WILDFOWL SHOOTING. 303 



well as in many others, I have to beg pardon for the 

 style in which I have written. But in a work where 

 the poor author is left without a single muse to in- 

 spire him, the subject will often become, both to the 

 writer and the reader, like a dreary journey, where 

 any trifling observation may be admissible to lighten 

 the way. For instance, when we give a dissertation 

 on water boots, hot oil, and Russia duck, the hero of 

 his own tale might, it is presumed, crave a little in- 

 dulgence for what the sceptic might consider playing 

 the fool with his pen ; or, in another point of view, 

 taking the advice of ^sop to the Athenian philo- 

 sopher, and unbending that bow, which, the sceptic 

 himself admits', has been already strained too hard by 

 the generality of authors and travellers. 



