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Bovalinolen-Library.nkach 1900.
THE
"
VOYAGES,
T R A V E L S,
..
And WONDERFUL
DISCOVERIES
OF
Capt. JOHN HOLMESBY.
CONTAINING
A Series of the moſt Surpriſing and Uncommon
EVENTS, which befel the AUTHOR in his
Voyage to the SOUTHERN OCEAN, in the
Year 1739. .
L O N D ON:
Printed for F, NOBLE, at his Circulating-Library in King-
Strect, Covent Garden ;
A N D
J. NOBLE, at his Circulating-Library in St. Martin's
Court, near Leiceſter-Square,
(Price 3s. bound)
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Images
U19-lander
538
CONTENTS.
THE
CH A P. I.
HE Author's Account of himſelf;
Education ; firft Voyage; ſeized
by his elder Brother, and put on
board a Velfel; the Captain's Con-
feffion to himJhipwrecked; bis
Jangular Eſcape. Page 1
CHA P. II.
The Author's Deliverance by an old
Savage ; Deſcription of bim ; goes
with him to his Cave, and is there
entertained.
19
CH A P. III.
A Deſcription of the Savage's Habi-
tation; the Author becomes bis Ser.
A 2
vant ;
iv
CON T E N T S.
::
The Author
vant; his Employment ; learns the
Indian Language.
27
CH A P. IV.
The Indian's Account of Nimpatan;
* its Origin ; antient Government ;
defends his Method of Living; per-
Juades the Author to embrace it.
35
CHAP. V.
Author leaves the Savage's Reſi-
dence; be ſets out upon bis Diſcove-
ries; is taken by the Nimpata-
neſe ; carried to a Country-houſe ;
diſcovers his Taliſman ; Adven-
ture with the Miſtreſs of the Houſe.
46
C H A P. VI.
The Author is vifted by the Neigh-
bour bood; Influence of Gold; goes
to the Metropolis ; ennobled; Copy
of bis Patent.
СНАР.
58
CO N T E N T S.
CH A P. VII.
Genius of the Nimpataneſe; their
Metropolis ; Dreſs; extraordinary
Ceremony.
67
CHAP. VIII.
The Author's Audience of the Treafio
rer Gribbelino; of Service to
bim; explains the Niinpatan Gom
vernment.
78
CHA P. IX.
The Maxims of Gribbelino. 91
CHAP. X.
The Author's Viſit to a Mad-houſe ;
Deſcription of it; Catalogue of
09
the Patients.
98
як
CHA P.
:
Vi . CONTENT S.
C H A P. XI.
The Author elected a Member of the
Academy of Kelſo; viſits the Aca-
demy; diſcourſes with the Head of
it; the Philoſopher who fought for
Truth; conſults the Academy upon
Morality and Agriculture ; preſents
it with a Curioſity.
113
.
CHA P. XII.
The Author's Adventure with a female
Gameſter; Attempts to introduce
bimſelf to the Emperor of Nimpa-
tan; the Dificulties in that Affair ;
Interview with the Emperor. 131
CHA P. XIII.
The Author's Behaviour at Court ;
Diſcourſe with the Emperor con-
cerning England; bis Sketch of
Engliſh
CO N T E N T S. vui
tion ; Schemes ; leaves it.
Engliſh Hiſtory ; bis imperial
Majeſty's Obſervations upon it.
142
CHA P. XIV.
The Author diſcourſes with the Empe-
ror upon the Engliſh Conſtitution;
the Emperor's Remarks. 168
CH A P. XV.
Cabal againſt the Author at Court ;
he is ſeized, and confined; his
Patent and Diploma taken away ;
applies to his Friends in vain;
Debates at Court about bis Puniſh-
ment; bis Sentence.
176
CH A P. XVI.
The Author's Sentence executed; El-
cape; Returns to his old Planta-
188
."
...
1
С НАР.
viii
CONTENT S.
C H A P. XVII.
The Author puts out to Sea ; worth
derful Deliverance; taken up near
the Coal of Guiney ; returns to
England; concludes bis Voyage.
204
ERRATA.
Page 37, Line 1, for the be, read be the.
P.68, 1. 18, for Building, read Buildings.
P. 83, I. 2, read in Point of Information.
P. 151, 1. 13. for Mazagines read Magazines,
P. 210, 1. 2, dele with.
A पट
ord
T HE
THE
TRAVEL S
2
0 F
Captain John Holmeſby.
CH A P. I.
The Author's Account of bimſelf;
Education ; firſt Voyage ; ſeized
by his elder Brother, and put on
board a Veſel; the Captain's Con-
feffion to him; shipwrecked; bis
ſingular Eſcape
*** Propoſe to relate, with all
I Truth and Plainneſs, thoſe
*** Adventures which have
befel me in the Courſe of a ſea-
faring Life ; and which are in their
own Nature ſo uncommon, that
the
B
2
The TRAVELS of
the bare Relation of them will af-
ford Entertainment, without any
laboured Ornaments of Stile.
I was born at Yarmouth in the
Iſle of Wight, May 6. 1714. My
Father Mr. Thomas Holmeſby inhe-
rited a ſmall Eſtate, which his Oe-
conomy and Prudence ſo managed,
that it ſupported comfortably him-
ſelf, and educated his Children.
He had four Sons and a Daughter.
My Mother was deſcended from
the Whites of Hampſhire, an an-
tient and reputable Family ; and
though her Portion was ſmall, her
Virtues were equal to the greateſt
Diſparity of Fortune.
My Father had an intimate
Friend, Captain John Clayton, an
old
Capt. John HOLMESBY.
3
old Batchelor, who uſed to board
at our Houſe when afhore. In Com-
pliment to him, who was my God-
father, I was named John. In my
Childhood I uſed to delight in hear-
ing Sailors relate their Voyages ;
and, when the Captain
was
at home, to aſk many inquiſitive
Queſtions ; which that worthy
Man would anſwer with all the
Goodneſs imaginable, and admire
my prattling Impertinence. As
I grew up, this Paſſion and Cu-
rioſity increaſed, and, like many
others, I thought a rambling Life
muſt be the moſt deſirable Bleſſing;
for which Reaſon, I was daily fol-
liciting my Parents to permit me
to go to Sea along with Capt. Clay-
ton.
