boots,” and prepares for a journey which
may rival the march of Neptune, when, as
Homer tells us,
“ From isle to isle three ample strides he took,
“ And at the fourth the distant Mge shook.”
Persons of more limited powers are compelled
to admit, that for all the useful purposes
of travelling, time is as essential an
element as space.
It may, perhaps, be thought that it was
unnecessary to devote several pages to the
little Republic of Geneva, but a residence
of two winters in that city, convinced me
that though much had been written respecting
it, the state of society there, was
but imperfectly known in England, and
had been much misrepresented.
A writer of some note has lately told
the public, that he should prefer livino- ^ to
among the Turks to a residence in Geneva.
I am not in the least degree desirous of
influencing the opinions of this writer, nor
of those who may coincide with him ; for
if any one prefer the society of ferocious
and ignorant slaves, to that of intelligent
freemen, I heartily wish him to enjoy all
the advantages he can possibly derive from
such a preference.
Several recent events that have taken
place in Geneva, have excited great interest
among a certain class of my countrymen j
and as this city is at present much resorted
to by English families, as a place of temporary
residence, and many young Englishmen
are sent there for education, I thought
it would be useful to state its advantages or
inconveniences, in respect to either of these
objects. — I have endeavoured to do this
impartially, but much diversity of opinion
will prevail, according to the views or prejudices
of different parties.
For the benefit of those who may feel
no interest in geological enquiries, I have
most frequently separated the observations
that relate solely to geology from other
subjects ; but as this could not always
be conveniently done, I have hung out
A 4
A
M&r