of the English climate, and his opinion of the dulness
of a country house, as nearly as possible in his own
words. It struck me at the time that they were exaggerated
views; but if the weather were unpropitious, and the
company not well selected, I can easily conceive, that
the impression on his mind would be as strong and as
unfavourable, as he has described it to have been.

The climate of England is healthy, and, as it admits of
much out-door exercise, and is not subject to any very
sudden variation, or violent extremes of heat and cold,
it may be said to be good, though not agreeable; but its
great humidity is very sensibly felt by Americans and
other foreigners accustomed to a dry atmosphere and clear
sky. That Mr. Slick should find a rainy day in the
country dull, is not to be wondered at; it is probable
it would be so any where, to a man who had so few resources,
within himself, as the Attache. Much of course depends
on the inmates; and the company at the Shropshire house,
to which he alludes, do not appear to have been the best
calculated to make the state of the weather a matter of
indifference to him.

I cannot say, but that I have at times suffered a depression
of spirits from the frequent, and sometimes long continued
rains of this country; but I do not know that, as an
ardent admirer of scenery, I would desire less humidity,
if it diminished, as I fear it would, the extraordinary
verdure and great beauty of the English landscape. With
respect to my own visits at country houses, I have