t in Switzerland. The author of a
travel lately into that country, tells us for certain, that "wine is a
singular attractive, a powerful charm, against which the Swiss can make
no manner of resistance[9]."

Before I close this chapter I shall take notice of the Flemings, whom we
ought to look upon as making part of Germany, who, though they are
surrounded by water, take care never to drink any, which made Scaliger,
when in Holland, say to Douza,

"In mediis habitamus aquis, quis credere possit
Et tamen hic nullae, Douza, bibuntur aquae[10]."

Amidst the waters here we live,
Yet who can any credit give
To what I say, for, Douza, here
No water drinkers e'er appear.

Guicciardin, in his description of the low countries, accuses the people
of drinking too much. _Hanno_[11], says he, _poi per la maggior parte
quel vitio del bere troppo_. He adds, however, "That they are in some
sort excusable, because the air of the country being for the most part
of the year humid, and apt to inspire melancholy, they could not,
perhaps, make use of a more efficacious remedy to expel this irksome,
unwholesome melancholy, than wine, which, I suppose, was Horace's
sentiment, when he said, With wine drive away care. The words in the
original are, _Ma sono in qualche parte scusabili, per che essendo
l'aria del paese il pui del tempo humida et malinconica, non potrieno
peraventura trovar instromento piu idoneo a scacciare et battere la
malinconia odiosa et mal sana che il vino, si come pare che accerni
Horatio dicendo. Vino pellite curas._"

But without any farther talking of the Germans, I shall end this chapter
with this necessary remark, that one need not go out of England for
examples of hard drinking, our country, God bless it, does not come
behind any other in this particular.

[Footnote 1: G. Brusch. Inter. p. 405.]

[Footnote 2: Diem noctemque continuare nullum probium, crebrae ut
inter vinolentos rixae, raro conviciis sepius cede et vulneribus
transiguntur. Sed et de reconciliandis invicem inimicitiis et
pangendis affinitatibus et adsciscendis principibus, de pace
denique ac bello plerunque in conviviis consultant; tanquam nullo
magis tempore aut ad simplices cogitationes patea animus, aut ad
magnas incalescat.] [[Tacitus, _Germania_ 22.]]

[Footnote 3: Memoir de Thou. liv. ii. p. 63.]

[Footnote 4: Voyag. p. 27. ed. 1646.]

[Footnote 5: Voyage de Italie, t.