CHAP. XII.

The author's veracity. His defign in publishing this work. His cenfure of those travellers who fwerve from the truth. The author clears himself from any finifter ends in writing. An objection anfwered. The method of planting colonies. His native country commended. The right of the crown to those countries deScribed by the author, is justified. The difficulty of conquering them. The author takes bislast leave of the reader; proposeth his manner of living for the future; gives good advice and concludeth.

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THUS gentle reader, I have given thee a faithful history of my travels for fixteen years and above seven months; wherein I have not been so studious of ornament as of truth. I could perhaps like others, have aftonish'd thee with strange improbable tales; but I rather chafe to relate plain matter of fact in the simplest manner and style; because my principal design was to inform, and not to amuse thee.

It is easy for us who travel into remote countries, which are seldom visited by englishmen or other europeans, to form defcriptions of wonderful animals both at Tea and land. Whereas a traveller's chief aim should be to make men wiser and better, and to improve their minds by the bad, as well as good example, of what they denver concerning foreign places.

could heartily with a law was enacted, that every traveller, before he were permitted to publish his voyages, should be obliged to make oath before the lord bish Ghancellor, that all he intended to print was abfolutely true to the best of this knowledge; for then the world would And longer be deceived, as it usually is; wime fome writers, to make their works pals the better upon the public, impose the groffeft falfities on the unwary reader. have perused several books of travels with great delight in my younger days; but having fince gone over most parts of the globe, and been able to contradict many fabulous accounts from my own obTervation, it hath given me a great disgust against this part of reading, and fome inL12 dignation

dignation to see the credulity of mankind so impudently abused. Therefore, fince my acquaintance were pleased to think my poor endeavours might not be unacceptable to my country, I imposed on myself as a maxim never to be swerved from, that I would strictly adhere to truth; neither indeed can I be ever under the leaft temptation to vary from it, while I retain in my mind the lectures and example of my noble master, and the other illustrious Houyhnhnms, of whom I had so long the honour to be an humble hearer.

Nec fi miferum Fortuna Sinonent Finxit, vanum etiam, mendacemque improba finget.

I know very well, how little reputation is to be got by writings, which require neither genius nor learning, nor indeed any other talent, except a good memory, or an exact journal. I know likewife, that writers of travels, like dictionary-makers, are funk into oblivion by the weight and bulk of those, who come last, and therefore lie uppermoft. And it is highly probable, that fuch travellers, who shall here

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after vifit the countries described in this work of mine, may by detecting my errors (if there be any) and adding many new discoveries of their own, justle me out of vogue and stand in my place, making the world forget that ever I was an author. This indeed would be too great a mortification, if I wrote for fame: but as my fole intention was the public good, I cannot be altogether disappointed. For who can read of the virtues I have mentioned in the glorious Houyhnhnms without being ashamed of his own vices, when he confiders himself as the reasoning, governing animal of his country? I shall say nothing of those remote nations, where yahoos prefide; amongst which the least corrupted are the Brobdingnagians, whose wife ims in morality and government it would *be our happiness to observe. But I forbear defcanting farther, and rather leave the judicious reader to his own remarks and applications.

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I am not a little pleased, that this work of mine can possibly meet with no cenfurers: for what objections can be made against a writer, who relates only plain L13 facts,

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facts, that happened in such distant countries, where we have not the least interest with respect either to trade or negotiations? I have carefully avoided every fault, with which commom writers of travels are often too justly charged. Befides, I meddle not the least with any party, but write without passion, prejudice, or illwill against any man, or number of men whatsoever. I write for the noblest end, to inform and instruct mankind, over whom I may, without breach of modefty, pretend to some fuperiority from the advantages I received by converfing so long among the most accomplished Houyhnhnms. I write without any view towards profit or praise. I never fuffer a word to pass, that may look like reflection, or possibly give the least offence, even to those who are most ready to take it. So that I hope, I may with justice pronounce myself an author perfectly blameless; against whom the tribes of answerers, confiderers, obfervers, reflecters, detecters, remarkers, will never be able to find matter for exercising their talents.

I confefs, it was whispered to me, that

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