Every reason, says he, why it should not, if those points were ridiculous to the poffeffor; but if fources of enjoyment to him, he may excufe their being laughed at by others—permit me to offer something in defence of these our little boxes.

"Should you dispute the propriety of our going into the country at all—I reply, that we return the keener to our business for having had a little relaxation from it-that change of air and exercise contributes to our health. The hope of future enjoyment gives us present spirits. If you knew the pleasure with which we look forward to Saturday, that is to carry us to the little garden, where we furvey the accumulated vegetation of the days we have been abfent, you would think it a fenfation not to be defpifed.

"From what I have observed, no perfons really enjoy the country but the London citizens. Those who poffefs magnificent

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magnificent villas feem infenfible to the beauties in their poffeffion. It is the appetite which gives pleasure to the feast. If we have this inclination, and it is gratified, there is nothing farther to ask. Touchstone is properly matched with Audrey: the finest lady in the land could only give him pleasure, and that he receives from his Dowdy.

"But, in my opinion, there is more ftill to be faid for us-Are you fure that a box by the fide of a dufty road, is lefs calculated for enjoyment, than a palace fituated in a vast park?-My neighbour who poffeffes fuch a palace, like you, wonders at my bad taste, which he continually abuses, for fear I should suspect that he receives pleasure, when fitting in my window, which he does for hours together (notwithstanding the duft) inwardly envying my happiness that I can fee the world in motion.

"I have obferved, that the poffeffors of great houses have a marvellous affection to a little parlour !-Is it that the mind fills a small space without effort, and finds the whole within the scope of enjoyment; while in a large one, it seems to be making vain attempts to approach what is out of its reach? We fancy a little parlour to come nearer, and be, as it were, part of ourselves; while a great room feems made for more than one, and to belong not only to us, but to others. Whether this reasoning be juft or not, it is certain that you feldom are shewn a great house, but you are informed that some small room you were paffing unnoticed, is the place where the owner refides the grand fuite of apartments is for ftrangers.

"You know that from our fhops we fee fucceffive crowds for ever paffing. Were we to retire to abfolute folitude, the change would be too great to be reI 3 lifhed.

lished. In fhort, we find by experience, that a small house and garden, from whence fomething may be seen that excites amusement and attention, is more for our purpose, than an extent of ground, which offers nothing but the fame objects for ever repeated-it may be well calculated for magnificence; but it should be remembered, that our purfuit is relaxation from bufinefs, and fuch relaxation as is attended with fomething we can really understand and enjoy."

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On Wit.

HAVING mentioned in

my

fhort Effay on Tafte* that wit was never fatisfactorily defined; perhaps it may lead us to suspect a want of precision in the idea: which is more natural, than to suppose fuch perfons as Locke, Dryden, and Pope, should not have fagacity enough to define what is fo well understood by the greatest part of the world.

Locke's Reflection on Wit (as I find it in the Spectator) is, "Men who have "a great deal of wit and prompt memo❝ries, have not always the clearest judg"ment, or deepest reafon. For wit ly

ing moft in the affemblage of ideas, "and putting these together with quick

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"nefs

* In the Thirty Letters.