of the Natives of Ruffia. 625 
This I ill all endeavour to do, and it will probably give 
pleafure to thofe gentlemen, who have prefcribed the 
new regimen to the Britifh navy with fo much fuccefs, 
to have the evidence of fome millions to prove, that they 
have actually hit upon the very fecret by which nature 
defends her creatures, in thofe countries where it is ne- 
ceffary, from the very difeafe which has been the fcourge 
of the nobleft naval eftablifhment that ever the world 
faw. Nay, one would think that the diet thefe peo- 
ple ufe had been dictated by modern philofophy, or ra- 
ther that your Prefident, your macbride’s, &c. had 
ftudied at this fchool ; for almoft every thing they ufe 
feems to be of that kind which the fortunate attention to 
the antifeptic qualities of fixed air has recommended for 
medical ufe. Here the experimental philofopher may 
be indulged in a triumph ; and I really think your lords 
of the admiralty ought in gratitude to eredt ftatues to 
the induftrious and fuccefs ful profecutors of that noble 
and ufeful ftudy. 
The only part of the food of our Northern people, 
that does not come under the defeription given, is fait 
meat and fifh ; the latter they eat during their falls 
w'here frefh fifh cannot be procured, at leaft not upon 
terms that fuit their circumftances ; and there are alfo 
fome places where the fcarcenefs of fodder during the 
Vol. LXVIII. 4 H winter 
