Even when a mere child I began my travels, and
made many tours of discovery into foreign parts and unknown regions of
my native city, to the frequent alarm of my parents, and the emolument
of the town-crier. As I grew into boyhood I extended the range of my
observations. My holiday afternoons were spent in rambles about the
surrounding country. I made myself familiar with all its places famous
in history or fable. I knew every spot where a murder or robbery had
been committed, or a ghost seen. I visited the neighbouring villages,
and added greatly to my stock of knowledge, by noting their habits
and customs, and conversing with their sages and great men. I even
journeyed one long summer's day to the summit of the most distant
hill, from whence I stretched my eye over many a mile of terra
incognita, and was astonished to find how vast a globe I inhabited.
"This rambling propensity strengthened with my years. Books of voyages
and travels became my passion, and in devouring their contents, I
neglected the regular exercises of the school. How wistfully would
I wander about the pier heads in fine weather, and watch the parting
ships bound to distant climes; with what longing eyes would I gaze
after their lessening sails; and waft myself in imagination to the
ends of the earth.
"Farther reading and thinking, though they brought this vague
inclination into more reasonable bounds, only served to make it more
decided. I visited various parts of my own country; and had I been
merely influenced by a love of fine scenery, I should have felt little
desire to seek elsewhere its gratification; for on no country have
the charms of nature been more prodigally lavished.
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