleafing. Mr Pomfret has very finely touched upon this, in his poem called The Choice; where, fpeaking of the furfeit we experience from too frequent an access to the fame kind of enjoyments, he expreffes himfelf thus: "For higheft cordials all their virtue lofe By a too frequent and too bold a dofe." This fhews us the neceffity of moderation, as it is not only dictated by reafon and enforced by revelation, but as it is abfolutely effential to mix with all our enjoyments; in order to make them exquifite in flavour, and permanent in duration. Of thofe who are wife enough to adopt this rule, it may be truly faid, "Their pleasures are moderate, and therefore they endure; their re pofe pofe is thort, but found and undiftur- the face of the earth, joined to the no bed; their blood is pure-their minds lefs pleafing ones of the customs and referene and the physician knoweth not the way to their habitation." What Fielding fays refpecting the gerality of prologues to plays, ("which at firit, were part of the piece itfelf; but of later years, have ufually fo little connection with the drama, before which they stand, that the prologue to one play might as well ferve for any hand of the initial chapters to the books of his own Tom Jones, (molt of which," fays he, "like modern prologues, may as properly be prefixed to any other book in this history as to that which they introduce; or, indeed, to any other hiftory as to this,") may be faid of the obfervations that introduce this day, which would do as well for one on any other subject; and, perhaps, be better calculated to introduce one O novelty, or moderation, than what they are intended to precede, viz. an day on travelling: but, notwithstand ing this is ftrictly true, I fhall be able to make it appear that they are not altogether foreign to the subject I am aim manners of mankind (which are as variegated as the face of nature, and as obvious to an attentive travaller) cannot fail of producing the most delightful fenfations, efpecially to a mind which has a caft for meditation. ing at. I was fhowing, at the beginning of this effay, the general love of novelty that prevails; the neceflity of that qualification in any thing before it can afford as the happiness we feek for in their gratification, and that, in proportion as they retained their novelty, they would, more or lefs, infure a continuance of our effeem. All which is but preliminary to this plain obfervation; namely, that Travelling will afford us the greatest degree of novelty of any thing whatever; and, as fuch, I apprehend, is beft calculated to be a continual feat: I mean to thofe who have an inclination towards it; for there certainly are exceptions, as to fome individuals who have a parucular antipathy against it." The multiplicity of objects that continually furround us on a journey, the variegated profpect of hills, vallies, rivers, groves, fields, meadows, and all the various views in which we may fee The following picture, drawn by an able pen, that of the late Henry Fielding, may be produced as an inftance of of the fatisfaction to be derived from the view of a picturefque fcene. That great genius, defcribing a morning view of a charming fpot in Somerfetfbire, obferves, in his ufual animated ftyle :—"This houfe was fituated on the top of a hill; and, for two miles below it, meadows, enlivened with variety of cattle, and adorned with a greater variety of flowers, first caught my fight: at the bottom of this vale ran a river, which feemed to promife coolness and refreshment to the thirsty cattle. The eye wasnext prefented with fields of corn, that made a kind of an afcent, which was terminated by a wood, at the top of which appeared a verdant hill, fituated, as it were, in the clouds ; where the fun was juft arrived, and peeping over the fummit (which was at this time covered with dew) gilded it over with his rays, and terminated my view in the most agreeable manner in the world. In a word, the elegant fimplicity of every object round me, filled my heart with fuch gratitude, and furnished my mind with fuch pleafing meditations, as made me thank Heaven I was born." Can any thing be more delightful than this defcription? Can any thing tend more than fuch a view to make us fatisfied with our exiftence! I do not recollect to have ever read a more striking defcription than the foregoing, except it be the following, by the immortal Shakef peare. As the one is an excellent picture of an inland fpot, fo the other is an inimitable defcription of the fea-coaft: I allude to that celebrated fpeech, in the tragedy of King Lear, which Edgar addreffes to Glo'fter, on their arri val at the fummit of the high cliffs of but never fo much as in the opening of Dover. more, Left my brain turn, and the deficient fight It is faid of this fpeech, that a man must have either a very bad or good head to read it without being giddy; and I will venture to affirm, refpecting the preceding quotation from Fielding, that one cannot read it without having ones's i, magination fired, and being poffeffed of a fecret defire to behold with our eyes fo agreeable a spot. If novelty