B 2
4
The TRAVELS of
ton. In my fifteenth Year, ſome
Attention was paid to my natural
Bent; and, though a maiden Aunt
ſtrongly perſuaded my Father to
place me in a Compting-Houſe,
it was determined that the Captain
ſhould have the Buſineſs propoſed
to him, when he returned from the
Levant, which was expected to be
in a ſhort Time.
I was poſſeſſed of a competent
Share of what they term School-
learning, by which I ſuppoſe is
underſtood Learning of Uſe at
School, for mine was of no Uſe
any where elſe, and there only of
Uſe to my Poſteriors in the Article
of Flogging. But now I was to
learn Trigonometry, Mathema-
ticks, Navigation, &c. at an Aca-
demy,
Capt. John HOLMESBY.
5
demy, till the Captain's Arrival.
Whilſt one of theſe Seminaries was
looking out for me, News came of
the Phoenix, Capt. Clayton, that the
Veffel was fafe arrived at Portſmouth;
and in a few Days after I had the
Pleaſure to have it confirmed by
the Captain himſelf.
As I had always been a Favou-
rite, the Captain readily concurred
with all my Father's Propoſals con-
cerning me. He was advanced in
Life, had acquired a genteel For-
tune, and propoſed foon to give
over going to Sea.
The Com-
mander of a Veffel, in which he
was an Owner, being accidentally
drowned, as he was going aboard,
by the Long-boat's overſetting, the
Captain reſolved to take the Com-
B 3
mand
6 The TRAVEL S of
mand himſelf. A Trip to Lisbon
would be agreeable to him, uſeful
to his Affairs, and to me. Hurrying
therefore a few Neceffaries toge-
ther, and dropping the Academy,
we went poít to Deal, where the
Vefſel lay.----Nothing remarkable
happened to me in this Voyage.
The Captain kept me to ſtrict Dif-
cipline, made me write a fair and
correct Journal, and at leiſure
Times taught me the Theory of
Navigation; fo that when I return’d,
I was a tolerable Sailor. Indeed
I have always thought a Ship to be
the beſt Marine Academy, having
obſerved that aukward Appearance
which the Productions of Land ones
make when they come aboard.
I con-
Capt. John HOLMESBY.
7
I conſumed ten Years in Voyages
to the Levant, New-England, the
Canaries, and various Parts of the
World, in all which my good Friend
aſſiſted me with his Counſel, Purſe,
and Intereſt. During this Interval,
my Father and ſecond Brother
Thomas died ; my elder Brother
took Poſſeſſion of his Eſtate ; and
my Mother retired to Hampſhire to
her Relations with my Siſter. My
younger Brother Francis was bound
to a Stationer in London.
Henry, my elder Brother, was
always addicted to Gaiety; and
when my Father died, indulged
himſelf ſo much in Pleaſure, that
his Health and Fortune were both
in the Road to Ruin. Capt. Clay-
ton had retired to an Eſtate which
B4
he
8 The TRAVELs of
A
:
*
konſidered by me as my Home;
he had purchaſed, where he
pro-
poſed to end his Days. His Houſe,
after the Death of my Father, was
for ke had, by Will, appointed
me his Heir, and upon my Demiſe,
the eldeſt of our Family. As he
began now to decline apace, at his
Requeſt, I laid aſide the Thoughts
of going to Sea, till he had paid
the laſt Debt to Nature; as well
out of Regard to my own Intereſt,
as-of. Gratitude to him.
In Expectation of this melan-
choly Event, I was one Evening
pretty late, walking by the Sea-
fide, which was near our Houſe.
This was an uſual Practice with me,
no Scenes giving me greater De-
light than thoſe which the Sea pre-
ſents
.
:
Capt. John HOLMESBY.
9
ſents. It began to grow dark, and
I was near home, when a Fellow
jumped out of a Hedge, and
ſeized my Collar. I judged it to
be a Footpad, and ſtruggled to caſt
him; but in a few Minutes three
more joined him, and immediately
bound my Hands and gagged me.
In this Condition I expected to be
murdered directly; but to my
Sur-
priſe they neither rifled my Poc-
kets, nor uſed any Blows, but tel-
ling me that Reſiſtance was in
vain, bad me follow them. We
had not gone far when they hailed a
Veffel which lay at Anchor ; and
then ſtripping me ſtark naked, and
taking my Cloaths, bad me put
on thoſe which they produced
out
of a Bundle. Whilſt this was
B5
trani
JO
The TRAVELs of
tranſacting a Boat came, into which
they put me; when I came aboard
I was confined, and found that I
was to be fold for a Slave to the
Plantations.
I knew that Remonſtrances at
Sea were fruitleſs; I therefore
waited patiently, not doubting,
but when I touched Land, Let-
ters to my Friends would both
bring this Villany to Light, and
deliver me from Captivity. With
this Reſolution, appearing calm and
reſigned to my Fate, I was per-
mitted to come upon Deck.
The Weather proved favourable,
till we came to Latitude 5 North,
when towards Evening we had
ſo terrible a Hurricane, accom-
panied with Rain, Thunder, and
Light-
Capt. John HOLMESBY: II
Lightening, that we looked every
Moment to perish. In the midſt of
this Confuſion the Maſter called me
into the Cabin ; and throwing him-
ſelf at my Feet, aſked Forgiveneſs
in the moſt paſſionate Terms.
He
told me that my elder Brother, for
the Sake of inheriting Capt. Clayton's
Eſtate, had hired him, for a con-
ſiderable Sum, to ſeize me, and
when out at Sea to murder me;
that, his Conſcience not fuffering
him to deprive an innocent Man of
Life, he had reſolved to fell me at
the Plantations; and that, as a
periſhing Sinner, he believed this
Tempeſt to be the Vengeance of
Heaven for his Crime ; but if he
eſcaped the Storm, he would ſet me
fafe at the firſt Port he came to.
B6
Upon
12
The TRAVELS of
Upon this, I told him that I for-
gave him, who was only the In-
ftrument of my Brother's Cruelty,
and deſired him not to deſpair, but
to uſe his utmoſt Efforts to preſerve
the Veffel. But all Efforts were
vain ; a Plank, with the Violence
of the Tempeſt, ſtarted, and the
Water poured in.
