4 
TRAVELS 
character of him that Rands impeached. Thofe who have tra¬ 
velled in the North, or defcribed that part of Europe, have been 
peculiarly unfortunate in being expofed to attacks of this kind, 
and having their candour and diligence called in queftion. The 
accufation has, in general, been brought by natives, who, though 
we may allow them to be well acquainted with their own country, 
cannot be fuppofed to furpafs others in the virtue of impartiality. 
They are certainly as liable to be biaffed in favour of what they 
call their own, as foreigners who come to vifit them may be on 
the oppofite fide. It is by no means eafy to divert ourfelves of all 
prejudice and predilection for thofe places where we were born, 
and where we fpent the earlieft and happieft days of our exiftence: 
and this natural partiality fhould always be taken into the ac¬ 
count, when the afeertaining of truth is our objeCt. We may 
grant that a man polTefTes a perfeCt knowledge of the local fituation, 
the government, manners and other particulars of his country: 
but neverthelefs he may be prejudiced; and while he labours un¬ 
der this difadvantage, and is fwayed by thofe narrow ideas, which 
are the almoft inevitable confequence of a life entirely parted at 
home, he cannot claim unlimited confidence for his affertions. 
Thus, when a Swede fmiles at Mr. Coxe’s reprefenting Warmer- 
land as a moft delightful country, beautifully interfperfed and 
variegated with lakes, charming vales and well cultivated fields, 
we think him juftified in differing from that gentleman’s deferip- 
tion ; and admit that, on the contrary, it is a dreary and unplea- 
fant traCl, diverfified only by naked rocks and barren hills. But 
when 
