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name. As to the country frdm which the author ofthe F.dda came, I would adopt the common tradition■which fixes his ancient feat in the neighbourhood oftheTanais and the Palus Mæotis. I am not fright-ened at the greatnefs of the diftance. Great journiesare accomplilhed by favage nations; and their fcantygeographical knowledge is often extended by acci-dent. A Scythian of the tribe of 4/<^j taken prifonerby his neighbours, may have paffed through fuccef-five mailers to the fhore ofthe Baltic. At his return ,he would defcribe the advantageous fituation ofthecountry , and the facility with which its conqueftmight be effeded. Odin (we mull fuppofe him, aman cf genius ) would perceive, that the nationsbordering on the empire were lefs ignorant,and morewaihke, than thofe removed at a greater dillance ; andthat the leader of a fmall tribe , who wifhed to founda great kingdom, mull march againft the northernex:remity. The intermediate nations would gladlydeliver themfelves from a dangerous invader bygranting to him a free palfage; a favor which, inan age little {killed in the art of fortification, is offmall importance ; and which the heroical fincerityof barbarians feldom permitted them to abufe. Thecourfes of the great rivers mull have much facilitatedhis journey. He would fail up the Tanais and theVolga , to defeend with the ftream of the Dina to theneighbourhood of Riga . The fources of thofe riversare not widely diflant from each other; and whenthe land was lefs elevated by feventy-eight feet thanit is at prefent, there may have been communica-*tions, now loft, between neighbouring feas. Odineftablilhtd his worftiip in Scandinavia . Thence it