To JOHN NICHOLS, Esq.
SIR,
I TAKE the liberty, without soliciting your consent, to inscribe this Work to you.
Although your laborious successful pen has embraced a County; you will not overlook a few mutilated Ditches, and a broken Wall. It is characteristic of the spreading Oak, to shelter the humble Bush.
Whatever is worthy of remark, will attract your eye.—Though your humanity will feel, for the antient animosity, the plunder, and murder, upon the borders of the two respectable Nations; yet you will, rejoice, that concord is established along the line of the Wall; and that, instead of rancour, robbery, burning, and blood, civilization has not only taken place, but even generosity.
You will also pardon the errors of the Work, for you know I was not bred to letters; but, that the battledore, at an age not exceeding six, was the last book I used at school.
I am, Sir, respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
WILLIAM HUTTON.
P R E F A C E.
THERE are few pursuits, in the compass of letters, more dry than that of Antiquity. The Antiquary feeds upon withered husks, which none can relish but himself; nor does he seem to possess the art of dressing up his dried morsel to suit the palate of a reader, for his language is often as dry as his subject; as if the smile was an enemy to Truth. Mere dull description, like a burnt cinder, is dead matter. If he designs a treat, why not infuse a little spice to suit the taste of his guest?
The description also of antiquities is not only the dullest of all descriptions, but is rendered more dull by abstruse terms; by as much learning as the Author can muster, and Latin, as the page can conveniently hold. Instead of inviting, it rather repels a reader. Thus Truth, dressed out like a beau, in flourishing trappings, is scarcely known; but would please in a plain dress.
My dear and learned Reader, though I treat of the Latins, I have no Latin with which I can treat you. My language, like myself, will display something of the Quaker.
I would enliven truth with the smile, with the anecdote; and, while I travel the long and dreary Wall, would have you travel with me, though by your own fire-side; would have you see and feel, as I do; and make the journey influence your passions, as mine are influenced.
The Antiquary values a piece according to its authenticity. A piece of coin, not worth a shilling, will bring many times its intrinsic worth, when its history is known. But, if its antiquity be ever so great, if the history be dark, the value is no more than its weight.
When pieces of Antiquity are common, like old clothes, they lose much of their consequence. Thus, the coins found at Verulam, which I have seen by handfuls, are almost rated at naught.
If the mind is delighted at the sight of a watch worn by Charles the First; a sword carried through France before Edward the Third; a spur worn by William the Conqueror; or with a Danish battle-axe; what astonishment must arise at the sight of the grandest production of Art in the whole Island! the united work of a Commander in Chief and two Emperors, assisted by three powerful armies, and aided by a long series of years!
Having had the pleasure of seeing many Antiques of various ages and people, it naturally excited a desire of proceeding in farther research; and the eye, unsatisfied with feeling, induced a wish to see the greatest of all the curiosities left us by the Romans, The Wall, the wonderful and united works of Agricola, Hadrian, and Severus.
I consulted all the Authors I could procure; which strengthened desire. But I found they were only echoes to each other. Many have written upon the subject; but I could discover, that very few had even seen it, and not a soul had penetrated from one end to the other. Besides, if those who paid a transient visit chose to ride, they could not be minute observers.
Poor Camden travelled it till he was frightened, ran away, and wrote hastily, Horsley was weary, and retreated; but wrote more correct. The judicious Warburton, whom I regard for his veracity, rode on, desisted, and then remarked, "He believed he had trod upon ground which no foot had ever trodden since the Romans." He also transcribes Horsley whom Mr. Gough professes to follow.
I envied the people in the neighbourhood of the Wall, though I knew they valued it no more than the soil on which it stood. I wished to converse with an intelligent resident, but never saw one.
I determined to spend a month, and fifty guineas, in minutely examining the relicks of this first of wonders; began to form my plan of operations, and wrote my sentiments to an eminent printer in London, for whom I have a singular regard; but, receiving no answer, I gave up the design, and, as I thought, for ever; destroyed my remarks, closed with regret all my books of intelligence, and never durst open them, lest it should revive a strong inclination, which I could not gratify.
About four years elapsed, when my family agreed with a gentleman and his lady to visit the Lakes. They enlisted me of the party, in which they found no difficulty, because the temptation lay in the neighbourhood of that wonder which had long engaged my ideas.
I have given a short sketch of my approach to this famous Bulwark; have described it as it appears in the present day, and stated my return.
Perhaps, I am the first man that ever travelled the whole length of this Wall, and probably the last that ever will attempt it. Who then will say, he has, like me, travelled it twice!
Old people are much inclined to accuse youth of their follies; but on this head silence will become me, lest I should be asked, "What can exceed the folly of that man, who, at seventy-eight, walked six hundred miles to see a Shattered Wall!"
Birmingham, April 13,
1802.