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fixteen miles in the hour. Whereas, in Holland, either by land or water, your movement is pre-fettled at three; infomuch, that the diftance from place to place is measured by fo many hours; each hour implying a league.

Tirefome enough you will fay-unless you happen to be a deliberate traveller, which it is always ten to one that a traveller is not. Yet, to what end does a perfon travel at all: but to fee the DIFFERENCE of manners and cuftoms? Now it is the cuftom in Holland to go flow; and for a tolerably good reafon; because they cannot go faft. Why fwear at them and their country for this? Were all things ordered as they are in England, you would have no object of travel. At any rate, now you are told these matters are to be expected-and you are told the truth-you must either take a country as you do wedlock, for better and for worse, or remain contented where you are, and like the Virtuofo in the comedy, only "travel in your "books."

Amongst the pains of a refidentiary British traveller are to be reckoned thofe which he derives from being a fpectator of the prejudices of his countrymen; fome of which are fhewn

off

off almost immediately on his fetting his foot on a foreign fhore. Nor are thefe, by any means, confined to people of low education, and of courfe low ideas; but infinuate themfelves into the most enlightened minds and understandings, when trained up at home.* That impofitions are always and every where practised by natives on foreigners, cannot be doubted; that when detected they are more infulting to our good fenfe than injurious to our fortunes, must also be admitted; and that in the provinces of Holland, fuch things are, I am fo far from denying, that I mean, in their due times and places, to point them out. But is not England, dear England, under the fame impeachment ?— Does the not over-reach and play upon both the property and person of a new-imported stranger in the fame manner? and as many little circumstances are lefs cognifable by magistracyare not fome of her impofitions even greater in degree? Does fhe not add fcorn and ridicule to those impofitions? Can any fingularity in drefs, air, manner, or language, escape her criticifm?and, though, happily, these outrages on national urbanity are practised only by the mob, or the giddy and worthless part of the wealthy, they certainly fhould induce all orders

Home-keeping Youth, have ever homely wits. SHAK.

of

of Englishmen to allow for a little retaliation, as well as laying their account to find fome of that chicane and vulgarity abroad, of which they have fo plentiful a stock at home.

As a very little candour and fellow feeling, will. rather lighten your baggage than make it heavier; as it will even be a fort of letter of credit through all the countries you mean to traverse, I ftrongly advise you to take a little of it with you ; because, the omitting to do fo will be attended with two of the worst confequences, viz. render you diffatisfied with every body, and every body dissatisfied with you. Be fure, therefore, you find room for it as one of your necessary articles: with which piece of good council, I bid thofe farewell, for whofe ufe it is intended.

To you, my friend, fuch a caution would be unneceffary. Were I to give you warning of any thing, it would be to guard you against the excesses of Philanthropy. May you meet with objects to deferve them!

LETTER

LETTER XXVIII.

ΤΟ THE SAME.

SINCE I have got thus far into the style of compagnon de voyage,-albeit the office of guide along the dykes, is not a bad tranflation for this country,I will e'en go humbly on, till I have like an honeft guide enabled you to pick your way, till you have got firm footing: for as a ftranger, I must confider you at present as going over trembling ground.

If after what has been faid you are neither reconciled to the bad roads nor worfe vehicles that go over them, your only alternative is walking; which in Summer is really pleasant; and in all feafons is preferable to an healthy perfon; as you have a little village at which you can paufe midway betwixt this town and the Brielle, and go upon a path of powdered cocklefhells all the way; for the most part as firm and well bound as if it were of English gravel. Should your baggage confist of a final trunk, portmanteau, or travelling bag, a man may be hired to take it, unless there be several in company; in which cafe the better way will be to have one waggon for the baggage-clubbing the expence ;

VOL. II.

C