He also confess'd to me, that he himself never had any great Regard for that Sort of Persons, which he own'd he sometimes had Reason to repent; for he found that by their Verses and Discourses, they influenced the Publick very much, by whom they were look'd upon with more Esteem, than by the Courtiers; and that his Enemies had made a proper Advantage of his Contempt of them; for they had taken the most ingenious amongst them into their Party, and exasperated them against him; so that their Compositions had kept up a Spirit against him, and he had the Mortification of seeing the People always receive with Pleasure any thing that exposed and satyriz'd his Conduct. That indeed in his own Defence, he had imploy'd some others to chant his Praise; but they were such wretched Poetasters, and did it so awkardly, that their Performances prov'd more bitter Invectives than the Satyrs of the others; for whenever there happen'd the least Flaw in his Administration, he was sure to receive congratulatory Verses immediately upon it; and that was the Time they chose to proclaim the Happiness the Subject enjoy'd by his wise Management: And they carried this Matter to such a ridiculous Height, that there was not a Vice or a Folly, that either he or any of his Family were remarkable for, but they were prais'd for the contrary Vertues and Accomplishments.

By this Time we arriv'd at the Gates of the Palace; for the Coach being drawn by Six Ostriches, we were but a little Time upon the Way; and mounting the great Stair-case, without being any way molested by the People's Curiosity (for the Moment my Lord appear'd every Fowl of what Quality soever, clapp'd his Beak to the Ground, and did not alter that Posture till he was past) he bid me stay in the Anti-chamber till sent for, and went himself into the Presence. He had not been there five Minutes, before I heard that Door open, and a Jay with a strait-body'd Coat, which button'd on his Breast, and thro' which his Wings and Legs pass'd, came hopping into the Room where I was, surrounded by the Courtiers, who view'd me with Surprize, but were so well bred as to whisper their Sentiments of me. This impertinent Jay peck'd 'em by the Legs, or pull'd 'em by the Crown-feathers, without Distinction: Nay, I saw some Cacklogallinians of the great Order, whose Heads he could not reach, stoop to him, and beg he would do them the Honour to pull their Crowns. Every one shew'd him Respect, and made way for him to come up to me; he view'd me some time, and then peck'd me by the Finger; for he did not reach higher than my Hand, when it hung down. I returned the Compliment with a Wherret of my Fist, which knock'd him over, and had cost me my Life, durst any have struck in the Palace. There was a terrible Uproar, and I was apprehensive, that I should pay dear for my Resentment; but the Emperor to whom my Lord was then giving an Account of me, being inform'd, that the Impertinence of the Jay had caus'd the Disturbance, he order'd him to be carried to the Guard, that he should be lock'd up for three Days, and take two Purges and a Vomit (for Criminals not guilty of Capital Crimes, are punish'd by a Number of Vomits or Purges, which are more or less, according to the Vileness of the Fact) I was called into the Presence-chamber, where I made my Compliment as instructed, and then address'd my self to the Ladies, giving the Precedence always to the bulkiest, according to my Instructions. The first Squabbaw whom I address'd my self to, was about Seven Foot round; her Crop hung within Six Inches of the Floor, which I have since learn'd is a particular Beauty; the Effluvia of her Body were extreamly strong, and oblig'd his Imperial Majesty, when she spread her Tail to me, to smell to an Aromatick Leaf.

This Prince, tho' of a very advanced Age, has been represented, both by the Reports of his Ministers, and others, as a Person of great Incontinency, in which I think he was injured; for tho' he pass'd most of his private Hours only in the Company of the Vultuaquilian Squabbaws (so call'd from the Province where they were born) he did it, partly because of his long Accquaintance with them, and partly to hinder the too frequent Visits of the first Minister, who scarce ever came into his Presence, but to importune him, for new Grants and Promotions for Himself and Family; and as to the Cacklogallinian Squabbaws, he sometimes admitted them to please their Husbands and Relations, who flatter themselves with an imaginary Honour, to have their Wives and Daughters near him. I have good Grounds for what I advance; for I was Five Years in his Court, and frequently convers'd with his Squabbaws. This won't I hope, be thought a piece of Vanity in me, when the Reader reflects, that I was look'd upon as a Monkey is with our Ladies.

The Emperor was highly delighted with the Present his Minister made him, and order'd all possible Care to be taken of me. My Lord told him I might be as useful to his Majesty as my Make was curious, for he found me very intelligent, learning the Languages with great Facility, and that it was possible I might be serviceable in extending his Dominions, by bringing that Part of the World, which my Species inhabited, in Subjection to his Imperial Majesty.

Have they, said the Emperor, any Gold among them? I took the Liberty of assuring his Majesty, that we were the richest Nation in the Universe; that by our Trade, which never was so flourishing as at this Time, we brought in immense Quantities of that valuable Metal, and that we suffer'd none to be exported. It may then, replied his Majesty, be worth our while, one Day to think of this.

The Emperor order'd me to be conducted to an Apartment, and Leave was given to all the Vultuaquilian first, and Cacklogallinian Quality, to see me the next Day. I had every thing I could wish provided for me, and a Month after I had been at Court, I had the Liberty of the Palace, and the Emperor would often call me into his Closet (as he found I was not ignorant in Arithmetick) to help him weigh and count his Wedges of Gold, and set down the Number, Weight and Value of each Piece; for this was a Diversion in which he amused himself.

This Prince was not very curious, for in the five Years I was in his Court, he scarce ever asked me one Question concerning the Europeans; nor was he in one Respect the Bubble of his Favourites, for I never saw him give one Piece of Gold to any of them, even the Squabbaws.

The Grandees, who perceived me grow in Favour so far, as that the Jay was turn'd out of Court for his Sawciness to me, which he redoubled after his having been confined, strove who shou'd shew me the most Respect, and make me the greatest Professions of friendship. They not only offer'd me their Purses, but even their Wives and Daughters, whom they often left with me and whose Immodesty has often put me to the Blush. Nay, a Boutofallalian, a Title answering to our Duke, told me, if I continued this Shyness, and would not do him the Honour to pass now and then an Hour with his Lady, he shou'd not take me for his Friend; and leaving her with me, he lock'd the Door.

Her Grace was as generous as her Spouse; and when I urg'd the Difference of our Species, she said, she was satisfied that wou'd be no Impediment, by what she had seen, for I had indeed no other Covering than a Mantle, and both his Majesty and his Squabbaws took a Pleasure to teaze me, by pulling it off, and leaving me naked in a full Circle. In short, I was forc'd to save my self by the Window being on a Ground Floor, after all my Excuses were to no Purpose: But fearing the Lady's Resentment, I begg'd the Minister, exaggerating her Husband's Merits, to give him a Pension, and I my self carried and delivered the Grant to her Grace, which made my Peace with both.

One Day, an old Colonel, who was very poor, accosted me in the Emperor's Garden. My Lord, said he, I beg you will vouchsafe me an Audience of Quarter of an Hour; I shall look upon it as the greatest Condescension in you, and as the greatest Honour done me. I told him he mistook my Title, and gave me one I never did aspire to; but that I was very ready to hear and serve him, for I had seen him often at Court offering Petitions, which were always rejected, and I had a Compassion for him.

"Your Goodness, said he, can alone be equalled by your Modesty; give me Leave then to tell you, I have served long and faithfully in the late Wars against the Owls and Magpyes, but to my great Surprize, at my Return home; my Regiment, without any Fault alledg'd, was taken from me, and given to a Valet de Chambre who had never seen an Enemy; his Master was a Boutofallalian, had a Mind to reward his Pimp, and all that I cou'd say, might as well have been let alone. I had no Estate but what I sold, and gave to a Courtier to get this Regiment, after I had served many Years as a Captain, without the least Blemish in my Character. I have since been in almost a starving Condition, and have wearied my self out with Petitions to no Purpose; for if any, as very few, were received, they were never answered, and perhaps never read. I have therefore no Hopes but what are founded on your Charity: I see it vain to hope for Employment, and shall change my Suit to that of being put into the Hospital of the Meritorians (which in English, signifies disabled and superannuated Soldiers) I beg your Compassion for a most unfortunate and perishing Man, who has served his Prince and Country with Fidelity, and on several Occasions has distinguish'd himself, as Your Honour will be satisfied, if you will take the Pains to examine these Certificates."

He put several into my Hands; one mentioned his being the first who broke Ranks, and put the right Wing of the Enemy in Disorder, which was followed by a signal Victory over the Magpyes and Owls: Then another mentioned his taking the Royal Banner, in the Battle of Bellfugaro: A third certify'd his surprizing a great Convoy of Provisions, carrying to the Enemy's Camp, the Loss of which, made them break up the Siege of Barbaquero. In short, he had about Twenty, signed by the General and chief Officers, which spoke him a Fool of singular Gallantry. When I had return'd them, I ask'd, in what he thought I could serve him?

"I beg, said he, you wou'd recommend me to the Minister to be provided for as a superannuated Officer; your Honour cannot do an Act of greater Charity."

"Sir, said I, is it possible you can be so great a Stranger to the Court, as to imagine Merit carries any Weight with it. Your Certificates prove you have done your Duty like a gallant Officer; but then you have done no more than what was expected from you, and what you were paid for."

"I acknowledge what your Honour says, replied the Colonel, but I can name many, who have run away, or been taken violently ill at the time of a Battle, and who are not only continued in Post, but even advanced."

I answer'd, it was very true; but that such Fowls were otherwise serviceable in the Government, had handsome Wives or Daughters, or could procure such of their Acquaintance, or perhaps were elected into the Grand Council of the Nation, and had a Vote to dispose of.

But, Sir, I will deal with you ingenuously, I can do you no Service at all in this Affair; for the Minister has so many Bable-Cypherians (in English, Members of the Great Council) to oblige, and they have so many Valet de Chambres, Butlers, and Footmen to provide for in the Hospital, that it's more likely the Officers and Soldiers now there will be turn'd out to make Place for them, than any other will be admitted. If you have Interest to get a Number of these Bable-Cypherians to back your Petition, which you may get, if you can bribe and cajole the Attendants of their Squabbaws, or their own Valets, it's possible you may succeed in your Pretensions.

