48 INTRODUCTORY CHAPTER. 



much rather take his word, than be at the 

 pains of poring over mufty authors; that 

 literary men feldom bellowed their attention 

 upon fuch fubjecrs ; and even if detected by 

 the difcerning few, he trufled to the novelty of 

 his phrafes, to the charms of his diclion, and 

 the thunders of his eloquence, for the murages 

 of the unthinking many. Provided he could 

 incite folly to clap her hands, and draw her 

 purfe-ft rings, he cared not a fig how much, or 

 how long, poor wifdom flared. Another 

 fource of fecurity, he was fenfible he had 

 drawn his draughts from the fountain head; 

 and provided a fhopkeeper fells a good mar- 

 ketable commodity, the buyer is little folicitous 

 to enquire how, or from whence, he obtained 

 it. I have been detailing the opinions of my 

 veterinary and fporting friends; for my own 

 part, I, who am naturally credulous, and apt to 

 believe the profeflions of all men, am more 

 inclined to fuppofe Mr. Taplin really in earned, 

 and that he was deceived by an over-weaning 

 opinion of himfelf, rather than actuated by 

 unfair intentions. We read, that the difciples 

 of a certain philofopher, having eaten cummin 

 feeds, until they were as pale: really fancied 

 themfelves as wife as their matter; fo Taplin, 

 having pored over the leffons of his mailers, 

 Gibfon and Bracken, until they were thorough- 

 ly grounded in a convenient memory, at length 



actually 