During this
Extremity, with little Hope of ef-
caping, we hove out our Long-
boat, and threw ourſelves with
ſome few Neceſſaries into it. By
an Obſervation of the preceding
Day we deemed ourſelves to be
near the Brazils, as the Hurricane
drove chiefly from N. E. though
at Times it veered round the Com-
paſs. But the Diſtreſs was, the
Boat was incapable of holding all,
and
::
Capt. JOHN HOLMESBY.
13
and who would devote themſelves
to certain Deſtruction, when the
leaſt Opportunity of eſcaping pre-
ſented itſelf? We muſt all have
inevitably periſhed, if the Captain
had not, without regarding thoſe
in the Ship, cleared the Boat of
her immediately. Several threw
themſelves into the Sea, endeavour-
ing to get into the Boat, but Self-
preſervation extinguiſhed every o-
ther Thought; and they with the
Veſſel periſhed in our Sight. The
Tempeſt now abated its Fury, and
though our eſcaping preſent Death
when the Vefſel foundered, was a
Matter of Comfort in that confuſed
Juncture, yet it ſoon vaniſhed, when
Reflection ſucceeded, and all the
Horrors of a lingering and as ine-
vitable
14
The TRAVEL s of
vitable Deſtruction made us envy
the Fate of our dead Companions.
An open Boat could not expect
to live in the Ocean; but, if there
was a Probability, our Proviſions
inuſt fail. By an Obſervation we
found that we had run foutherly ;
and having a Pocket-compaſs we
ſteered Weſt, with a view of gaining
the Continent of South America.
We were in all twelve, and it was
agreed to work by Turns, that ſo
we might hold out longer, and to
divide our Stock of Proviſions into
fuch Portions as by our Computa-
tion would barely ſuſtain us four-
teen Days, before the Expiration
of which we concluded our Fate
would be determined. In this ter-
rible Situation we continued two
Days
Capt. John HOLMESBY. 15
Days and as many Nights, expect-
ing every Moment to fink to the
Bottom of the Deep; but, on the
third Day, to our great Tranſport,
we perceived a bluiſh Cloud at
S. S. W. which we concluded to
be Land. Love of Life infuſed
new Strength into our weary Arms;
there was a dead Calm, but a
ſtrong Current, and we rowed with
Eagerneſs towards it. As we drew
nearer we perceived that our Con-
jecture was well grounded ; for
now the Land was very viſible, and
we could perceive the Mountains
and Cliffs of this unknown Coun..
try.
We were now within a Mile of
the Shore, when we fatally ſtruck
upon a ſharp Rock which was juſt
beneath
16
The TRAVELS of
beneath the Surface of the Water.
Our Boat filled in a Moment, and
we had juſt Time to throw our-
ſelves into the Sea, with the Hope
of ſaving our Lives by ſwimming.
I had the Preſence of Mind to ſeize
an Oar, and to clear myſelf of the
Boat. Some of my Companions
funk directly, and myſelf with four
or five more made for the Shore ;
we had ſcarce ſwam half Way be-
fore
пту
unfortunate Companions
all periſhed through Wearineſs,
and I foon expected to ſhare their
Fate. In that terrible Juncture I
perceived within a few Yards a
Rock juſt peeping out of the Water.
Imade directly to it, and ſtood trem-
bling upon the viſible Part, which
increaſed every Moment to my
Com-
Capt. John HOLMESBY. 37
Comfort, by the Tide's going off.
It was now Afternoon, and to ſtay
till the Return of the Tide was ine-
vitable Death. When therefore I
imagined it to be low Water, I
walked on the Rock to the Water's
Edge, and then threw myſelf into
the Sea, which was fortunately
calm, and made for the Shore,
which was now near, and appeared
rocky and dangerous. In about an
Hour I found that I could touch
Ground with my Feet; and then
throwing my Plank away, I walked
leiſurely to Shore. I was full of
Gratitude and Wonder for my fin-
gular Deliverance, and redoubled
my Efforts to climb the Rocks be-
yond the Reach of the Tide, which
I, with much Difficulty, at length
accom-
18
The TR AV E L $ of
accompliſhed. The Sun was ſet,
and I looked for ſome Place of
Shelter ; and having found a Ca-
vity, I got into it; and eating ſome
Muſcles, Limpets, and other Shell-
fiſh, of which there were Plenty, I
laid myſelf down upon ſome Moſs,
and though the Dread of Savages
and wild Beaſts kept me awake
ſome Time, yet Fatigue at length
becaine Victor, and buried all my
Fears and Sorrows in a found
Sleep, which laſted till late the
next Morning
СНАР.
Capt. John HOLMESBY.
19
CH A P. II.
The Author's Deliverance by an old
Savage ; Deſcription of him ; goes
with him to bis Cave; and is there
entertained.
TH
HE Sun ſhone into my Place
of Repoſe with full Bright-
neſs, which waked me; and, with
the Opening of iny Eyes, all the
Horrors of any Situation ruſhed
into my Head. I judged the
Country to be fome Part of the
Continent of South America, and
whether the Inhabitants were Eu-
ropeans or Indians I knew not, but
I dreaded both equally. The Place
where I paſſed the Night was a
rocky Terras,
which for ſome hun-
dred
20
The TRA VELs of
dred Yards was almoſt fiat, and
commanded a View of the Sea.
It ſeemed to me to be about orre
third of the Way to the Top of
thoſe Precipices, which on every
Side hung over my Head, and
whoſe Summit it was neceſſary to
gain before I could ſee the Country.
Having with
my
Hand ſcooped
out and drank fome Rain-water
which had lodged in the Holes of
the Rocks, and eat ſome Eggs of
Sea-fowl, of which there were
Plenty, I began to climb up the
Cliffs. I had made but ſmall Pro-
greſs in this hazardous Attempt
before I diſcerned the Impoſſibility
of Succeſs. The Rocks were every
where perpendicular; it was im-
poſſible to ſubſiſt long in that
wretched
Capt. John HOLMESBY.