"I'll sooner, said he, starve, than be guilty of so great a Condescension, or more properly, so mean an Action." This he said with some Warmth, and I replied as coolly, it was in his own Option. "I find then, said the Colonel, you won't serve me."

I have, said I, given you Reasons which prove this Way I cannot: But if giving your Petition and Certificates to the Emperor will be of use, I'll venture to do it for you.

"The Emperor, replied he, is a good Prince, but has little Interest with the Minister; and to hope any thing, but thro' his Canal, is altogether vain." Saying this, he took his Leave in a very courteous manner. The Minister was inform'd, that I had entertain'd a long Discourse with this Officer, and ask'd me the Subject of it. I told him what he desired, but that I declined troubling his Excellency with such Trifles.

"These Fowls, said he, who build on their own Merit, are extremely impertinent. The Colonel now in Question is one of your Fowls who might by his Principles have made a Fortune, had he lived Two or Three Hundred Years ago; but they are now obsolete, and he starves by tenaciously practising his musty Morals. Why, he'll have the Impudence to be always speaking Truth; and tho' he has been thrust out of the Palace for this Vice more than once, he is not to be corrected. He will tell a Fowl of Quality without Ceremony, that he's a Pimp, and was raised by the Hens of his Family: He'll make no Bones of telling another, if his Prudence made him decline Danger, that he's a Coward: A Third he'll impudently remind of his former Livery, tho' his good Fortune has raised him to the Title of a Grandee. Nay, he had the Face to tell me, upon my refusing to take his Petition, That it was great Pity, when I was imprisoned for Peculation, that the Justice of the Nation did not first purge, and then hang me; that I was a publick Robber, and deserv'd the Gallows more richly than a common Thief. His Poverty and Folly made me pity and pardon him, if leaving him to be laugh'd at and starv'd, are to be esteemed no Punishment. As I really pity'd the Fowl, I found where he lodged, and supplied him with sufficient to keep him above Want, tho' I would never trust him with the Knowledge of his Benefactor, nor would ever after be seen to give him the least Countenance."



The Character of the Cacklogallinians in general.

The Cacklogallinians were, in former Ages, a Wise and a Warlike Nation, both fear'd and esteem'd by their Neighbours. Their Blood was pure, without being mix'd with that of the Owls, Magpies, Eagles, Vulturs, Jays, Partridges, Herns, Hawks, or any other Species; the Scum of which Nation, by the Fertility of the Country, and the want of Foresight in the Cacklogallinians, has been allured to, and permitted to settle in Cacklogallinia, and by their Intermarriages has caused the great Degeneracy those Families, which have kept their Blood untainted, complain of.

The History of their Neighbours are standing Witnesses of the Worth of their Ancestors, and shew the vast Difference between the ancient and modern Cacklogallinians. The former, tho' tenacious of their Liberty, were remarkable for their Loyalty; and each thought it his peculiar Interest zealously to promote that of the Publick. But not to be prolix in the Character of the old Cacklogallinians, I shall give it in few Words. They were what the English now are, Wise, Modest, Brave, Human, Loyal, Publick-spirited, capable of governing their own, and conquering other Kingdoms; Hospitable to Strangers: They encourag'd Merit, and abominated Flattery. A Pimp in those Days wou'd have starv'd, and even the Concubine of a Prince not been admitted among Hens of Virtue, tho' to make the Fortune of a Husband. There was no Upstarts among the Nobility, and if any were rais'd to Titles, it was by Force of a conspicuous Merit, which gave a Lustre to the August Assembly in which he was enroll'd. Justice was impartially administer'd, and the selling of the People to a Prince or Minister, was a Villainy unknown. None bribed the People to chuse 'em for their Representatives; Posts in the Government were given to Fowls capable to serve it, without being burthened with this or that Family, nor were their Revenues loaded with Pensions to worthless and vicious Persons, and given for Services which would be a Disgrace to publish. Trade flourish'd, Money was plenty, none of their Neighbours durst encroach on their Commerce; their Taxes were inconsiderable: In a Word, as I before said, they were what our happy Nation now is, admired for the Prudence of their Administration at home, and the Terror of their Arms abroad. They are now directly the Reverse of what they were, and even in my Time, they were sinking in the Opinion of their Neighbours, who began to consider them as a declining Nation, which Alteration, I must own (for I love to speak the Truth) was not a little owing to the Administration of my Friend, the first Minister, who in taking upon him to manage the Interests of Nations, went out of his Depth, for Affairs of that Nature seemed to be above his Capacity. His Education, his Study, his Practice, were rather mercantile, than otherwise, and all that Knowledge which his Partizans boast so much in him, was confined to the Business of the Taxes, a Road in which he was (as it were) grown old, and to Money-Projects, which was owing to a strict Correspondence he always kept with certain projecting and mercantile People, and being used to carry all Points at home by Gold, he knew no other way of doing Business abroad; so that when their Neighbours used to differ among themselves, about some Points of Interest, and one Side or other stood in Need of the Assistance of the Cacklogallinians, they sometimes push'd themselves into the Quarrel, and perhaps paid great Sums of Money for the Favour of sending Armies to the Succour of one Side or other, so that they became the Tools which other Nations work'd with. They are naturally prone to Rebellion, have let the Cormorants chouse them out of several valuable Branches of their Commerce; and yet the Cormorants are People with whom they have kept the most lasting Friendship of all their Neighbours. They love War, and rather than not fight, they will give Money to be let into the Quarrel (as has been hinted before) they know beforehand, however victorious they may prove, nothing but Blows will fall to their Share. If they are under a mild Government, and grow rich, they are always finding Fault with their Superiors, and ever ready to revolt: But if they are oppress'd and kept poor, like our Spaniels, they fawn on their Masters, and seem in Love with Tyranny; which should any dare to speak against, he is esteem'd an Enemy to the Happiness of his Country. They are very proud, yet very mean in some Particulars, and will, for their Interest, sacrifice the Honour of their Families. They look upon nothing infamous but Poverty, for which Reason, the most scandalous Methods of procuring Riches, such as Lying, Robbing the Publick, Cheating Orphans, Pimping, Perjury, & c. are not look'd upon with evil Eyes, provided they prove successful. This Maxim holds with 'em, both in publick and private Affairs. I knew One rais'd from a Fowl of Three Foot Six Inches, to be a Makeseulsibi, a Post which rais'd him to Eight Foot Six, and is one of the greatest in the Kingdom. He is to instruct the Grandees, when in Council, in Points of Law, and is Guardian to all Orphans. Complaint was made to the Emperor, that he converted their Estates to his own Use, and left them all to starve; he was therefore, by the Emperor's Consent, and to satisfy the People, brought to a Tryal. He answer'd, That he did not deny the Charge; but that he wanted the Money to make a Figure equal to his Post: However, the Enquiry discover'd his vast Acqusitions, and prov'd him to be so rich, that he was look'd upon with Respect, and he lived and died in as much Grandeur, and Tranquillity, as if he had been a Patriot, and at his Funeral, his great Service to his Country was blazon'd out in Figures and Hieroglyphicks by the Heralds; which being a thing I seem'd amaz'd at, and enquiring of many, how it came to pass, that a Fowl should be treated with Honour, who had been esteem'd an Oppressor? the common Answer was, he died rich, and that was enough for all Honours.

The Religion of the Cacklogallinians.

This Nation pretends to believe a first Being, and to worship one God, tho' I confess, when I was first amongst them, I thought otherwise; for I Found the People of the best Rank amongst them always ridiculing Religion. They had formerly a Globe of pure Gold in their Temples, an Emblem of Eternity: It was inscribed with unintelligible Characters, by which they figured the Inscrurability of his Decrees. This some call'd superstitious, and were for having razed, and the Ball, which was, in their Opinion, too big, new melted, and cast into a different Form. Some were for a Square, to give an Emblem, of Justice; others would have it, an Octogon, by which they would shadow his Ubiquity. Another Party insisted upon its being cast again, but in no regular Form; for all Forms and Regularity they look'd upon superstitious. Their Disputes on this Subject ran so high, that they came to Blows, and each Party, as it was victorious, modelled the Globe to his own Humour or Caprice. But the Ball being so often melted, and Part of the Gold being lost in each Fusion, it was at last almost imperceivable. These Bickerings shed a great deal of Blood, and being at length tired with worrying each other upon this Account, a new Globe was cast, but not exactly round, to satisfy tender Consciences. In process of Time, it was thought that a brazen Globe might do as well as one of Gold, and new Disputes beginning to arise, it was decreed, that this Globe should stand in the Temple, but that every one in particular should have at home an Idol after his own Fashion provided they wou'd only bow to this, and the Revenues were continued to the Priests to furnish Sacrifices. The Heads of the Priests at last thinking these Sacrifices altogether needless, and a very great Expence, dropp'd 'em by Degrees: However, some say this was done by some of the Grandees, as a Means to make the Priests less respected, and put the Money in their own Coffers, which has made them both rich and insolent. They were formerly a cunning Set, but they are not look'd upon as such now, for they take but little Care, either to cultivate the Interest, or support the Credit and Dignity of their Order; and as some of them are given to Luxury, which they have not taken due Care to conceal, the common Sort do not entertain the same Respect for them they did in former Times.

However, the poor Clergy (for they are not all rich, Affairs of Religion being modell'd after those of the State, the Great devouring the Small) lead moral Lives, and there is a Sect amongst them which keeps up the golden Ball, continues the Sacrifices, and detests Perjury; but these are obliged to perform their Ceremonies by Stealth, and are prosecuted as an obstinate ill-designing People.

The Grandees have no Statues in their Houses; they own indeed a Deity, some of them at least, but don't think the worshipping that Deity of any Consequence. The meaner People began to be as polite as the Courtiers, and to have as little Religion, before I left Cacklogallinia. This Irreligion I can attribute to nothing so much as the Contempt of the Clergy, whom some of the Nobility, especially of the Court, have endeavour'd to render hateful and ridiculous to the People, by representing them as a lazy, useless, Order of Birds, no better than the Drones. They also chufe out now and then, some to place at their Head, who had distinguish'd themselves for their Infidelity, and had declared themselves Enemies to the Religion of the Country, by which means the whole Order lost their Sway with the People; besides which, the richer Sort amongst them were generally reputed to be much addicted to Gluttony.

