LETTER XVI 



ADVANTAGES OF CLIPPING — SALT MARSHES — HAY — 

 GREEN MEAT 



ONE of our ancient historians observes 

 that when he tells us what he has heard, 

 he leaves us to form our own opinions as 

 to the truth of it ; but when he describes 

 what he has seen, he speaks to men, and expects to 

 be believed. Theory certainly gives us an advantage ; 

 but in all matters of external nature, it is experience 

 that proves. 



I have already declared that I have long since been 

 freed from vulgar prejudices and bigotry to ancient 

 customs. I will not go so far as to assert that I would 

 do so and so because our forefathers had not done 

 so and so before me ; yet their not having done it 

 would by no means deter me from the attempt : for, 

 if we may judge from modern improvements, we have 

 too much reason to think that, with a few exceptions, 

 they were a very dull race of men. Other circum- 

 stances also tended to rid me of these bars to im- 

 provement, and nothing more than a psissage I met 

 with some years ago in one of our Greek authors. 

 Being now on my travels I have not the volume to 

 refer to, but the following is the substance. 



