i4 BENEFIT OF 



preme being oblige me to confefs, that nd 

 fooner were my travels finiflied, but, as it were, 

 a' Lethasan oblivion of all the dangers, and 

 difficulties came upon me ; being rev/arded by 

 the ineftimable advantages, which i reaped 

 from thofe devious purfuits. Advantages, the 

 more confpicious for that i became daily more 

 and more fkillful, and gained a degree of ex- 

 perience, which I hope will be of ufe to my- 

 felf, and others ; and, what i efteem above all 

 other confiderations ; as it comprehends in one 

 all other duties, and charities ; to my coun- 

 trey, and the public. 



Good God ! how many, ignorant of their 

 own countrey, run eagerly into forreign re- 

 gions, to fearch out and admire whatever cu- 

 riofities are to be found ; many of which are 

 much inferior to thofe, which offer themfelves 

 to our eyes at home. I have yet beheld no 

 forreign land, that abounds more with natural 

 curiofities of all kinds, than our own. None 

 which prefents fo many, fo great, fo wonder- 

 full works of nature •, whether we confider the 

 magazines of fnow heaped up for fo many ages 

 upon our Alps, and amongft thefe vaft tracks 

 of fnow green meadows, and delicious vallies 

 here and there peeping forth, or the lofty 



heads 