Of the Policy and Government of the Cacklogallinians.

The Cacklogallinians boast mightily of their being the only Nation in the World which enjoys Liberty, and therefore, upon all Occasions, they talk of, and treat the rest of the World as Slaves. They pretend to maintain, that their Monarchy being elective, their Emperors are no more than their Servants, and that they can exercise no longer a Power, than they are pleas'd to give it them, which is just as much as will serve to put the Laws in Execution, and keep the great Machine of Government in good Order; and that whenever he attempts to transgress those Bounds, they make no Ceremony of turning him out, and setting up another in his Room. But, by what I could judge by my own proper Observation, this appeared to me, to be no more than an empty Boast (for indeed the Cacklogallinians are apt to run into an Extravagance of Vanity, whenever they speak of themselves) for in my Time my Friend and Patron the first Minister acted as absolutely, and dependently of all Creatures (except of the Squabbaws) as the most arbitrary Prince, who acknowledges no Law but his own Will and Pleasure.

It is, true there is a Council consisting of a great Number of Persons, in whose Name all great Affairs relating to the Civil Government are transacted, the Members of which Council are call'd Bable-Cypherians; but it is no Secret, that the first Minister causes whom he pleases to sit in this Council, as well as turns out any Person he dislikes; and while I was amongst them, there happen'd some Instances of what I maintain; and he contrived to have several whom he suspected of being Enemies to his Family, or to his Administration, to be disgraced from the said Council, and others appointed in their Places: Nay, I have often seen several worthless Birds paying their Court to the first Minister, and solliciting him to be admitted into the Great Council, in the same manner that they begg'd for an Employment; yet at the same time, if you were to talk to a Cacklogallinian, he wou'd pretend to persuade you, that no Fowl of any Rank or Quality whatsoever can ever sit in the said Council, but by the Majority of free Voices of Persons who are his Equals. But as I oserv'd before, they are so possess'd with a Spirit of boasting, that when they talk of themselves, there is no Regard to be had to any thing they say.

What is most remarkable is, that Hens as well as Cocks frequently stand Candidates to be Members of the said Council, and especially those who are distinguish'd by the Name of Squabbaws; and tho' the important Affairs of managing their Amours takes up so much of their Time, that they have but little Leisure to attend such publick Affairs, yet they very much influence what passes there, especially the Court Squabbaws, whom I have frequently seen to receive Presents from Persons who had Matters to lay before the said Council. When this happened, it was their Custom to send for my Friend the first Minister, and instruct him how they would have the thing done; upon which Occasions they designedly absented themselves from the said Council, that by their not appearing to favour or oppose such things, the Bribery might not be suspected; and it generally pass'd as well without them, for my good Patron who carried it so loftily to the rest of the World, was nevertheless extreamly their Slave.

As to their Laws, which they pretend to be the best and wisest of any in the World, they are, in Effect, a Source of continual Plague and Vexation to the Subject, which is owing to many Causes, but principally to this, that when a new Law is agreed to pass, the great Council generally appoint such amongst them as are Lawyers by Profession, to word it, or (as we say) to draw it up, who always, in Order to promote the Business of their own Profession, contrive it in ambiguous Terms; so that there is a double Meaning runs thro' every Sentence. This furnishes eternal Matter of Dispute betwixt Party and Party, and at the same time gives the Caja (for so they call a Judge) a Power of putting what Construction he pleases upon the Law. I have my self been frequently present, when the Caja has been sitting to hear and determine Causes, and have observ'd, that when the Cacklogallinian Advocates have been setting forth the Merit of their Cause, and one of them has produced a Precedent, to shew, that such a Caja in former Times, put such a Construction upon such a Law, yet the Caja then presiding has determined the thing quite otherwise, giving for a Reason, That might be his Opinion, but this is ours.

Upon the whole, the Property of private Birds, which they would make you believe was much safer amongst them, than under any other Government in the World, appeared to me to stand upon a very precarious Foot, since it was always at the Mercy of the Law, and the most cunning and sagacious amongst them could never pretend to be sure what Law was: Nay, it was often found by Experience, that what was Law one Day amongst them, was not so another; so that I could not help thinking, that whenever Party and Party differr'd concerning Matters of Property, the least expensive, and most prudent Method would have been, to have referr'd the Decision of the Cause to some Game of Hazard.

This Ambiguity of the Law makes a corrupt Caja a terrible Plague to the Subject; and it is a Plague which they have often felt, as I found, by consulting their Annals; for frequently, under bad Ministers, Birds have been chosen out for Caja's, not for their Integrity or Knowledge, but for their Obsequiousness to the Commands of those who chose them; and my Patron, the first Minister, was censured for endeavouring to corrupt, and making them as bad as he could. By which Means, and by retaining Spies in the Houses of all Fowl of great Interest and Figure in their Country, it was reported he awed them from attempting any Measures against his Interest, or that of his Family, and that he had threaten'd several with Confiscation and Banishment, when he found them attempting to introduce better Schemes than his own, because such Proceedings might tend to overthrow him.

But this I speak from common Report; for I cannot give any Instances of Corruption in any of the Caja's from my own personal Knowledge; for I conceived so dreadful a Notion of their Laws, that I endeavoured to avoid all Converse with any who belong'd to it.

How often have I reflected on the Happiness of my dear Country, in that Liberty there enjoy'd, where none are oppress'd by Force, or allured by Bribes, to give up their native Freedom; where a self-interested and designing Minister is sure to answer for his Administration to a Parliament freely chosen, consisting of Gentlemen of publick Spirits, Honour, known Probity and Wisdom; whose Fortunes put them above a servile Dependence; who have an Eye to nothing but the publick Good, and exact from the Ministers a just Account of the Publick Treasure! When I have seen the Fowl of Honour thrust out to make Place for a Sycophant, Court paid to Pandars and lewd Hens, and no Posts disposed of, but thro' the Interest of Lust; how often, Britain, have I congratulated thy Happiness, where Virtue is rewarded, Vice discountenanc'd and punish'd; where the Man of Merit is provided for, and not oblig'd to pay a Levee to the kept Mistress of a Statesman; and where the Ignorant, Pusillanimous, and Vicious, however distinguish'd by Birth and Fortune, are held in Contempt, and never admitted to publick Employment!

When among the Cacklogallinians Taxes are laid, the Money is brought into the publick Treasury, of which the Minister keeps the Keys: He lets this Money out upon Pawns, at an exorbitant Interest. If an inferior Agent is to pass his Accounts, he must share the Pillage with the Minister, and some few Heads of the Grand Council. I knew one paid him Three Hundred Thousand Rackfantassines, equal to a Hundred Thousand Pounds Sterling, which he computed was about one Third of his Acquisition; and Birds of most abandon'd Reputations are sometimes put into Places of Profit, which, like Spunges, suck all they can, and are easily squeezed again.

As to their Trade, they have, of late Years, lost some of the most advantageous Parts of it to the Cormorants, which perhaps might be brought about by several that were Cormorants by Birth, who found Means of working themselves into the Management of their publick Affairs. They seem to endeavour all they can, (for what Policy I know not) to encourage the young Cacklogallinian Nobility and Gentry, in a Contempt of Religion, and in all Debauchery, perhaps to render them supine and thoughtless; and bringing them up without Principle, they may be fit Tools to work the enslaving their Country.

They are extremely severe in their military Discipline: A Soldier, for a trifling Fault, shall have all the Feathers stripp'd off his Back, and a corroding Plaister clapp'd on, which will eat to the Bones in a small Space of Time. For a capital Crime, every one in the Regiment is ordered to peck him as he's ty'd to a Post, till he dies. I have seen one who was condemn'd to this Death have Part of his Entrails torn out of his Side in a few Pecks.

Whoever speaks against the Ministry, is purged or vomited so severely, that he sometimes dies. Even Want of Complaisance to any menial Servant of a Minister, is esteem'd an Affront to his Master, and punish'd by a Year's Imprisonment; but a Slight put on any of the Squabbaws, is so heinous, that the Offender is punish'd, as for the highest Scandal. Sometimes it has happened, that Persons Question'd and Convicted for Fraud, Bribery, or other Crimes, by some Turn of Fortune having better'd their Circumstances, have afterwards been raised to Posts of Honour and Trust, and afterwards growing more wealthy, have been look'd upon with the same Esteem as the most worthy. I've known a Sharper, who could neither write nor read, made a Battano, in English, a Judge Advocate; and what rais'd him was his Dexterity at Gestaro, which is like the Play our School-boys divert themselves with, call'd Hussle-cap.

Tho' they have a Standing Army, yet the Cacklogallinians are all inlisted, and obliged to serve (in case of an Invasion) without Pay. They have no fortify'd Places, they being look'd upon as a Refuge for Malecontents, except only the imperial Palace. The Reader may wonder how any Place can be fortified against those who can fly over the highest Walls; I must therefore inform him, that their strong Holds have all the open Places cover'd with Canvass stretch'd from Side to Side; upon which is strew'd an Herb so venemous, that, in six Hours after it has been expos'd to the Sun, it emits so pestiferous a Stench, that no Fowl can approach it by many Yards, but what will fall dead; and this Stench, by the Effluvia mounting, is no way offensive to those below. This is the Reason their Sieges are rather Blockades, and no fortify'd Town was ever taken but by starving. For tho' I have said, the Cacklogallinians have no such, yet their Neighbours have this Canvass, and Plenty of the Herb in and about most of their Towns, and can, in Twenty four Hours, put them in a Posture of Defence.

