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Show 3. 4 The Art of Travelling. nothing but Ignorance with them into Foreign Courts. I could advance a great deal on this Head, but lhall produce only two Examples, which may ferve to inltruét others, and 'tis in what I have been a Wit- nefs my felf. A certain Gentleman that made a good Appea- rance, and had very great Recommendations (a fatal help in a Foreign Court when a Man has not the art of fupporting them well by his own Conduét) Was ask'd by a Minifter of State, What was the occafion of his Travels, becaufe he feem'd to be of a weak Conftitution, and confiderably advanc'd in Years, and therefore probably had fome particular deligu in view. The Gentleman ingenuoufly an‘fwer'd: Sir, I travel to acquaint my felf with Europe, and to take oceafion hereafter to make my own Countr- acquainted with it. The Minifter replied; If the Pencil that is to draw your Picture of Europe is like that with which you deferibe your own Country, there will be more Fanry than Truth in your Originals. Sir, I can jearce believe (return'd the Gentleman) that there are any more per-fee? ones than thofe I have left in my own Country. Upon which the Minifier rofe up and faid, , Sir, you from to me to be rather [truck with one certain lmpreflion than to have a true hnowledg of things 5 you'll iudg of as [y that in whichyou moft excel: Have a care that you be not judg'd of here by that in which you are mojt (ltfieient. This Stranger was cal‘t into f0 great a perplexity, when he compar'd this Anfwer with the firlt Compliments of Eltcem for his Country, and for the Rev commendations he brought from thence, that he was quite nonplus'd. And tho he would feveral times fain have recover‘d himfelf, and endeavor'd by great Expence, lnduftry and Converfation with in~ genious Men to inform himfelf better than he had done; The Art of Travelling, 3S ' done, all fignified nothing but to give occafion to have it faid to him at the end of eighteen Months, Sir, you had need to come and eonfult us ‘, youfee a .Man learns much if he knows but little when he leaves his own Country ~, and that he has made no finall advantage, who has acquir'd by his Travels the art of Learning. The fecond Infiance is of one who was fent with the Charge of a Negotiation to a Court, where he had Orders to tarry only 1'0 long as was neceflhry to perform his Duty, and to wait for an Anfwer. He came and lodg'd in a Publick Houfe, where he was complimented on the part of the Chief Miniftcr by an Abbot, who found him ready to fit down at Table, very much difpleas'd at the way of drefiing the Vietuals which was prepar'd according to the gult of the Country: After the firft Compliments were pelt, this Envoy could not help laying, What fort of a Country have you here, Sir P Here is not fa good eating a»; in other places where I have been, and nothing near [0 good as at my own Table. Sir, (fan! the Abbot) Men reafon here as they ought to do, but do not much trouble their heads about the art of Cookery ; that they leave to other Nations to carry to the‘highefl‘ pitch of Perfec‘tion they pleafe. What (reply d the Envoy) can there be ju/t reafoning in a Country where every thing feems out of order P At which the Abbot rofe Up and faid, You [hall judg 0}: our‘Countiy‘ (if you pleafe ) by your films; and well refer our ,jel'vcs in this matter to your Opinion, fYOWldt'tl you don t pre- tend to fubjett ours to your pleajure. . By the recital of this foohfh Difcourfe of the Envoy, the Minilter of State hadra fufhcient (himvery of his Charaé‘ter': the day rollowing he came to his Audience, where nothing was difcoursd but State-Aflhirs, and as he was gomg out, fays the Minifl‘er in a tone of Railery: Itej'ure to get agood Dinner, Sir, and pray order your matters [0 as to din;W] I |