The Expedition of Humphry Clinker

250 TOBIAS SMOLLETT
Devolving from thy parent lake,
A charming maze thy waters make,
By bow’rs of birch, and groves of pine,
And edges flow’r’d with eglantine.
Still on thy banks so gaily green,
May num’rous herds and flocks be seen,
And lasses chanting o’er the pail,
And shepherd’s piping in the dale,
And ancient faith that knows no guile,
And industry imbrown’d with toil,
And hearts resolv’d, and hands prepar’d,
The blessings they enjoy to guard.
To Dr. LEWIS
DEAR DOCTOR,
IF I was disposed to be critical, I should say this house of Cameron
is too near the lake, which approaches, on one side, to within six
or seven yards of the window. It might have been placed in a higher
site, which would have afforded a more extensive prospect and a
drier atmosphere; but this imperfection is not chargeable on the
present proprietor, who purchased it ready built, rather than be at
the trouble of repairing his own family-house of Bonhill, which
stands two miles from hence on the Leven, so surrounded with
plantation, that it used to be known by the name of the Mavis (or
thrush) Nest. Above that house is a romantic glen or clift of a
mountain, covered with hanging woods, having at bottom a stream
of fine water that forms a number of cascades in its descent to join
the Leven; so that the scene is quite enchanting. A captain of a man
of war, who had made the circuit of the globe with Mr. Anson,
being conducted to this glen, exclaimed, ‘Juan Fernandez, by
God!’
Indeed, this country would be a perfect paradise, if it was not,
like Wales, cursed with a weeping climate, owing to the same causes
in both, the neighbourhood of high mountains, and a westerly
situation, exposed to the vapours of the Atlantic ocean. This air,
however, notwithstanding its humidity, is so healthy, that the
natives are scarce ever visited by any other disease than the