[ 6 5 ] 
ProoFs are much better drawn from nature than 
tradition ; but yet I cannot help obferving, that what 
nature declares in this cafe, tradition feems to con- 
firm i there being a drong perfuafion in the wede n 
parts of Cornwall, that formerly there exided a large 
country betwixt the Lands-end and Syiley, now laid 
many fathoms under water. The particular argu- 
ments, by which they would fupport this tradition, I 
forbear to trouble you with, as they may be feen in 
Mr. Carew’s Survey of Cornwall , p. 3. and in the lad 
edition of Camden, p. 11. But, if I were to produce 
them, it fhould only be to prove, that there was fuch 
a tradition, and not as proofs of the matter of fadt j 
for of that I am very dubious j the Cafiiterides, by 
the mod antient accounts we have of them, appearing 
always to have been idands. I know it is the opinion 
of fome naturalids, that all idands were formerly 
join’d to the continent ; but we may, at lead in my 
opinion, as well fuppofe the feveral parts of the con- 
tinent, which are now feparated by the branches of 
the fea, to have been once conjoin’d ; which will 
prove a great deal too much; the prelent intermix- 
tures of land and water being a much more gracious 
and focial difpofition, and for that reafon more likely 
to be the true and original one, than fo clofe and corn- 
pad an union ; and therefore, where there are not 
fhoals, and other evidences of a connexion (as there 
are none betwixt the Land s-end and Syiley) I think 
it the fafed way not to fuppofe any. 
But tho’ there are no evidences, to be depended upon, 
of any antient connexion of the Land’s end and Syiley, 
yet that the caufe of that inundation, which dedroy’d 
much of thefe iflands, might reach alfo to the Cor- 
I nidi 