Upon the Decease of any Party, his Estate goes to the eldest of his Children, whether Male or Female; for the others, the Cocks are put into the Army, or to Trades; the Hens are married to the next Relations, who are obliged to take them, or allow them a Pension for Life, according to their Quality. Polygamy is forbid, tho' universally practised among the better Sort. There were publick Colleges erected for the Education and Provision of poor Chickens; but as there is a strong Party, which takes them to be of ill Consequence; they are discountenanc'd so much, that it is thought they must fall some time or other.

The Customs, Manners, Dress, and Diversions of the Cacklogallinians.

The Cacklogallinians value themselves on being a polite Nation; and indeed those amongst them who have travell'd, are very complaisant, full of their Professions of Friendship, and Offers of Service, tho' it's the first time they ever set Eyes on the Party to whom they make them; but if he takes this for any more than the Effects of good Breeding, and reminds a Courtier of his Promise, he is look'd upon as one who wants Education, and treated as a Peasant.

They are not at all sociable, tho' they frequently visit each other, which is with much Ceremony amongst the better Sort; for he who makes the Visit, sends before him a Servant to give Notice, that he intends to do himself the Honour to kiss the Spur of the Master of the House. If he is, or will be at home, Answer is made, that he returns Thanks for the Honour intended him, which he will expect with Impatience. When the Visiter arrives, Notice is given to the Family by one of his Servants, who strikes a brass Pan (hung at the Doors of all Persons of Distinction) so long, and with such Violence, that were it in England, he'd be indicted for a common Disturber. After this Peal, the Door is opened, and the Visiter received according to his Quality, either at the Street Door, Parlour Door, or in the Hall. He's led in, and seated on a Carpet, enquires after the Welfare of the Family, after which he takes Notice of the Weather, and then with great Ceremony takes his Leave, conducted as he was received.

None visit the Minister of State, neither is there any thing like the English Hospitality seen in the Visits of private Persons; for they never present you any Refreshment, not even that of cold Water, except at a formal Invitation, or a Wedding. At the latter they are very profuse. When a young Couple is married, for a Week they are never seen asunder; but after that, it is look'd upon indecent to be seen with a Wife in any publick Company; and one would think they married to be reveng'd on each other for some former Injuries; for the Wife takes Care to shew her Contempt of her Husband, and he his Aversion to his Wife. They are great Admirers of Puppet-shews and other Spectacles, and will let their Families at Home want Necessaries, rather than not be seen at the Booth. What they most delight in is bloody Spectacles. There are poor Cacklogallinians, who fight on Stages for Money; if they cut one another to Pieces, the Spectators go away highly satisfied; but if their Art prevents their shedding much Blood, the Combatants are poorly rewarded, and look'd upon as a Couple of Cheats or Cowards.

A Goat had (as Tradition says) done formerly great Damage to the Corn of Danafalio, a Saint in great Veneration amongst them, who lived about Twelve Hundred Years ago; for which Reason, every Family, on a certain Day, diverts it self by breaking the Legs and Ribs of a Goat, and flaying it alive.

Their Burial of the Dead is so expensive, that it often ruines the Heir. When the Corpse is carried out of the House, a Herald goes before, who proclaims the Titles of the Deceas'd: If he has none, he has Three Days Notice to make a Genealogy for him. I saw the Burial of a quondam Taylor, who was nearly ally'd to a first Minister, and heard the Herald's Oration, which was as near as I remember, in these Words.

See, Fellow-Citizens, the Vanity of all sublunary Things! and lament your own hard Fate in the Loss of the Illustrious Evanosmador. If Virtue, if Art, if Nobility of Blood, could any way have influenc'd the Tyrant Death, who could boast a greater Soul! Who exceed him in the Mysteries of his Art! Or lastly, Whose Veins were fill'd with a more noble Blood!

Here he repeated his Genealogy, which spoke him descended from a Number of Sovereign Princes, Grandees, Caja's, &c.

When the Corpse arrives at the great Market-place, where all the Dead are burnt, a Priest makes a Funeral Oration; which done, a great Number of Mourners, hired for that purpose, begin their Lamentations, which last till the Body is entirely consum'd. The Fire is made with Billets, on which the Arms of the Deceased are either carv'd or painted, which cannot cost less than an English Crown each. Every one of the Company is presented with two of these Billets; one he lays on the Pile, the other he carries home, and hangs up in his House. After the Consumption of the Corpse, the Picture of the Deceas'd is hung over the Door for the Space of Twelve Moons. Their Ceremonies in marshalling the Company are tedious, and therefore I shall not mention them; I shall only take Notice, that the Dead are drawn by Six, or Eight Ostriches, cover'd with Cloath of Gold, upon an open Chariot.

When any begins to sicken, a Physician is sent for, who, after having examin'd the Patient, sends for a Venenugallpotior, something like our Apothecary, and gives him his Direction, takes his Fee, which is extravagant enough, and goes into his Palanquin; for a Physician, let him be a Second Hermes, or Galen, will never get Bread, if he does not make a Figure. He's sure to repeat his Visits, Morning and Even, if the Patient as often repeats his Fees; but whenever he finds any Symptoms of a weak Purse, he sets a Mark on that House, and no Intreaties will prevail with him to go under that Roof.

When the Relations of the Sick perceive him past Hopes of Recovery, they fall to plundering his House, neglect him entirely, and very often fall together by the Ears, begin with Blows, and end with a Law-suit, which seldom fails ruining both Plaintiff and Defendant; for their Lawyers rarely bring a Suit to Issue, till their Clients are brought to Beggary; and tho' they all know this to be the Consequence of their Litigation, yet is there no Nation so fond of going to Law.

When any one falls into Poverty, he's look'd upon as infected; for all his Acquaintance shun him; nay, very often his own Children will not own him, if in happier Circumstances: And what will seem wonderful to a Briton, who esteems Merit in Rags, and contemns the Vicious, tho' encompass'd with a Crowd of Servants, and distinguish'd by the glaring Titles of his Family; no sooner does a Cacklogollinian grow rich, but all the World courts him, tho' sprung from a Dunghill: And even those who can never hope any thing from him, shew him a profound Respect. Ask who such a one is, and they never tell you, that he is such a Fowl of Honour, or of such good Qualities, but answer, he is worth so much: Nay, Riches give a Man such Superiority, that a Merchant, the Son of a Butcher, presum'd so much upon the immense Sums he possess'd, that he had the Boldness to tell the Emperor to his Face, if he did not prohibit the Importation of Corn (which was then very much wanted) he having a great Quantity by him, would draw his Money out of the publick Treasury, and then his Majesty might see who was able to supply him. The Emperor was advised to lay him by the Heels for his Sawciness, but the good Prince forgave him.

Their Dress is a close Doublet, and a a loose Mantle, which is either rich or plain, fine or coarse, not according to the Quality, but according to the Ability of the Wearer; for very often you can't distinguish, in respect of Dress, the Grandee from the Merchant, or the Squabbaw from her Attendant; for the meaner Sort lay all on their Backs. Their Necks are adorned with Ribbons, Bells, Medals, &c. and their Tail-feathers are beautify'd with additional ones from the Peacock, or Figures painted with various Colours, which must be by the Emperor's Permission, as has been before observ'd.

Their Exercises are pretty violent, and they are great Lovers of a Play for which I can find no Name in English. They begin with giving their next Neighbour a great Bang with the Wing, which is return'd by a Kick or Peck, or Stroke with the Spur; you would imagine they were so many engaged in a Battle, for they strike without Fear or Wit, and never mind on whom the Strokes light; for every one deals them about promiscuously, and as thick as he can lay them on. They will continue this Diversion, till they are not able to stand, or till some of the Company gets a Wing, a Leg, or a Head broke, or some other Damage, which the Party hurt never takes ill. This Play is indeed practised only among the younger, or the meaner Sort.

They are mighty fond of the Cuckoo, and will sit two Hours upon a Stretch to hear a Set of them exercise their natural Talent, for which they are paid and caress'd. I knew a Lady of Quality who gave a Pension of Five Thousand Spasma's, each Spasma worth Two Shillings Sterling, to one of these Birds to sing her to Sleep every Night. The Air of this Country is too cold for these Cuckoo's, who come from a more southern Clime, which is the Reason they stay not above three Years before they wing their Flight home, where they build Palaces with the Profits of their Journey: But as those who return send others in their stead, the Cacklogallinians are never long deprived of the Entertainment these Birds afford 'em.

Another Diversion they have, is the making the Ostriches run Races: The Feeding, Training, and Betting upon these Birds, have ruined many of the noblest Families. They are also mightily addicted to Dice, and will set and lose their Wives and Children, which they sometimes see eaten by the Winner, if he is of Quality.

This small Sketch of the Cacklogallinians I thought necessary, that the Reader might have some Idea of them. I happen'd to be cast on their Coast, just after they had made a Peace with the Magpyes, a puissant and neighbouring Nation, after a long, sanguine, and expensive War, which had well nigh exhausted the Forces and Treasure of both Parties, occasioned by the Cacklogallinians pretending they had a Right to nominate a Successor to the Emperor Chuctinio, who was in an advanced Age, and without issue; and the Magpyes pretended their King, as a Relation to that Emperor, had a Right to succeed to the Throne of the Bubohibonians, which is the Nation of Owls.

All the neighbouring States join'd the Cacklogallinians, in endeavouring to prevent this vast Increase of Power to the Magpyes, since it must necessarily destroy the Balance of Power; and as their prince was both powerful and ambitious, they apprehended he would aim at an universal Monarchy: But then they would not allow the Cacklogallinians had any more Right than their Neighbours, to name a Successor; and if that Monarchy were to fall to the Share of any powerful Prince, it might be as dangerous to the common Good, as if yielded to the Magpyes; they therefore would have it divided.

The Peacock, who pretends to be the High-Priest of all Nations, and exacts on that Account Tributes from them, and calls himself the Disposer of Kingdoms, had his Tributes stopp'd by the Magpyes, about the same time; and complaining of this Injury, he invited Bigoteasy to declare War against Gripeallyominte, King of the Magpyes, which, on account of former Friendship, he absolutely refused. This so enraged the good High Priest, that he raised a Rebellion against him; he was dethron'd, taken Prisoner by his Subjects, and died in Confinement, and his Kingdom given by the Peacock, and the unanimous Consent of the People, to the greatest Prince that History ever mention'd, either for Wisdom or Bravery.

