a Defence of the Vegetable Regimen") whose wife, children and even servants, all voluntarily adhered to his salutary and humane diet.
The designs of several ingenious men, of forming a compact, in this fertile island, of genuine christians, humane peacemakers, philanthropists and reasoning beings, practising the arts of agriculture and rural life, is highly commendable. The publisher exclaims with St. Pierre, "May God prosper such a plan! which is worthy the most glorious period of ancient wisdom!" But he cannot join with Cowper, in crying,
"O for a lodge in some vast wilderness,
"some boundless contiguity of shade!"
A litile cot would form his heart's desire,
a summer garden and a winter's fire;
a small retreat, which he might call his own,
no longer scar'd by Fortune's angry frown;
with leisure left o'er Nature's book to pore,
and turn the varied leaves of science o'er.
Nor should his mind e'er cease to know
the charm which converse can bestow;
for, to a dinner sav'd by frugal care,
should friendship often come, and freely share.
No; he cannot detach himself from the social communities of life, which are numerous and endearing. Nor yet can he make a sacrifice of justice, propriety and humanity, at the shrine of erroneous, tho' popular, habits. Nothing could be returned to compensate for the loss of that satisfaction which arises from a consciousness of acting right: nothing could be offered as a substitute, which would leave the mind satisfied with itself.
Tho' providence has not bestowed on the publisher the "envied lot of wealth," he deems himself