is abfolutely neceffary to make a thing agreeable to us, here we have it in perfection; for there is no end of the novelty to be met with in trawelling. Every village, town, and city, as well as every nation, has fomething peculiar to itfelf; its particular dialect, productions, amusements, manners; for thefe reafons, and fome others that follow, I am convinced that travelling is the most congenial to human nature of any thing whatever, and the best calculated to fatisfy, without cloying, that appetite for pleasure, which we all are poffeffed of, and are fo defirous to gratify It is certain, however, that all feafons and countries through which we may travel, do not afford the fame proportion of delight. Groves, fields, and meadows, are (as one obferves) at any season of the year pleasant to look upor, the Spring, when they are all new and frefh, with their first glofs upon them, and not yet too familiar to the eye: for this reafon, there is nothing that more enlivens a profpect than rivers, jetteaus, or falls of water; where the fcene is perpetually fhifting, and entertaining the fight every moment with fomething that is new. Thus fome profpects give us more delight, and fome countries afford us a greater variety of views than others; but there is always a fufficient redundancy of matter to engage the attention, captivate the heart, and keep it in tune. But, exclufive of the delight and entertainment we derive from travelling, (and which I am ready to think we cannot but derive) there are many and great advantages to be gathered therefrom: the first is attainable by every one who has common fenfe; but the latter, which I am going to mention, are only attainable by thofe who have good fenfe enough to apply their peregrinations to a proper ufe, fo as to acquire from them a real and valuable knowledge of men and things, both which are best known by comparison, This knowledge travelling is exactly calculated to beftow. We fee nature, as it were, in all her different shapes : we meet with man in his best and worst garb, and are therefore better able to form our judgment of him. It is obferved by Pope, that "The proper study of mankind is man:" and we fhould always confider, in travelling, that the great object of remark is human life. By travelling we expand the mind, enlarge our views, and foften our manners; and, if we vifit foreign countries, (as the Spectator obferves) we are enabled to look into their cuftoms and policies, and obferve in what particulars they excel or fall short of our own, and to unlearn fome odd peculiarities in our manners, and wear off fuch aukward stiffneffes and affectation in our behaviour, as poffibly may have been con tracted ingrated from conftantly affociating with e nation of men, by a more free, geteral, and mixed converfation. Thefe, and many more, are the advantages to be gained by travelling; but they are to bined only by thofe (as I have befire hinted) who are poffeffed of the ability of travelling to advantage; for an lity it does certainly require, and that ability (as Dr Johnson obferves) is "previously ftudying at home." Lafly, as I have faid fo much about ovelty, as being the chief ingredient which recommends travelling to our notic, and conftitutes it the chief mean of happiness, (when I fpeak of happinels, I defire to be understood as inclading virtue, without which, neither trading, nor any thing else, can afford bppinefs; for, as Mr Pope obferves, "Virtue alone is happiness below,") it may not be amifs to give the thought a religious turn; which I cannot do better than by introducing a quotation from the Spectator, on the force of no3 velty, and the evidence it affords us of a future ftate, with which 1 fhall conclude this effay. "To add no more, is not this fondnefs for novelty, which makes us out of conceit with all we already have, a convincing proof of a future ftate? Either man was made in vain, or this is not the only world he was made for; for there cannot be a greater inftance of vanity than that by which a man is liable to be deluded, from the cradle to the grave, with fleeting fhadows of happinefs his pleasures, and thofe not confiderable neither, die in the poffef fion; and fresh enjoyments do not rife fast enough to fill up half his life with fatisfaction. When I fee perfons fick of themselves any longer than they are called away by fomething that is of force to chain down the prefent thought; when I fee them hurry from town to town, and then from the town back again into the country, continually shifting poftures, and placing life in all the different lights they can think of, furely, fay I to myself, life is vain, and the man beyond expreffion ftupid or prejudiced, who, from the vanity of life, cannot gather he is defigned for immortality." J. H. THE ART OF PROCURING PLEASANT DREAMS. BY THE LATE DR FRANKLIN. AS a great part of our life is fpent the first promotes, the latter, unless moin fleep, during which we have fome- derate, obftructs digeftion. If, after umes pleafing, and fometimes painful exercife, we feed fparingly, the digef dreams, it becomes of fome confequence tion will be eafy