These Wars lasted Sixty and Seven Years, and the Cacklogallinians bore the greatest Share of the Expence; which had so far indebted them, that every Brain was at Work to project Methods for raising Money to pay the Interest.

These Schemes, which were every Day presented to the Minister, grew so numerous, that, had he applied himself to nothing else but their Examination, it would have taken up a great Part of his Time: And, indeed, I must own, that my Friend, the first Minister, gave himself but very little Trouble in things of this Nature, for all his Schemes, and all his Thoughts center'd in himself; and when I have gone to carry him Intelligence in a Morning, and all the great Fowl that came to pay their Levee, have been answer'd, that he was busy in his Closet upon Affairs of Importance to the State, and saw no Company, I have found him (for there were Orders for admitting me) either writing Directions concerning his Ostriches, or his Country Sports, or his Buildings, or examining his private Accounts; and tho' I often thought but meanly of my own Species, yet I began to think, from the Conduct of this great Minister, that a Cock was a far more selfish, and more worthless Animal than Man; insomuch, that I have so despised them ever since, as to think them good for nothing but the Spit.

The Schemes which he put in Practice were all the Invention of others, tho' he assum'd the Credit of them; and I will be bold to say, that, before my Time, amongst Numbers that were offer'd to him, he generally chose the worst.

I was therefore order'd, after I had been two Years at Court, to take this Business upon me, with the Title of Castleairiano, or Project Examiner, and a Salary of Thirty Thousand Spasma's. The first Project offer'd me, was the laying a Tax on Cloath, and all manner of Stuffs. This I rejected, because it being the chief Manufacture of the Country, it would, by raising the Price abroad, be a Hindrance to the Commerce of the Nation, and give the Cormorants who made it, tho' nothing so fine as the Cacklogallinians, an Opportunity, by under-selling them, to become the chief Merchants in this Branch of Trade. But it would be tedious to mention the many Offers, with my Reasons for accepting or rejecting them, which I once a Week gave a List of to the Minister, who was often so good as to approve my Judgment.

There were Projects for taxing Soot, Corn, Ribbons, for coining all the Plate of the Nobility, for prohibiting the wearing of Gold or Silver. Some were for the Government's taking all the Torchtrees (which gave a Light, and are used like our Candles) and dispose of them, by which great Sums might be raised. Some were for laying a Tax on all who kept Coaches; others upon all who wore Silver or Gold Spurs: But these touching only the Rich, the Minister would not listen to. The Tax which he approved of most, was on the Light of the Sun, according to the Hours it was enjoy'd; so that the poor Peasant, who rose with it, paid for Twelve Hours Day-light, and the Nobility and Gentry, who kept their Beds till Noon, paid only for Six.

Another Tax was laid upon those who drank only Spring Water. This fell altogether on the Poor, for the better Sort drank the Juice of a certain Tree imported from the Bubohibonians.

Whoever had not an Estate in Land of an Hundred Spasma's was also tax'd Ten Spasma's a Year, to be paid out of their Day Labour. He who deliver'd a Project of fetching Gold from the Moon, was caress'd prodigiously, and his way of reasoning approved; tho' I gave it in with a [+] as rejected by me, yet he was rewarded, and Preparation order'd for the Journey, in which I was commanded to accompany him: For, he insinuated to the Minister, that it was possible the Inhabitants might be of my Species; nay, that I myself might have dropp'd out of that World, which was more reasonable than to believe the Story I told, of having pass'd so great a Sea; and that I very likely had form'd this Story out of a Tenderness to my Country lest his Imperial Majesty should attempt its Conquest.

He had so possess'd the Minister with this Notion, that my arguing against it was to no purpose. He told me one Day, That all the Philosophers allow'd, nay, maintain'd, that both Animals, Vegetables, and Minerals, were generated, grew, and were nourished, by the Spirit of the World: A Quintessence partaking of all the Four Elements, tho' it was no One, might be called Air, and was not; Fire, and was not Fire, &c. That this Spirit was assisted by the Influence of the Planets, and tended to the highest Perfection of Purity. That all Metals were generated by the said Spirit, and differ'd from one another, but according to the Purity or Impurity of the Matrices which receiv'd it. That as the Planets Influence was necessary, that of the Moon must, as the nearest to the Earth, be the most efficacious: That as it was visible to the Eye, the Moon was more depurated than the Earth; was surrounded by a thinner Air, in which the Spirit of the World is more abundant, and was nearer to the other Planets, he naturally concluded, that it must abound in Gold Mines; and this Conclusion was strengthened by the Mountains discernible in the Moon; and Mountains being mostly rocky, afforded the purest Matrice for the Universal Spirit; so that it seem'd to him impossible, that any other Metal, less pure, could be generated in that World. That such Metals, for their Use, were often preferable to Gold, and that in denying my Descent from thence, I was in Fact, doing an Injury to those I wish'd to serve, since by Intercourse with those Inhabitants, both Worlds might find their Advantage.

I answered his Excellency, That I wished he might ever find his and his Country's Good, in all his Undertakings, since I had so great Obligations to both; but that what I had told him of my self was every way consonant to Truth; that I was so far from being an Inhabitant of the Moon, that I did not believe it habitable; and if it were, I did not think a Voyage thither practicable, for Reasons I wou'd give the Projector, whenever his Excellency would condescend to hear my Objections and his Answers: That if he, after that, would persist in the Undertaking, she should find me ready to sacrifice that Life in the Attempt, which I held from his Goodness.

Well, return'd he, to morrow I will have him at my House, don't fail being there at Dinner; I will be denied to every one else, and hope his Reasons will convince you; for I have, I own, a greater Opinion of your Veracity, in what relates to this Affair, than of your Judgment.

The next Day I waited on his Excellency, where I found the Projector mention'd. He began the Discourse, addressing himself to me, after the usual Ceremonies.

"I am sorry, said he, to find what I propos'd meet with any Objection from one whose Penetration makes me fear some Obstacle considerable, which has escaped my Scrutiny. However, if I have the Mortification to have my Views baffled, yet shall I reap the Advantage of being instructed in what I am ignorant of. His Excellency has commanded me to lay before you what my Reasons are, for supposing the Moon an inhabited Globe. I shall therefore, with all possible Brevity, obey his Excellency's Commands. I shall not name the ancient Sages, both of this and the neighbouring Nations, who have been of the same Opinion, because I have already cited them in my Memorial; but shall first offer you some Principles on which I have, beside the Authorities mention'd, founded my own.

"First, I esteem the Moon an opaque solid Body, as is our Earth, and consequently adapted for the Entertainment and Nourishment of its Inhabitants. Now, that it is a solid Body, is evident by the Repercussion of the Light which it receives from the Sun."

"Sir, said I, you are here begging the Question; for it is possible, that the Moon of itself is a luminous Body; and I am apt to believe it such for this Reason: Its Light is seen in more than one Place at a time, whereas a Body which gives a Light by Reflection only, that Light is perceivable in that Point alone, where the Angle of Reflection is equal to that of Incidence."

He answer'd,

My Objection did not hold good in regard to a Body whose Surface is rugged and uneven, as is that of the Moon. That it is an opaque and solid Body, is visible by the Eclipses of the Sun; for a pellucid Body could not deprive us of the Light of that glorious Planet. That the Moon does eclipse the Sun in the same manner as our Earth eclipses the Moon (as all know it does) makes me conclude these two Bodies of a Nature, since the like Interposition produces the like Effect. When I say they are of a Nature, I mean opaque, which to prove, I argue thus: If this Planet be of it self luminous, it must appear much brighter when eclips'd in its perigee, or nearest Distance from the Earth, and its Light must be less consequently when in its Apogee, or greatest Distance from it; for the nearer a luminous Body approaches the Eye, the stronger Impression it makes upon the Sight. Beside, the Shadow of the Earth, had the Moon any innate and peculiar Light, cou'd not obscure it, but, on the contrary, would render it more conspicuous, as is evident to Reason.

"Now Experience shews us, that the Moon appears with the greater Light eclips'd in its Apogee, or greater Distance, and more obscure when in its Perigee, or nearer Distance, consequent has no peculiar Light of its own. That a Shadow could obscure its inherent Light, had it any, would be making a Body of a Shadow, which is so far from being corporeal, that it is nothing but a Deprivation of the Light of the Sun, by the Interposition of the opaque Body of the Earth.

"I could give many more Reasons, but to avoid Prolixity, I refer you to my Memorial, knowing how precious Time is to your Excellency.

"I shall now speak of the principal and constituent Parts of this Planet; to wit, the Sea, the firm Land; its Extrinsicks, as Meteors, Seasons, and Inhabitants."

"I find, said his Excellency, you have forgot what you promised, the being concise; you have already couch'd what you are going to repeat, in Writing. I am satisfied that you have in your Memorial demonstrated, that the Moon is like ours, a World, and this Earth, like that, a Planet; I would willingly hear if Probusomo can bring any Objection of Weight to the undertaking the Journey; for I look upon the Distance which you have computed to be about 179712 Lapidians (answerable to so many English Miles) to be none at all, since we have Cacklogallinians, who, with Provisions for a Week, will fly 480 Lapidians a Day, and hold it for many Days. But this Swiftness, as you have made appear, is not requisite, since you judge, that in ascending some five Lapidians, you will have reach'd the Atmosphere, and the rest will be attended by no other Fatigue, than that of preventing too swift a Descent. Propose what you have to object, Probusomo, for I will provide you able Bearers, who shall carry you, and with the Strength of theirs, supply your Defect of Wings."

I answer'd, That since his Excellency commanded, I would give in those Objections which occurr'd: The first was the extream Coldness of the Air; the second its great Subtlety, which to me made this Undertaking impracticable; besides, the Distance is such, by the learned Gentleman's Calculation, that could the Cacklogallinians, without resting, fly at the rate of 1500 Lapidians a Day, the Journey could not be ended in less than six Moons: That there were no Inns in the Way, nor Places to rest in; and supposing we could carry Provisions for that Length of Time, I could not perceive how they could be always on Wing, and subsist without Sleep.