21
wretched Place. Death, lingering
Death, preſented itſelf before me;
and with that melancholy View, I
reſted myſelf, fitting down upon a
craggy Stump, with my two Hands
upon my Knees. Often, during
this Conflict between Life and
Death, 'I looked up to thoſe Spires
of rocky Matter which ſeemed to
touch the Clouds, when, on the
Brink of one of the loweſt, I
thought I perceived the Figure of
a human Creature. I ſtarted up
eagerly, ſhouted with all my
Strength, and pulled off
waving it about, in order to be the
ſooner diſcerned. To my great
Joy, I perceived, that
my
Labour
exceeded
my Expectation. I ſaw
ſomething white waved as a Sig-
nal
my Shirt,
22
The TRAVELS of
nal that I was ſeen. After this
the Figure diſappeared; I con-
cluded that it was for Affiftance to
relieve me, and the Event ſhewed
the Concluſion to be juſt. An
Hour elapſed, which I paſſed be-
tween the moſt violent Agitations
of Hope and Fear; and then I
perceived the ſame Signal repeated,
which I anſwered. A Rope was
let down to a Part of the Rock,
where, by deſcending a little, I
could lay hold of the End of it.
No King I believe ever griped his
Scepter with ſuch Tranſport as I
that Cord. I directly made it faſt
to my Middle, and held the Rope
with both Hands, pulling it to fig-
nify that I was ready. The Rope
tightened, and I began to aſcend
flowly.
Capt. John HOLMESBY. 23
ſlowly. I took Care to ſet my
Feet againſt the Sides of the Pre-
cipice; but I was furpriſed at my
flow Aſcent, and that at Intervals
I ſtopped a conſiderable Time; ſo
that I was three Hours before I
ſaw my Deliverer. When I ap-
proached the Summit, I plainly,
with Aſtoniſhment, diſcovered him
and his Contrivance to procure my
Eſcape from that dreadful Spot.
He had made faſt one End of the
Rope to the Stump of a Tree; and
as I aſcended by his Help, he con-
tinued to wind the Line round the
Tree, till I gained the Top, when
I threw myſelf at his Feet.
The Figure before me was a tall,
venerable, old Man ; his Hair white
as Snow, and a Beard of the ſame
Hue,
24
The TRAVELS of
Hue, which reached to his Waiſt.
He was ſtark naked, and his Body
was dyed with bluiſh Spots ; on his
Breaſt was painted the Sun, and
on the other Parts of his Body Fi-
gures and Animals of various
Kinds. While I was thus proſtrate
at the Feet of the old Savage, he
ſurveyed me ſome time with ſuch
ſeeming Anger, that I began to be in
Pain for the Event ; he then made
Signs for me to ſtand up. I did
ſo; then he more circumſpectly
examined my Countenance and
Garb. I made Signs of Submiſſion,
and that I was in great Diſtreſs for
Food; he underſtood me, and ſof-
tening the Severity of his Looks,
beckoned to me to follow him,
ſaying, Rantſegr lofwollem. L.
obeyed
1
Capt. Joun HOLMESBY. 23
obeyed with ſeeming outward
Satis-
faction, but full of inward Per-
plexity. We walked near half an
Hour, I believe, along the Edge
of the Cliff, during which Time 1
obſerved that the Country about us
was a ſandy barren Heath, hemmed
in with Mountains; at length a
narrow crooked deſcending Path
on our left Hand preſented itſelf,
which winded among the Rocks.
Into this
my
Guide turned; we had
not proceeded
far before we came
to a Spot, the moſt romantick I ever
faw, it was
a ſquare Piece of
Ground of about thirty or forty
Acres. On the North-Side was a
Wall of ſolid Rock, very high ; on
the other three Sides, nothing was
to be ſeen but horrid Precipices,
C
and
26
The TR A V E L 8 of
and at the Feet of them the Ocean.
I was aſtoniſhed at the Scene before
me, when the Savage conducted
me through an Opening in the
Rock into a ſpacious Cave. I fat
down on the Ground faint and
weary, whilft my Hoft ſet out his
Entertainment before me, which
conſiſted only of Milk, Pulfe, and
Fruits of ſeveral Kinds, and our
Drink was Water mingled with
the Juice of ſome of thoſe Fruits
After this Repaſt, he made Signs
that I ſhould refreſh myſelf with
Sleep ; and ſpreading a Skin on
the Ground for that Purpoſe, he
went out and left me to my Re-
poſe.
СНАР.
Capt. John HOLMESBY, 27
C H A P. III.
A Deſcription of the Savage's Habi.
tation ; the Author becomes bis Ser
vant ; bis Employment ; learns the
Indian Language.
IT
T was in the Heat of the Day
when the Savage left me. In hot
Countries that Time is uſually dedi-
cated to Sleep; but I was not fam-
.
iliarized enough yet to ſuch Cli-
mates to comply with that Cuſtom.
My fimple Entertainment had re-
cruited my Spirits; and the Mo-
ment that my Hoft was gone, I
viewed attentively the Place I was
in. It was a natural Cavity of the
Rock, and by its Rudeneſs dif-
claimed
28
The TRAVELS of
claimed the Hand of Art. The
Furniture was all of a Piece with
the Structure, and conſiſted of ſome
Skins of Animals to ſleep upon, a
few Conveniencies to ſerve the Oc-
nin.
caſions of eating and drinking, (all
the mere Gifts of Nature)
and in
one Corner ſome Inſtruments made
in a ſimple, artleſs Manner, which
ſeemed to be contrived for Works
of Agriculture. Theſe I examined,
and to my Surprize found that all
the Metal in their Compoſition was
pure Gold. This Sight, I freely
confeſs, diſpelled the Miſeries which
I ſo late had felt; and whilſt I was
weighing the precious Ore, which,
was on the Tools in my Hands,
Avarice ſtole into my Breaſt. What
Sum is this in Europe? ſaid I ; what
a rich
Capt. John Holmesby. 29
He ap-
a rich Country muſt this be ? and
what Plenty of Gold, ſince it ſup-
plies the Place of Iron ? How
ſimple are theſe Savages, and ig-
norant of the true Value of Things,
thus to undervalue Gold? In theſe
Thoughts I was employed, when
the Savage returned.
proached me; and taking me by
the Hand, led me out of the Cave
into his little Plantation. He then
conducted me to every Part of it,
which was cultivated ſurpriſingly ;
it had ſeveral Diviſions in it, all
parted with ever-green Hedges; in
ſome were Cattle, in others Indian
Corn, in others Roots and Herbs
for Phyſick and Diet, in others
ſeveral Sorts of tame Fowl and
other Animalsinſomuch that it
C3
Was
30
The TRAVELS of
was wonderful to me how ſuch a
Variety could be confined within
ſo ſmall a Compaſs. I followed
him back to the Cave, where, put-
ting a Kind of Shovel into my
Hand, and pointing to his Planta-
tion, he made Signs that I muſt
affiſt him by my Labour in culti-
vating of it. I let him know, as
well as I could, that I ſhould obey
him, and a long Converſation, in
Dumb-ſhew, followed ; during
which the Gold before me put ſe-
veral Schemes of gaining immenſe
Riches into my Head, owing, I
believe, more to the Force of our
Country Cuſtoms, and the Prin-
ciples I had imbibed here, than
any avaricious Propenſity in my
Diſpoſition.
