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CHA P. XXI.

SHENSTONE-GREEN IS NOT PEOPLED WITHOUT A GOOD DEAL OF TROUBLE.

BY this time it appeared perfectly plain, that I must depend only on the care and diligence of a few other friends, who, on trial, were not liv ing in a state of gay deception; and that, where fuch care and diligence failed, 1 muft truft to the effects of a public advertisement. I do affure you, reader, it is more troublesome to get a town reputably populated, than to build it. This was fo facred a truth, in my cafe, that the middle of the Summer fhone off before I

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could fay Shenstone-Green was properly inhabited. Whether, indeed, it was ever properly inhabited, may admit of a doubt. However, I fhall not trouble the reader with any further delays on this point; but, cutting the difagreeable interval of barren application fhort (which is an honest author's duty), will carry him at once to the time, when, after many difficulties, my houses were mostly occupied, and my profpect of pleafure brought, apparently, to a crisis.

You are now, therefore, to fuppose, that a fufficient number of perfons, well chofen and cautiously recommended, are affembled upon the Green; part of whom enjoy the irrevocable life-penfion, and part are

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fet up in trade for the general good. All my views are nearly completed, as far as regards external preparation. The fummer is before me.

Many families, who were pining in want, are in the bosom of indulgence. THE GREEN is in full flower. There are walks for pleasure, bowers of ease, and a church for devotion.

Though this chapter is very fhort, I fhall end it directly; on purpose to give you leisure to wish me joy of a great piece of work well terminated.

· CHAP.

CHAP. XXII.

THE STEWARD SHEWS HIMSELF TO BE A MAN OF SENSE.

IF you have not fufficiently revelled in the airy luxury which you, doubtless, fuppofe me to partake, it would be almoft a pity to disturb you with the truth. Yet, as it is the defign of this narrative, not only to divert, but to warn, I must defcend from vifionary pleasure to mere matter of fact.

At this place, therefore, properly begins The Narrative of the good People of Shenstone-Green-A Hiftory of Human Nature; or, The New Paradife Lost.

The

The fatisfaction with which I faw fo many happy human faces about me (for happiness really refided with us almoft a whole month), is indefcribable. Many of the penfioners I had long known, others were such as came fanctified by the warmest encomiums from fuch as I could thoroughly credit; for, luckily, ALL my friends did not correfpond with the characters in Mr. Samuel's

catalogue. The trading part of our fociety fettled apart from the circus in a comfortable way, but with due regard to fubordination. The regulations of The Green were few; and those extremely delicate. All the parade of ringing the community to dinner, or to prayers, was inconfiftent with my idea of independence.

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