His Excellency seem'd to think the Difficulties I rais'd merited Consideration, and after some Pause, asked the Projector, if he could solve them.

"As to the first Objection, my Lord, said he, I answer, that altho' the second Region may be endow'd with Coldness proper for the Production of Meteors, yet may it not be unsupportable; neither can we suppose, that the Air above, which if not destin'd to the same End, is of the same Nature, but on the contrary, we may rather suppose it exempt from all Extremes, consequently our Passage thro' this cold Region being performed, which we have Reason to conclude but short, for this condens'd Air which encompasses the Earth on every Part, weighs about 108 Liparia's on a Square Inch (Liparia is near a Sixth of our Pound) and we may very easily compute from thence, what Space of this Air we have to pass, by computing what is necessary to support this Globe of Earth, we shall find the AEtherial altogether temperate.

"As to the second Objection, I anwer, that the Subtlety of the Air I look upon no Obstacle; for the Air near the Earth, especially in dry Places, where there are no impure Exhalations, by the intense Heat of the Sun, it is perhaps as thin, and as much rarified, as the AEtherial. This I suppose from the Tenuity of the Air on the top of the Mountain Tenera, where 'tis said none can inhabit on that account. But I have my self flown to the top of this Mountain, and carry'd with me a wet Spunge, thro' which I drew my Breath for some time, but by Degrees I became habituated to this Tenuity, and respired with Ease; nay, after staying there some few Days, I found the denser Air, on my Descent, caus'd a Difficulty in my Respiration: From whence I concluded, that, by Degrees, the thinnest Air may become Natural; and as I felt no Hunger while on the Mountain, I may suppose the same Air we breathe may also nourish us. And this is no vain Imagination, for the Aker (that is, Viper) we see live by the Spirit included in the Air, which is the Principle of Life in all; but in case I am out in this Conjecture, we may carry Provisions with us.

"As to the resting our selves, I affirm from the Principles of sound Philosophy, that when once out of the Reach of the magnetick Power of the Earth, we shall no longer gravitate, for what we call Gravity, is no other than Attraction, consequently we may repose our selves in the Air, if there is Occasion, which I believe there will not; for as we shall then have no Weight to exhaust the Spirits, there can be no Need of refreshing them either with Meat or Sleep."

The Minister rose up, and said he was fully satisfied with his Answers; the only Thing gave him Uneasiness, was the Length of Time I said was requisite to make this Journey.

"My Lord, replied the Projector, I can't agree that such a Time is necessary; for being above the Attraction of the Earth, which is the only laborious Part of our Passage, we may go with an inconceivable Swiftness, especially when we come within the Attraction of the Moon, which will certainly be encreas'd by the Weight of Provisions, which we shall by way of Precaution carry with us, and which will be no Burthen after we have pass'd the Atmosphere; so that what Weight a Thousand Cacklogallinians can hardly raise to that Heighth, one might support, the rest of the Journey."

His Excellency perceiv'd by my Countenance I was not satisfied, and therefore bid me take Heart, he wou'd send a Number of Palanquins with us, and if we found the second Region impervious by Reason of the Cold, we shou'd have the Liberty to return.

The only Talk now in Town was our designed Journey to the Moon, for which a great many of the swiftest Flyers were inlifted with Promises of great Reward. Palanquins were made sharp at each End, to cut the Air; the warmest Mantles and Hoods were made for the Bearers, and the Projector's and my Palanquin were close, and lined with Down.

A Company was erected, Shares sold of the Treasure we were to bring back; and happy was he who could first subscribe. These Subscriptions were sold at 2000 per Cent. Advantage, and in less than two Months, the Time spent in preparing for our Journey, I saw at least Five Hundred Lacqueys, who had fallen into the Trade of buying and selling these Subscriptions in their gilt Palanquins, and Train of Servants after them. The Squabbaws, the Vultuaquilians, the Minister, and some of the Grand Council, shared amongst them Fifty Millions of Spasma's, ready Money, for what they sold of this chimerical Treasure.

This open'd my Eyes, and I found I had been very short-sighted, in condemning the Minister for giving Ear to a Project so contrary to Reason: But when I saw the noblest Families, and such whose Ruine was necessary to his own Support, sell their Estates to buy Shares, I look'd upon him as the wisest Minister in the known World; and was lost in Wonder, when I confider'd the Depth of his Designs.

I took the Liberty, once to mention my Astonishment to him, with all the Deference due to his exalted Quality, and with the Praises he justly deserved. He answer'd me, that he fear'd I saw farther than was either convenient, or safe for me, if my Taciturnity did not equal my Penetration. This he spoke in a Tone which gave me Apprehension of Danger; I threw my self at his Feet, and begg'd he would rather kill me, than suspect my Zeal for his Service; that what I had taken the Liberty of saying to his Excellency, I had never the Imprudence to mention to any other; and that I hop'd the Experience he had of me would assure him of my Secrecy. Learn, said he, that Ministers work like Moles, and it's as dangerous to shew them you can enter into their Views, as to attempt their Lives: I have a Confidence in you; but had any other held me the same Discourse, I would have put it out of his Power to have repeated it to a third Person.



The Author begins his Journey to the MOON.

All things necessary being provided, and the Palanquins of Provisions being sent before to join us at the Mountain Tenera, I had an Audience of Leave of his Imperial Majesty and his Squabbaws; after which, I went to receive my last Instructions from his Excellency. He gave me a Paper, with Orders not to open it, till I was arrived at the Mountain, which was about a Thousand Miles from the City. He having wish'd me a good Journey, said he had given Orders to six lusty Cacklogallimans to obey those I should give them; that he depended on my Fidelity and Prudence, and therefore, as I would find, had reposed a great Trust in me. I made him a suitable Answer, and retired to my Apartment in the Palace, where I found the Projector, who told me we were to set out the next Morning before Day. I asked him, in Case we succeeded in our Journey, and found the Riches we coveted, how we should bring away any Quantity?

"If, said he, that happens, we shall, in a second Journey, be provided with Vehicles, if there is Occasion; but I propose to extract such a Quantity of the Soul of Gold, which I can infuse into Lead at our Return, that we may be rich enough to pave the Streets with that valuable Metal; for a Grain will, infused into Lead, make an Ounce of pure Gold. Now, if a Penny-weight of the Soul will make Twenty four Ounces, or Two Pound of Gold, consider what immense Treasure we may bring back with us, since the Palanquineers can fly with Five Hundred Weight in a Palanquin."

The next Morning we set forward at about Three o' Clock, and reach'd the Mountain in about Forty six Hours. We first refresh'd our selves, and when I was alone, I open'd my Instructions, which ran thus:

As Experience proves you are not to be led by chimerical Notions, and that your Capacity and Fidelity render you fit to undertake the most difficult and secret Affairs, his Imperial Majesty thought none so fit as yourself to be entrusted in the Management of the present Scheme; which that you may do to his Majesty's Satisfaction, and your own Interest and Credit, you are to observe the following Instructions.

"You are to order Volatilio, the first Proposer of the Journey now undertaken, to go to the Top of the Hill a Day before you, and from thence to acquaint you with the Nature of the Air; and if you find it practicable, you are to follow him. If you gain the Summit, and that the Air is too thin for Respiration, you are to descend again, dispatch an Express to his Majesty, and clap Volatilio in Irons, then dispatch away one of the six Messengers whom I ordered to attend you: They, Volatilio, and the whole Caravan, are to obey you, till you have pass'd the Atmosphere, when you and they are to follow the Directions of Volatilio, in what regards the Way only; but, in Case that you can respire on the Top of the Mountain, order Volatilio to precede you a Day's Ascent, return the next, and immediately dispatch a second Messenger with the Account he gives, and continue on the Mountain for farther Instructions, before you proceed, should it prove practicable. I need not tell you the Publick must be amused with Hopes of Success, tho' you have Reason to despair of it; nor need I even hint to you what Method you ought to take. I wish you Health, and that your Conduct may answer my Expectations."

I acted pursuant to these Instructions, and sent Volatilio forward, who reach'd the Top of the Hill; but finding the Air too thin to continue there, without the Help of humected Spunges, he therefore sent those back he carried with him to the mid Space of the Mountain, and an Express to me, by which he informed me what he had done; that he resolved to continue there a natural Day, and then join me where he had sent his Followers, to which Place he desired I would ascend, and defer the dispatching any Express to his Majesty, till he saw me again.

I ascended to the Mid-space, and found a vast Alteration in the Air, which even here was very sensibly rarified.

My Projector came to me at his appointed Time, and told me he did not question the Success of our Enterprize, since he imagined the Air above the second Region rather denser than that near the Earth, and hoped the Cold was not more intense than on the Mountain's Top; and that if this prov'd so, we cou'd breathe and support the Cold with little Difficulty. I answer'd, that it was natural to conclude the Air next the Earth more dense than that above it, as the weightiest always descends the first.

"That Reason, said he, is not conclusive, for the Air immediately encompassing the Earth, is more sensible of its attractive Power, than that at a greater Distance, as you may be satisfied, in placing two Pieces of Iron, one near, and the other at a Distance from the Loadstone; the nearest Piece will be strongly attracted, while that at a greater Distance is but weakly affected. Now supposing the Air only of an equal Density thro'out when we have left the Earth, (which, by the Reflection of Heat from the Mountains, rarifies the circumambient Air, and renders it more subtle than that above it) we may respire without Pain; for in less than Six Hours I, by Degrees, withdrew my Spunge."

I dispatch'd an Express with the Account I had received, and set forward, resolving to wait for further Instructions on the top of the Mountain. I was at a good Distance from the Summit, when I was obliged, by the Thinness of the Air, to have Recourse to my wet Spunge, and was Four and Twenty Hours before I could intirely remove it. The Cacklogallinians found less Difficulty than I in their Respiration, but more in supporting the rigid Cold, especially at Night, when the Damps fell. We staid here Eight Days, that the Subtlety of the Air might become habitual to us.

