The Mantuan Swain lived constantly at court: Horace wrote in celebration of a country life when he resided in Rome: and it is well known travels, voyages, etc. to every part of the world have been written in London. Why should I not then, Eliza Finlay Spinster, attempt delineating manners, which I have really seen? My scruples would intrude--that perhaps I am not sufficiently informed, as I have only resided here a month; but these vanish on the recollection that I must certainly be in the right in the above position--Otherwise, could it be possible for Mr Blacklock[33], a poet blind from his birth, to describe visible objects with more spirit and justness, than others blessed with the most perfect sight? Could certain orators, famous for their _extravagance_, harangue on _economy_--Or the learned at Venice employ father Piaggi to copy the manuscript found at Herculaneum (though he is unacquainted with Greek, the language they are written in)--Or could our own countrymen, the _learned_, _judicious_ body in Warwick-lane, refuse to admit to be their associates in the science of _Æsculapius_, any but those who have studied where--_medicine is not taught_? After such precedents as these, it is clear I cannot err, in informing you of what--_I know little about_. Besides, it is an established rule of prudence, on the contrary, never to commit yourself by talking or writing on a subject the world gives you the credit of understanding, as you have _nothing_ to _gain_ but _much_ to _lose_. This consideration no doubt induced one author[34] to omit in his tragedy _morality_, which should be the ground-work of every fable, and deterred another[34] from acknowledging providence, though it so eminently presided, and was so conspicuously displayed in the miraculous escapes made in the voyages he wrote of. This being premised, I will now begin boldly to _relate_ many things I cannot _comprehend_.