)
And this is a happiness not to be expected by any but such as attain
old age by sobriety, and not in consequence of a strong
constitution; and such may moreover expect to spend their days
happily, as I do mine, in a perpetual round of amusement and
pleasure. And how is it possible a man should not enjoy himself,
who meets with no crosses or disappointments in his old age, such
as youth is constantly plagued with, and from which, I shall
presently shew, I have the happiness of being exempt?

The first of these is to do service to my country. O! what a
glorious amusement, in which I find infinite delight, as I
thereby shew her the means of improving her important estuary or
harbour beyond the possibility of its filling for thousands of years
to come; so as to secure to Venice her surprising and miraculous
title of a maiden city, as she really is; and the only one in the
whole world: she will, moreover, thereby, add to the lustre of her
great and excellent surname of queen of the sea: such is my
amusement; and nothing is wanting to make it complete. Another
amusement of mine, is that of shewing this maid and queen, in what
manner she may abound with provisions, by improving large tracts of
land, as well marshes, as barren sands, to great profit. A third
amusement, and an amusement too, without any alloy, is the shewing
how Venice, though already so strong as to be in a manner
impregnable, may be rendered still stronger; and, though extremely
beautiful, may still increase in beauty; though rich, may acquire
more wealth, and may be made to enjoy better air, though her air is
excellent. These three amusements, all arising from the idea of
public utility, I enjoy in the highest degree. And who can say,
that they admit of any alloy, as in fact they do not? Another
comfort I enjoy, is, that having lost a considerable part of my
income, of which my grandchildren had been unfortunately robbed, I
by mere dint of thought, which never sleeps, and without any fatigue
of body, and very little of mind, have found a true and infallable
method of repairing such loss more than double, by the means of that
most commendable of arts, agriculture. Another comfort I still
enjoy is to think, that my treatise on temperance, which I wrote in
order to be useful to others, is really so, as many assure me by
word of mouth, mentioning that it has proved extremely useful to
them, as it in fact appears to have been, whilst others inform me b