On the seventh Day, the Messenger return'd with Credentials for Volatilio and my self, to the Potentate in whose Dominions we might happen, and Orders to proceed on our Journey. This Messenger told me, that on the Contents of my Letter being publish'd, the Town was illuminated throughout, and such a Number of Coaches and Palanquins bespoke, that he believed, at our Return, we should find none out of them but the Ostriches. Our Credentials ran thus.

"HIPPOMENE-CONNUFERENTO, Emperor and absolute Monarch of the greatest Empire in the Terrestrial Globe, Disposer of Kingdoms, Judge of Kings, Dispenser of Justice, Light of the World, Joy of the Sun, Darling of Mortals, Scourge of Tyrants, and Refuge of the Distress'd, to the Puissant Monarch of that Kingdom in the Moon, to which our Ambassadors shall arrive: Or, To the Mighty and Sole Lord of that beautiful Planet, sends Greeting.

"Dearly Beloved Brother, and most Mighty Prince, as it has been long doubted by our Ancestors, as well as by those of our Time, whether the Moon were, or were not inhabited, We, who have ever encouraged those who seek the universal Good of Mortals, supposing it possible, if that Planet were possess'd by such, that an Intercourse between the two Worlds might be of mutual Advantage to both, have sent our two Ambassadors, Volatilio and Probusomo, to attempt a Passage to your World, and to assure you, if they succeed, of the great Desire we have of entertaining with you a reciprocal Friendship, of giving all possible Demonstrations of our Affection, and to invite you to send to our World your Ambassadors, with whom we may consult our common Interest. So recommending ours to your Protection, we heartily bid you farewell.

"Given at our Court, &c."

According to the Orders we receiv'd, Volatilio took his Flight in an oblique Ascent, without a Palanquin, but wrapt up as warm as possible, accompanied by two Servants. He parted with great Alacrity, and we soon lost Sight of him. Some Half a Score, in Complaisance, took a Flight of three Hours to see him part of his Way towards his Discovery.

He went off at break of Day, to avoid those Vapours which the Heat of the Sun exhales, and which by Night would have rendered his Passage, he thought, impossible; for he hoped, in a small Space to gain beyond the Heighth they rise to. At the Return of those who convoy'd him, I sent away an Express, to acquaint the Emperor with their Report, which was, That they found no sensible Alteration as to the Rarefaction of the Air, and that the Cold was rather less intense. This News at Court made every one run mad after Shares, which the Proprietors sold at what Rate they pleas'd.

The next Day in the Even, we saw Volatilio on his Return: His first Salutation was,

Courage my Friend, I have pas'd the Atmosphere, and, by Experience, have found my Conjecture true; for being out of the magnetick Power of the Earth, we rested in the Air, as on the solid Earth, and in an Air extreamly temperate, and less subtle than what we breathe.

I sent again this Account to Court, but the Courtiers having no more Shares to sell, gave out, that Volatilio did not return as he promis'd, and it was expected, that I despair'd of the Undertaking, and believ'd him lost.

This was such a Damp to the Town; that Shares fell to Half Value, and none of the Courtiers would buy, sell they cou'd not, having (I mean those let into the Secret) already dispos'd of all by their Agents, tho' they pretended the contrary.

The Express return'd, with private Orders for me to confirm this Report, which I was oblig'd to do, and stay eight Days longer, as the publick Instructions to us both commanded.

This was a great Mortification to Volatilio, and, I own, the Report he made had rais'd my Curiosity so much, that I was uneasy at this Delay; but we were to obey, and not to enquire into the Reasons of it.

The Messenger returning, told me, that my last Letter had fallen the Shares to five per Cent. under Par, nothing but Lamentations eccho'd thro' the Streets, and it was impossible to give an Idea of the Change it had occasion'd. The Letter the Minister sent me order'd me to write him Word, that Volatilio was returned, had found no Obstacles, and that I was preparing to depart. That the Court had bought up a vast Number of Shares, and that he took Care of my Interest in particular; that I need stay for no farther Instructions, but make the best of my Way.

I gave Notice to the Caravan, that we would set forward the next Morning, which we accordingly did, and as near as I could compute, we flew that Day, 180 Miles. What surpriz'd me was, that in less than an Hour and half's Ascent, Volatilio, who would not go in his Palanquin, folded his Wings, and came to me on Foot, and told me I might get out and stretch my Limbs. My Palanquineers stood still, and confirm'd what he said; and more, that they had not for a Quarter of an Hour past been sensible of my Weight, which had lessen'd by Degrees, so as not to be felt at all.

I left my Palanquin, and found what Volatilio had conjectur'd, and his Report verified; for I could with as much Ease lift a Palanquin of Provisions, which did not on Earth weigh less than 500 Weight, as I could on our Globe raise a Feather. The Cold was very much abated, and I found my Spirits rais'd.

I would here have sent back half the Palanquin-Bearers, but Volatilio was of Opinion we should keep them a Day longer; for, perhaps, said he, we may send them all (except those which carry you) away; for if the Universal Spirit included in the Air should suffice for our Nourishment, we have no Business with Provisions.

I approv'd his Reason, and we proceeded on, sure of falling first into the Attraction of the Moon, it being the nearest Planet to us.

I shall not detain the Reader with my Observations in this aerial Journey; Gallileus, who by his Writings gives me room to believe he had, before me, visited this Planet, whatever were his Reasons for not owning it, having left nothing, which is not mentioned in his Systema Mundi.

I observ'd only, which I take Notice of for those who have not read him, that when the Moon has but a small Part of his Body enlighten'd, that the Earth, the other Moon, has a proportionable Part of its Hemisphere visibly darken'd; I mean a Part in proportion to that of the Moon which is enlighten'd; and that both these Moons, of which ours is much the larger, mutually participate the same Light of the Sun, and the same Obscurity of the Eclipses, and mutually assist each other: For when the Moon is in Conjunction with the Sun, and its pars superior receives all the Light, then its inferior Hemisphere is enlighten'd by the Earth's reflecting the Rays of the Sun, otherwise it would be intirely dark; and when those two Planets are in Opposition, then that Part of the Earth which is deprived of the Rays of the Sun, is enlighten'd by a full Moon.

The next Day Volatilio was for sending back the Provisions, but I judg'd it proper not to go forward, but to stay the Space of a natural Day, in the same Situation, because in that time, or in no other in the Journey, we should require Sustenance, and also because their Return would be easier, than if we carried them still forward.

This was agreed to, and none of us finding any Appetite, Weakness, or Sinking of our Spirits, dismiss'd all but those who carried my Palanquin, and proceeded forward with an incredible Swiftness.

We were about a Month before we came into the Attraction of the Moon, in all which time none of us had the least Inclination to Sleep or Meat, or found our selves any way fatigued, nor, till we reach'd that Planet, did we close our Eyes; the Attraction was so great, that it was all the Bearers and Volatilio could do to prevent our being dash'd to Pieces on a Mountain; we descended with that inconceivable Swiftness, that I apprehended it impossible, in our Return, to avoid that Misfortune in the World we left; since the Attraction, if its Virtue was augmented in proportion to its Magnitude, must be much stronger.

This Thought made me very uneasy for those who return'd. I spoke of it to Volatilio who bid me apprehend nothing; for, said he, the Magnetick Virtue of the Load-stone is so far from being in Proportion to its Size, that the very large ones have less attractive Power than those which are middling.

When I had recover'd from the Fright, which the Rapidity of our Descent had put me into, I view'd the circumjacent Country with equal Wonder and Delight; Nature seem'd here to have lavish'd all her Favours; on whatsoever Side I turn'd my Eye, the most ravishing Prospect was offer'd to my Sight. The Mountain yielded a gradual Descent to most beautiful Meadows, enamell'd with Cowslips, Roses, Lilies, Jessamines, Carnations, and other fragrant Flowers, unknown to the Inhabitants of our Globe, which were as grateful to the Smell, as entertaining to the Eye. The chrystal Rivulets which smoothly glided thro' these inchanting Meads, seem'd so many Mirrors reflecting the various Beauties of those odoriferous Flowers which adorn'd their Banks. The Mountain, which was of considerable Height, afforded us a great Variety in our Prospect, and the Woods, Pastures, Meads, and small Arms of the Sea, were intermingled with that surprizing Beauty and Order, that they seem'd rather dispos'd by Art, than the Product of Nature; the Earth it self yielded a grateful and enlivening Scent, and is so pure, that it does not sully the Hands. The Cedars, which cloath'd the middle Part of the Summit, were streight, tall, and so large, that seven Men would hardly fathom the Bowl of one; round these twin'd the grateful Honey-suckle, and encircling Vine, whose purple Grapes appearing frequent from among the Leaves of the wide extended Branches, gave an inconceivable Pleasure to the Beholder. The Lily of the Valley, Violet, Tuberose, Pink, Julip and Jonquil, cloath'd their spacious Roots, and the verdant Soil afforded every salutiferous Herb and Plant, whose Vertues diffus'd thro' the ambient Air (without the invenom'd and the griping Fist of the Cacklogallinian Empiricks) Preservatives to the blessed Inhabitants of the Lunar World.

The Heavens here were ever serene; no Thunder-bearing Cloud obscur'd the Sky; the whispering Zephyrs wanton'd in the Leaves, and gently bore along the enchanting Musick of the feather'd Choir: The Sea here knew no Storms, nor threatning Wave, with Mountain swell, menaced the Ships, which safely plough'd the peaceful Bosom of the Deep. AEolus and all his boisterous Sons were banish'd from these happy Seats, and only kindly Breezes fann'd the fragrant Air. In short, all was ravishing, and Nature seem'd here to have given her last Perfection to her Works, and to rejoice in her finish'd Labours.

I found my Spirits so invigorated by the refreshing Odours, of this Paradice, so elated with the Serenity of the Heavens, and the Beauties which every where entertained and rejoiced my Sight, that in Extasy I broke out into this grateful Soliloquy.