Being
Capt. John HOLMESBY. 31
Being thus, by a Reverſe of
Fortune, become Servant to a Sa-
vage, I endeavoured to compoſe
my Mind to my Fate, and to wait
patiently for a Change more fortu-
nate. I ſhall not trouble the Read-
er with a particular Detail of my
Employments, in this Situation.
Our general Cuſtom was to rile
early and work in the little Spot of
Ground, and to employ ourſelves
in providing for the Demands of
Nature. Towards Noon we took
a Repaſt, and reſted till Evening,
when Exerciſe again prepared our
Bodies for ſalutary Sleep.
The Savage would often make
Signs for me to go naked, and
paint my Body like his; but I let
him know, that not being educated
C 4
to
32
The TRA V ELS of
to it, the Conſequence would be fa-
tal to my Health; and then he
would ſhake his Head, and cry,
Aflaf! aſlaf! But though I avoided
that Cuſtom, I ſtudiouſly endea-
voured to learn his Language, as
Converſation would help to foften
Solitude.
I fortunately happened to have
an ivory Table-book, which the
Captain of the Veſſel had given me
in the Boat ; and my Cuſtom was,
when I wanted to know the Name
of any Thing, to deſign a Draught
of it in my Book; and then ſhew-
ing it the Indian, he would name
it, which Name I wrote down.
By this Means I was ſoon Maſter
of a Vocabulary ; but my greateſt
Difficulty was to know the Meaning
of
Capt. John Holmesby. 33
of Verbs, and the Names of Vir-
tues and Vices, and the like.
Theſe I was obliged to pick out as
well as I could by Signs and Ac-
tions. My Maſter was wonder-
fully pleaſed with the Progreſs I
made, and ſpared no Pains to teach
me; ſo that within a Year, I was
capable, with Help of Circumlo-
cution and Signs, to converſe with
him on moſt Subjects.
But as ſoon as I could make
him underſtand me, my great De-
ſire to know the Nature of the
Country I was in, and whether
there were other Inhabitants
beſides
himſelf, and where that Gold which
he had, came from, cauſed me to
turn my Diſcourſe chiefly upon
thoſe Subjects.------But the Con-
verſation
C 5
34
The TRAVELs of
verſation which we had at ſeveral
Times concerning them, I ſhall
preſent to the Reader in the next
Chapter.
he
C Η Α Ρ.
Capt. John HOLMESBY. 35
lidt CH A P. IV.
m.
Xon
adja
The Indian's Account of Nimpatan
its Origin ; antient Government ;
defends bis Method of living ; per-
ſuades the Author to embrace it.
Nhat the following Particu-
OW it is to be underſtood,
that the following Particu-
lars, which I received from my
Indian Maſter, are the Subſtanice
of ſeveral Diſcourſes during the
Space of eighteen Months, of which
I took Care to make Memoran-
dums, ſupplying the reſt with my
Memory, when Convenience and
Opportunity afterwards enabled me
to write them down at large.
After ſome Progreſs in the Ini-
C6
30
The TRAVEL S of
dian Language, and being in ſome
Capacity of underſtanding my
Maſter, and finding him one Day
in a Diſpoſition particularly com-
municative, I requeſted him to
ſatisfy my Curioſity concerning the
Country beyond thoſe inacceſſible
Rocks. Whether it was inhabited ?
and, if it was, What could induce
him to ſuch an extraordinary So-
litude!
After ſome Minutes Silence,
Rantſegr, ſays he (by that Name
he uſed
to call me) thy Deſire con-
cerning theſe Things, is agreeable
to Man's Nature, which is ever
diſcontented, and eager to go be-
yond its preſcribed Boundaries; but
this inſatiable Thirſt of Know-
ledge commonly makes Man mife-
rable
Capt. John HOLMESBY: 37
rable ; for whatever de beObject
of his Purſuit, he ſurely, during the
Chace, diſcovers only freſh Ex-
amples of the Wickedneſs, Igno-
rance, and Folly of his own Species;
he imbibes Principles and Maxims
which divert him from the fimple
pleaſant Path of Nature; he fills
himſelf with Paſſions, Luſts, and
Appetites that tormenthin without
ceafing; and
after all his Labour,
ſtill he finds his Thirſt to burn as
fierce as ever.
The Country which you are in,
is called Nimpaian. It is an Iſland,
about four Moons Journey in Com-
paſs, abourding in every. Thing
neceſſary to the Support of Man.
Tradition informs us, that it 'prung
out of the great Water by a dreadful
Agita ～
38
The TRAVELs of
Agitation of the Elements, which
divided and broke the Rocks and
very Bottom of the Deep; and fuch
was the Violence of this tempef-
tuous Whirlpool, that the moſt
enormous Maffes were carried
round in it like Feathers. After
a while the heavieſt began to fink,
and faſtened themſelves to the Bot-
tom; ſo as to form a Foundation
upon theſe others, till the Maſs
reached the Surface of the great
Water, which began to fink, leav-
ing this new formed Inand viſible
and covered with Mud. Upon
this naked and unfruitful Spot, the
Sun acted in ſuch a generative
Manner, that the Slime hardened
and produced all kinds of Plants
and Animals, and Man among the
reſt,
Capt. John HOLMESBY.
39
reſt, the reſpective Seeds of which
were ſown equally
by the Hand of
the great Kbironbkee, during that
terrible Confuſion.