and good, the body to obtain the one kind, and avoid the lightfome, the temper cheerful, and all other; for, whether real or imaginary, the animal functions performed agreepain is pain, and pleafure is pleafure. ably. Sleep, when it follows, will be If we can fleep without dreaming, it is natural and undisturbed; while indowell that painful dreams are avoided. lence, with full feeding, occafions nightIf, while we fleep, we can have any mares and horrors inexpreffible: we pleafing dreams, it is, as the French fall from precipices, are affaulted by. hy, tant gagnè, fo much added to the wild beafts, murderers, and demons, pleasure of life. and experience every variety of diftrefs. To this end it is, in the first place, Obferve, however, that the quantities. neceffary to be careful in preferving of food and exercife are relative things: health, by due exercife, and great tem- thofe who move much may, and indeed perance; for, in fickness, the imagina- ought, to eat more; thofe who ufe lit tion is disturbed; and disagreeable, fome- tle exercife, fhouid eat little. times terrible, ideas are apt to prefent neral, mankind, fince the improvement, themselves. Exercife fhould precede of cookery eat about twice as much as meals, not immediately follow them: nature requires. Suppers are not bad, In ge if we have not dined; but restless nights longer, it is not worth while to naturally follow hearty fuppers, after me an houfe-I will fleep in t full dinners. Indeed, as there is a as I have been used to do.” difference in conftitutions, fome rest well after these meals: it cofts them only a frightful dream, and an apoplexy, after which they fleep till doomsday. Nothing is more common in the newfpapers, than inftances of people, who, af. ter eating a hearty fupper, are found dead a-bed in the morning. Another means of preferving health, to be attended to, is the having a conftant fupply of fresh air in your bedchamber. It has been a great mistake, the fleeping in rooms exactly clofed, and in beds furrounded by curtains. No outward air that may come into you, is fo unwholfome as the unchanged air, often breathed, of a close chamber. As boiling water does not grow hotter by longer boiling, if the particles that receive greater heat can efcape; fo living bodies do not purify, if the particles, as faft as they become putrid, can be thrown off. Nature expels them by the pores of the skin and lungs, and in a free open air, they are carried off; but, in a close room, we receive them again and again, though they become more and mere corrupt. A number of perfons crowded into a fmall room, thus fpoil the air in a few minutes, and even render it mortal, as in the Black Hole at Calcutta. A fingle perfon is faid to spoil only a gallon of air per minute, and therefore requires a longer time to fpoil a chamber full; but it is done, however, in proportion, and many putrid diforders hence have their origin. It is recorded of Methufalem, who, being the longeft liver, may be fuppofed to have beft preferved his health, that he flept always in the open air; for, when he lived five hundred years, an angel faid to him: "Arife Methufalem, and build thee au houfe, for thou fhalt live yet five hundred years longer." But Methufalem anfwered and faid: "If I am to live but five hundred years Phyficians, after having for contended, that the fick fhould no indulged with fresh air, have at le difcovered that it may do them go It is therefore to be hoped, that may in time difcover likewife, that not hurtful to those who are in hea and that we may be then cured of aerophobia that at prefent diftreffes minds, and makes them choose to ftified and poifoned, rather than open the window of a bed-chamber put down the glass of a coach. Confined air, when faturated perspirable matter, will not receive m and that matter must remain in our dies, and occafion difeafes: but it gi fome previons notice of its being ab to be hurtful, by producing certain eafineffes, flight indeed at firft, fuch with regard to the lungs, is a trifli fenfation, and to the pores of the fir kind of reftieffness which is difficult defcribe, and few that feel it know t caufe of it. But we may recollect, th fometimes, on waking in the night, have, if warmly covered, found it dif cult to get afleep again. We turn ofte without finding repofe in any pofition This figgettinefs, to ufe a vulgar ex preffion for want of a better, is occafion ed wholly by an uneafinefs in the fkir owing to the retenfion of the perspira ble matter, the bed-clothes having re ceived their quantity, and, being fato rated, refufing to take any more. become fenfible of this by an experiment, let a perfon keep his pofition in the bed, but throw off the bed-clothes, and fuffer fresh air to approach the part uncovered of his body; he will then feel that part fuddenly refreshed; for the air will immediately relieve the fkin, by receiving, licking up, and carrying off the load of perfpirable matter that incommoded it. For every portion of cool air that approaches the warm fkin, in receiving its part of that vapour, receives therewith a degree of heat, that rarifies and Το |