O Source of Wisdom, Eternal Light of the Universe! what Adorations can express the grateful Acknowledgments of thy diffusive Bounty! Who can contemplate the beauty of thy Works, the Product of thy single Fiat, and not acknowledge thy Omnipotence, Omniscience, and extensive Goodness! What Tongue can refrain from singing thy Praise! What Heart so hard, but must be melted into Love! Oh Eternal Creator, pity my Weakness, and since I cannot speak a Gratitude adequate to thy Mercies, accept the Fulness of my Heart, too redundant for Expression.

As I spoke this, in the Cacklogallinian Tongue, Volatilio came up to me, and said,

"Alas! Probusomo, how can a finite Being return Praises adequate to infinite Mercies! Let us return such as we are capable of; let the Probity of our Lives speak our Gratitude; by our Charity for each other endeavour to imitate the Divine Goodness, and speak our Love to him, by that we shew to Mortals, the Work of his Divine Will, however they may differ from us, and from one another, in their Species. I am glad I am not deceived in my Opinion of you. I believed from the Observation I made of your Life in a corrupt and dissolute Court, that you fear'd the first Being of Beings, and for that Reason chose you Companion of this hitherto unattempted Journey; for I expected a Blessing would attend my Undertaking, while such a one was embark'd with me: For to the Shame of our Nation, we own a Deity in Words, but deny him in our Actions: We acknowledge this Divine Being must be pure and just, and that our Lives (as he must abominate all Impurity and Injustice) ought to be conformable to his Attributes, wou'd we hope his Favour and Protection, notwithstanding we act diametrically opposite, as the most ready Method to procure our Happiness."

Finding our selves press'd by Hunger, we descended the Mountain, at the Foot of which we found a Plantation of Olive Trees, and abundance of Pear, standing Apricock, Nectarn, Peach, Orange, and Lemon Trees, interspers'd. We satisfied our craving Appetites with the Fruit we gather'd, and then getting into my Palanquin, Volatilio leading the Way, we went in Search of the Inhabitants. Our Flight was little better than a Soar, that we might with more Advantage view the Country.

After a couple of Hours, he saw a House, but of so great a Height, and so very large, I who was short-sighted in Comparison of the Cacklogallinians, took it for a great Hill; I told him my Opinion, but he assured me I was mistaken. We therefore urg'd forward, and I alighted not far from this Palace, for I could term it no other, from the Largeness and Beauty of its Structure. We had been discover'd, as I had reason to believe, some Time, and a Number of People about Thirty, at our alighting, immediately encompass'd me. The gigantick Make of these Inhabitants struck me with a panick Fear, which I also discover'd in the Eyes of the Cacklogallinians.

They were of different Statures, from Thirty to an Hundred and Fifty Foot high, as near as I cou'd guess; some of them were near as thick as long, some proportionable, and others shap'd like a Pine, being no thicker than my self, tho' tall of an Hundred Foot.

I resolv'd however to conceal, if possible, the Terror I was in, and coming out of my Palanquin, I went to salute the Company, when I observ'd they retired from me in proportion as I advanced, and like a Vapour, or an Ignis fatuus, the Air being mov'd by my Motion, drove those which were directly opposite still before me.

I stood still, they did the same; if I was astonish'd at their Make, and at what other things I had observ'd, I was more so, when I saw one of the tallest, dwindle in the Twinkling of an Eye, to a Pigmy, fly into the Air without Wings, and carry off a Giant in each Hand by the Hair of the Head.

They were all differently dress'd at their first Appearance; some like Generals in Armour, some were in Ecclesiastical, and some in Gowns not unlike our Barristers at Law. Some were dress'd as fine as Imagination could make 'em, but with the quickness of Thought, these Dresses were all changed, who was cover'd with Rags one Moment, the next was in Purple, with a Crown on his Head; the Beau in Rags; the Priest assum'd the Air and Dress of a Bully, and the General was turn'd into a demure Figure resembling a Quaker.

I was struck dumb with Amazement, and while I was considering with my self what this should mean, I observ'd a Man riding up to us, mounted on a Lion; when he came to the others, I found him of the common Size with the Inhabitants of our Globe; he had on his Head a Crown of Bays, which in an Instant chang'd to a Fool's Cap, and his Lion to an Ass. He drew from his Breast a Rowl like a Quire of Written Paper, which using as a Sword, he set upon the others, and dispers'd them. Some ran over the Sea, as on dry Ground; others flew into the Air, and some sunk into the Earth. Then alighting from his Ass, he opened the Jaws of the Animal, went down his Throat, and they both vanish'd.

After I had recover'd my Fright, I told Volatilio, that I fear'd this Planet was inhabited by evil Spirits. He answered, that what we had seen, was sufficient to induce us to believe so. We look'd for the House, which we saw rise into the Air, and vanish in Flame and Smoke, which strengthen'd our Opinion. However, we resolv'd to go forward, when one of the Palanquineers said he saw a House on the left, and People of my Size and Species making towards us.

We determin'd therefore to wait their Arrival, which was in less than a Quarter of an Hour. They accosted me very courteously, as I could gather from their Gestures, tho' they seem'd surprized at the Size of the Cacklogallinians. I was not less amaz'd at the Beauty of their Persons, and the Becomingness of their Dress, either of which I can give no just Idea of. Let it suffice, that I seem'd both in my own, and in the Eyes of the Cacklogallinians, something of the same Species, but frightfully ugly.

These People are neither a corporeal, nor an aerial Substance, but (I know not how otherwise to express my self) between both. They spoke to me in a Language I did not understand, but the Tone of their Voices, and the Smoothness of their Syllables, were divinely harmonious. I bow'd my Body to the Ground three times, and offer'd my Credentials, which one of them took, but by the shaking of his Head, I found understood nothing of the Contents. Volatilio then address'd himself to them, which made them look on one another, as People who hardly believed their Senses. As I had address'd these Selenites in the Cacklogallinian Language, I had a Mind to try, if speaking in those of the Europeans (for I understood, beside my own, the French and Spanish) I should have any better Success. I therefore spoke in English, and, to my great Joy, one of the Company answer'd me. He ask'd me, Whether I came from the World? if so, how I durst undertake so perilous a Journey? I told him, I would satisfy his Curiosity in answering all his Questions, but desired he would give me some Time; for I had been so terrified by Phantoms, since my Arrival, that I was hardly capable of Recollection.

While I was speaking, a Man on Horseback ran full speed upon me with a drawn Sabre, to cleave me down; but the Selenite waving his Hand, he soon vanish'd.

"You need, said he, apprehend nothing from these Shades; they are the Souls of the Inhabitants of your World, which being loos'd from the Body by Sleep, resort here, and for the short Space allotted them, indulge the Passions which predominate, or undergo the Misfortunes they fear while they are in your Globe. Look ye, said he, yonder is a Wretch going to the Gallows, and his Soul feels the same Agony, as if it was a real Sentence to be executed on him. Our Charity obliges us, when we see those imaginary Ills, to drive the Soul back to its Body, which we do, by waving our Hand in the Air, and the agonizing Dreamer wakes. We do also retain them by a Virtue peculiar to the Selenites, and as they sometimes administer a great deal of Diversion, we do it for our Entertainment, which is the Reason of those long Naps of two or three Days, nay, of as many Weeks, which cause the Wonder of your World. The Souls of your impure Dreamers never reach beyond the middle Region. But we delay too long inviting you to our Habitations, where you shall have all possible Care taken of you. But by what Art have you taught Fowls articulate Sounds? and where could you possibly find them of that Size?"

I told him they were rational Beings, but that the Story was now too long to tell him; he presented me to the rest of the Company, and, at my Request, the Cacklogallinians were humanly treated, whom otherwise they had look'd upon as overgrown dunghill Fowls. Volatilio did not appear much surpriz'd at this, who had once esteem'd me a Prodigy of Nature. As we walk'd to the House, one of the Selenites address'd me in the Spanish Language, with the known Affiability and Gravity of that Nation.

"Sir, said he, I cannot consider you as other, than the bravest and wisest of all Mortals, who could find the Way to reach our World, and had the Courage to undertake the Journey; for it's certain, none cloath'd in Flesh ever (before you) made so bold an Attempt, or at least succeeded in it: Tho' I have read the Chimera's of Dominick Gonzales. While you stay amongst us, you may depend upon our treating you with all the Respect answerable to so great Merit, and in every thing endeavour, as far as the Power we have will permit, that the Design of your Journey may not be frustrated, which I am apt to believe, is no other than to extend your Knowledge."

I return'd him many Thanks for his Humanity, but told him I durst not attribute to my self the Character he gave me; that I was a Lover of Truth, and would not, on any Account, disguise the real Motive which sent me on an Undertaking I look'd upon impossible to go thro' with, and which I very unwillingly embark'd in: But since, contrary to my Expectations, Providence has guided me to this Terrestrial Paradice, I should esteem my self extreamly happy, if I might be permitted to ask such Questions as my Curiosity might prompt me to.

He answer'd, that nothing I desir'd to know should be kept from me. We soon reach'd the House, which was regular, neat, and convenient. We all sat down in an inner Hall, and he who spoke English, desired I would give an Account, both of the Motives, the Manner, and Accidents of my Journey, which I did as succinctly as possible, interpreting the Credentials, when I gave them.

He was astonish'd at the Account I gave him of the Cacklogallinians, and said, if my Account was not back'd with ocular Demonstration, he should take their Story for the Ravings of a distemper'd Brain.

"I find, said he, you begin to be drowzy; I would therefore have you and your rational Fowls (as you call them) repose your selves, while I in the Vernacular Language, repeat to my Companions the Wonders I have heard from you."

We were indeed very sleepy, and I was heartily glad of the Proposal, as were also the Cacklogallinians, when I mention'd it to them. They, as well as my self, were provided each of them with a Bed, in very handsome and commodious Rooms. These Beds were so very soft, that I seem'd to lye on a Couch of Air. When we awak'd, the Selenites came into my Chamber, and told me it was time to take some Nourishment; that they had provided Corn for my Companions, and desir'd I would sit down to Supper with them, it being their usual time.