The firſt Race of Inhabitants
lived as you ſee me do. Their
Bodies ſtrong and vigorous, fear-
leſs of Cold or Heat, their Diet
Fruits, or Fleſh of Animals, which
they killed in the Foreſts. Diſeaſes
were unknown to them, and they
lived three thouſand Moons before
they went to their Friends in the
other World. In War, they were
patient and invincible; in Peace,
amiable They cut the ſacred
Herb with golden Sickles, and
knew no Vice or Mifery.
The Nation of the Nimpataneſe
was divided into Claſſes, over each
of
40
The TRA VELs of
of which preſided a Chief, who
was General in War and Magiſtrate
in Peace. Theſe Clafles conſiſted
of a certain Number of Families;
and in every Family the Parent ex-
erciſed ſupreme Juriſdiction in all
private Matters relative to itſelf.
The Worſhip of the Gods was
committed to the Care of theMarzee-
gee. Theſe were Guardians of the
heavenly Treaſure ; they inſtructed
Youth, flew the Sacrifices, taught
Benevolence, and diſcovered the ſo-
vereign Virtues of the Moon. At
folemn Feaſts they tuned their
Harps to the Praiſes of the Gods,
and inflamed Men to Virtue, by
Rewards in the other World. Their
Doctrines they wrote upon the liv-
ing Memories of their Diſciples,
which
Capt. John HOLMESBY. 41
which inſtructed them in all the
Philoſophy of Nature.
ustaa
The Nimpataneſe lived thus hap-
pily for the Space of near fifty-two
thouſand Moons, when another
Race of Mortals, whoſe Manners
and Language were different from
ours, invaded this Idland. Arms
were inſufficient to conquer the vir-
tuous Nimpataneſe; they were ſe-
duced to recede from the Virtues of
their Anceſtors ; Luxury, Vice, and
Slavery, crept in under the Terms
of Elegance, Politeneſs, and Civi-
lity; and then the whole Face of
the Illand was changed, and its
Inhabitants were converted into a
Race of vicious, fawning, and de-
teſtable Slaves,
In
42
The TRAVELS of
In this fad Diſaſter ſome of the
virtuous Nimpataneſe, incapable of
receding from their antient Cuf-
toms, fled to theſe barren Rocks,
where their Poſterity unmoleſted
live, and taſte all the Bleſſings
which Health, Nature, or Virtue
can beſtow. Gold, which the pre-
ſent Iſlanders adore, they only uſe
to form their Inſtruments, with
which they till the Ground, or cut
the facred Plants
which they
conſider as the moſt valuable Em-
ployments of Man.
Here the Savage made a Pauſe.
After ſome Minutes Silence, I re-
plied, that with Submiſſion I was
of Opinion, that the State of civil
Society and improved Life, in which
I had the Happineſs to be born,
ought
3
Capt. John HOLMESBY. 43
ought to be preferred to the barba-
rous Uſages of a mere natural State,
which abounded with Hardſhips,
Miſeries, and Inconveniences little
inferior to the Brutes.
To this the Savage anſwered,
with a Smile of Contempt, The
Difference between Brutes and
Mankind lies in Reaſon alone; this
is the Superiority which the Na-
ture of Man poſſeſſes. But are not
my reaſoning Faculties clearer,
ſtronger, and more acute, from
this temperate Way of living? My
Body more robuſt and healthy? My
Wants are fewer, becauſe Nature
bounds them ; I am therefore
more virtuous and happy. I con-
template Nature's Works, and de-
duce uſeful Leflons from them: I
paſs
44
The TRAVEL s of
paſs my Life in Peace, and die
without Fear. But you ſeem to
think the Felicities of polite Com-
munities ſuperior. You miſcall
things; when the native Bravery
of Man is corrupted with Luxury,
you ſay that he is humanized;
when his Body is enervated with
Dreſs and Idleneſs, you term it
Civility ; when his Mind is tainted
with Luſt, Avarice, Envy, Ambi-
tion, and Malice, then it is termed
Refinement; when Fraud, Lying,
Diffimulation, Injuſtice, Rapine,
procure Gold, this is Wiſdom;
when you ſlaughter Millions, this
is Glory : But your Knowledge
tranſcends ours. If I admit this,
the Abuſe of it only augments the
Guilt of vicious Practice, ſince 1,
who
Capt. John HoLMESBY. 45
who know leſs, am yet more vir-
tuous.
Thank the great Khironhkee,
therefore, my Son, that he has pre-
ſerved thee to receive my Leſſons .
I ſhall in a few Years go to meet
my Friends in the other World ;
thou ſhalt fupply the Place of my
Children, of whom Death has de-
prived me; and after iny Deceaſe,
poſſeſs this Spot which Vice or
Luxury never polluted.
CHAP
HOME
46
The TRAVEL & of
to CH A P. V.
The Author leaves the Savage's Reſi-
dence ; ſets out upon his Diſcove-
ries; is taken by the Nimpata-
neſe; carried to a Country-houſe;
diſcovers his Taliſman ; Adven-
ture with the Miſtreſs of the Houſe.
D lieprefen
"Imprefion which
Ifcourſes of this Kind made
a preſent Impreſſion which
foon wore off, and an inſatiable
Curioſity fucceeded. I know not
what Lengths I might have run,
in purſuing its Gratification ; but,
in the midſt of my Projects my
Maſter died. An Accident occa-
fioned his Death, and left me the
quiet Poſſeſſion of his Wealth, and
with
Capt. John HOLMESBY. 47
with the Satisfaction of diſpoſing
myſelf as I pleaſed. Solitude
ap-
peared ſo dreadful, that, after his
Interment, I reſolved to leave thoſe
Rocks, yet uncertain which Way
to ſteer
iny
Courſe.
Before I put in Execution my
intended Expedition, I was wholly
buſied in making ſuch Preparation
as my preſent Situation would ad-
mit of. With this Intent, rumaging
among mydeceaſed Indian's Things,
I found a triangular Piece of Gold,
which reſembled a Priſm, ſeveral
ſtrange Characters and Figures
were engraved upon its Sides. I
put it in my Pocket without pay-
ing any Attention to it, though,
by what afterwards appeared, de-
ſerving of the greateſt. The Gold,
which
48
The TR A V E L s of
which the Savage had on his Tools,
amounted to a great Sum. The
Weight of the Metal forbad me to
think of carrying it ; for which
Reaſon I buried that precious Ore,
and carefully marked the Place.
