Hail, Baxter lives! in each descriptive page Are seen the labours of the Roman age: What ere the sons of Rome or Albion knew, We here discern at one compendious view. Thus taught we pass the Caledonian flood, Or fertile plains that smile from Cimbric blood: Where Vaga’s streams glide murmuring near the tomb, } (Darksome recess) where mighty Chiefs of Rome } Have slumber’d ages in its silent gloom: } Where airy lamps the distant sailor guide, Or where the labour’d arch deceives the tide: Where Geta kept the Belgic youth in awe, Or where Papinian gave the Roman law. Pleas’d I behold Sabrina’s silver stream, Or hear the murmurs of the doubtful Teme. With you, methinks, from Cred’nil I survey Th’ important conflict of the furious day: See, see! Frontinus fierce in armour shine, Where the war burns upon the vale of Eigne. Here on the plains of Aricon we learn Life’s various period from the peaceful urn. Yon hoary Druids pray celestial aid, Where sacred oaks diffuse a solemn shade; Each branch aspiring to the blest abode Lifts up the vows of Britain to the God. Go on, my friend! the curious theme pursue, } The mystic scenes of early time review, } And tell Britannia, Baxter lives in you. } JAMES HILL, J. C. _Middle-Temple, London, Dec. 1. 1724._ [Illustration: _Ingratiam Itinerantium Curiosorum. +Antonini+_ Aug. _+Itinerarium+_ per +Britanniam+. tentavit _W. Stukeley_ 1723.] ITINERARIUM CURIOSUM, &c. ITER DOMESTICUM. I. _I, fuge, sed poteras tutior esse domi._ +Mart.+ _To_ MAURICE JOHNSON, Jun. _Esq._ _Barrister at Law of the_ Inner-Temple. The amity that long subsisted between our families giving birth to an early acquaintance, a certain sameness of disposition, particularly a love to antient learning, advanced our friendship into that confidence, which induces me to prefix your name to this little summary of what has occurred to me worth mentioning in our native country, HOLLAND, in Lincolnshire; but chiefly intended to provoke you to pursue a full history thereof, who have so large a fund of valuable papers and collections relating thereto, and every qualification necessary for the work. That these memoirs of mine are so short, is because scarce more time than that of childhood I there spent, and when I but began to have an inclination for such enquiries: that the rest which follow are grown to such a bulk as to become the present volume, is owing to my residence at London. Great as are the advantages of this capital, for opportunities of study, or for the best conversation in the world, yet I should think a confinement to it insupportable, and cry out with the poet,