For the Hope of diſcovering ſome
Veſſel to eſcape in, made me re-
folve not to travel far from that
Spot, from whence was an exten-
five Proſpect of the Sea.
One Morning early, having load-
ed myſelf with Proviſions for three
Days, , I ſet out. I aſcended the
winding Path, which in a little
Time brought me to the ſandy
Plain, ſurrounded with a Chain of
Mountains which I had obſerved
at my firſt meeting with the Sa-
vage. Having reached the Foot
of
2
Capt. Jonn HOLMESBY. 49
of them, I refreſhed myſelf for a
few Hours; then continued my
Journey. By Sunſet I reached
the Summit, fatigued to the laſt
Degree; but I was ſurpriſed and
delighted at the Proſpect. A Plain,
the moſt fertile in the World, wa-
tered with a thouſand delicious
Streams, abounding with nume-
rous Herds and Flocks, and ſprink-
led with Farms, preſented itſelf.
I climbed a large Sycamore, pro-
poſing to paſs the Night in it, and
with the riſing Sun to deſcend the
Mountain
The Reader will ſuppoſe, that
in this Situation, and with Doubts
and Apprehenſions of the Morn-
ing's Events, my Sleep was not the
foundeſt in the World. When the
Dawn
50
The TRAVELS of
Dawn appeared, I purſued my Ex-
pedition, and prepared myſelf with
Reſolution for whatever ſhould be-
fal me. I had ſcarcely gained the
Plain, when I heard the Cry of
Hounds. I found that they ap-
proached, upon which I imme-
diately ruſhed into the midſt of a
thick Brake. In a little Time, I
perceived a ſmall Animal, fome-
what like our Foxes, at its Heels
about thirty Dogs ; and in the
Rear, a Dozen of Horſemen, whoop-
ing, galloping, and hallooing, as
if they were mad. Judge, O Read-
er, what I felt, when the poor
Creature, breathleſs and panting,
crept into the Brake where I lay
concealed. I was in a Moment
furrounded with fuch a mingled
Cry
Capt. John Holmesby. 51
of
Cry of Dogs and Men as would
have appalled the ſtouteſt Heart.
In this Danger I hallooed with all
my Might, but to no Purpoſe. I
expected preſent Death. Luckily,
one of the Dogs tore off a Lappet
my Waiſtcoat, and carried it
out in his Mouth. This was per-
ceived by one of the Sportſmen,
upon which the Dogs were called
off; and one of the Company diſ-
mounting, examined the Place and
diſcovered me. Forth I came, and
ſtood in the Preſence of the whole
Company. My Figure pronounced
me a Stranger. After ſome Mo-
ment's Silence, during which I
fignified my Diſtreſs by the moſt
moving Geſtures, the Perſon who
ſeemed to be the Chief ſpoke ſome-
thing
52
The TR A VELs of
thing to the reſt ; upon which I
was immediately ſeized, my Hands
and Feet tied, and laid acroſs a
Horſe, as a Calf is carried to Mar-
ket. In this Manner, after paſſing
through ſeveral Villages, and being
pelted and curſed by all we met,
with as much Cruelty as the Iro-
quois treat their Priſoners of War,
I reached the Habitation of the
Chief. I found afterwards that
the Nimpataneſe, looking upon
themſelves as ſuperior to all Mor-
tals, ever treat Strangers in this
Manner. I was thrown down half
dead in a Corner of the Yard, where
I lay for ſome Time in a miſerable
Condition. In theſe Circumſtances,
one of the Servants out of Curioſity
came to ſee me, when it came
into
Capt. John HOLMESBY. 53
into my
Head to offer him my
gold Priſm, by means of which
I hoped to get my Hands and Feet
unbound; for the Ligatures gave
me exceſſive Pain. After much
Difficulty, and by good Luck, it
being in my Waiſtcoat Pocket, I
produced it, at the ſame Time
twiſting every Muſcle in my Face,
to let him know my
Torture.
The Fellow no ſooner beheld
my golden Priſm, but he proſtrated
himſelf, crying Crallilah, lallah,
lallab; then riſing in a Moment,
flew into the Houſe, and returned
with a Knife. He directly cut the
Strings which tied me, rubbed my
Wriſts and Ancies with his Hands,
and expreſſed his Joy and Love in
a thouſand ridiculous Geſticula-
tions.
D3
54
The TRAVELS of
tions. A few Minutes after, the
great Door of the Houſe opened,
and out came the Maſter, followed
by the Company and all the Ser-
vants, in folemn Proceſſion: When
they drew near me, they all bowed
thrice to the Ground, crying Cral-
lilah; then they fignified by Signs
their Grief at my Uſage, raiſed me
gently up, and put me to Bed,
where I was treated with all poſ-
ſible Reſpect and Tenderneſs.
When I was alone I ruminated
upon this ſudden Change of Treat-
ment. I examined the Priſm: The
Characters engraved upon it were
utterly unintelligible; though I
found, upon a nicer Examination,
that it was covered with Scales.
like a Fiſh, and perceived one Place
where
Capt. John HOLMESBY. 55
where ſome of thoſe Scales ſeemed
lately rubbed off. I thought upon
what I had read concerning orien-
tal Taliſinans, and conjectured that
poſſibly this might be one. How-
ever, I was reſolved to try the Ex-
periment upon the next Perſon I
ſaw, fo laid it under my Head. I
had juſt fell aſleep, when the Noiſe
of the Door's Opening awaked me.
A Woman entered with a large Ba-
fon of warm Liquor, which the
brought to my Bedſide, and made
Signs for me to drink it. By her
Dreſs ſhe ſeemed to be the firſt in
Rank of her Sex in the Houſe ; her
Stature was of the middle Size, and
her Age ſeemed about Forty. I
drank the Liquor, which ſeemed
like our Mead; and, when I re-
turned
D 4
56
The TRAVELS of
turned the Baſon, I ſhewed her my
Priſm. Good God, how was I
ſurpriſed! The Moment ſhe beheld
it, the threw herſelf upon the Bed
in the moſt indecent Manner, and
ſignified her Perſon was at my Dif-
poſal. I remembered the fatal
Conſequences of Intrigues to Stran-
gers
and Travellers; ſo with
ſo with many
piteous Sighs, and Teſtimonies of
Incapacity for ſuch Kind of En-
counters by my Bruiſes, I got rid
of her.
When the Lady departed I looked
atmy Priſm; when I found that ſome
. more Scales had flown off, by which
I diſcovered, that, when I ſhewed it
to any Perſon, the Influence it had
upon the Soul proportionably di-
miniſhed
Capt. John HOLMESBY. 57
miniſhed it, by a certain Quantity
of Scales of Gold. Upon this
I reſolved never to make Uſe of
it but upon extraordinary Oo-
caſions.
*
DS
CHAP
58
The TRAVELS of
woda, i sem ztisni butir torba
Feb 06
Bolero
C H A P. VI.
The Author is vihted by the Neigh-
bourhood; Influence of Gold; goes
to the Metropolis ; ennobled; Copy
of bis Patent, son zion
Tom
noma
HE News quickly ſpread in
the Neighbourhood, that a
rich Stranger was arrived called
Giroatſkee. This Name they gave
me, and ſignifies him who is in Pof-
ſeſſion df the great Crallilah; ſo that
the Owner of the Houſe was never
at reſt from Morning to Night with
Crouds of People of all Ranks and
Degrees, paying their profoundeſt
Reſpects to me, and offering them-
ſelves and Services, profeſſing that
they
Capt. John HolmesBY. 591
they and theirs were at my Diſpo-
fal. The Language which the Sa-
vage
had learned mé was a Dialect
of that ſpoken by theſe People ; fo
that, with Application and conſtant
Practice, I foon was able to converſe
with thoſe who came to ſee me.
Amongſt thoſe who were moſt
aſliduous in their Addreſſes to me
was a Perſon of
the firſt Rank in
that Part of the Country. He was
extremely old and decrepid, and for
many Years, in the foriner Part of
his Life, was in the Service of the
Emperor of Nimpatan, during which
Time he had amaſſed immenſe
Wealth, by Rapine ; and being for
that Reaſon, in a popular Tumult,
drove from Court, enjoyed the
Fruits of his Labours in the Country.
D 6
The
60
The TRAVELS of
The Report of my Treaſure al-
lured the far greater Part of my
Viſitants ; but this Man obliged
me always to produce my Talif-
man, and I obſerved that it loft ten
Times the Quantity of Scales more
than with any other Perſon I had
met with; by which Ijudged the great
Influence it had upon his Soul.
However, as I thirſted to ſee the
Capital of Nimpatan, and as I
thought his Inſtructions might be
neceſſary in that reſpect, I conti-
nued to gratify him. He informed
me, that the great Deity of the
Nimpatans was called Crallilah,
which Deity was that triangular
golden Priſm which I poffeffed ;
that ſo long as I was Maſter of it,
I need be under no Apprehenſion ;
that
Capt. John HOLMESBY. 61
that he had wrote Word to the im-
perial Court of the Treaſure which
I poſſeſſed, by which good Office
he flattered himſelf that he ſhould
regain his Poft, and return to Court,
where he hoped to triumph over
his Enemies. He proceeded to ac-
quaint me that he would give me a
Letter to a Friend, who would in-
troduce me to the grand Treaſurer
Gribbelino, by whoſe Means. I
might gratify my Curioſity in every
Reſpect. This Compliment O-
bliged me to produce the Idol to
5 him, and extend my Arm for ſome
Time with it in my Hand. He
proſtrated himſelf, and the inſa-
tiable Avarice of this Wretch di-
miſhed the Weight of it prodi-
giouſly.
bo
Next
Next
62
The T RA V E L s of
Next Day the Letter came; upon
which, leaving my Hoſt with
Thanks, I took a Guide and ſet
out immediately for the Metropolis
of Nimpatan. We were two Days
upon
the Road. Nothing remark-
able happened in the Journey, my
Letter having all the Effect that
could be deſired. Gribbelino flew
to me with open Arms, and em-
braced me with Eagerneſs. I per-
ceived at that Inſtant the Idol leap
prodigiouſly. At the ſame Time
he preſented me with an Inſtru-
ment from his imperial Majeſty,
by which I was intitled to all the
Privileges of the Natives, and cre-
ated a Glumki, which, as I found,
was one of the firſt Titles among
the Nobility
I have
Capt. John HOLMESBY. 63
I have this Inftrument now by
me. When I received it I had
been about three Months among
the Nimpataneſe, and had never
ſeen his imperial Highneſs. I
thought ſuch a Curioſity would be
acceptable to an Engliſh Reader;
therefore I have tranſlated it into
our Language as near to the Origi-
nal as I could.
His imperial, lofty, and tremen-
dous Majeſty Hyrozeeke Myn, Tan
Ban Can Callo der, Lord of the
Mountains, brighter than the Sun,
purer
than the Moon, and higher
than the Stars, the Delight of the
Elements, and Emperor of ten
Nations, whoſe Breath is Life and
Death ;' the invincible, illuſtrious,
immortal, together with the Coun-
cil
64
The TRAVEL of
cil of Nimpatan, to our beloved Gi--
RO
roatſkee, Greeting.
uni
Our ſacred, imperial Hearts burn-
ing with Love to thee, dear Couſin,
for thy long and wonderful Ser-
vices to us, our Eyes beholding
thy pure and incorruptible Virtues
which recommend thee to our Love;
thy Prudence, Fortitude, Allegiance,
Abilities, requiring thee near our
Perſon ; we hereby admit thee to
all the Privileges of native Nim-
patans, and dignify thee with the
illuſtrious Order of Nobility, and
glorious Title of Glumki, requiring
our Subjects to acknowledge thy
Rank accordingly.
Signed
MORANMEE.
I found
Capt. John HOLMESBY. 65
..that
I found afterwards that this
.
Form is uſed without Diſtinction,
for all who are admitted into the
Nobility. I had no ſooner received
this Inſtrument, but I was ſur-
rounded with a great Number of
Perſons. They might amount to
two thouſand ; I was obliged to pay
to every one large Fees, the Trea-
furer's Fee alone might be about
one thouſand Pounds ſterling, and
ſo in Proportion. Afterwards I dif-
covered, that this Motive occa-
fioned his recommending me to his
Highneſs. The whole Expence
might amount to ten thouſand
Pounds of our Money; ſo that I
perceived that it was impoſſible in
Nimpatan for Merit alone to arrive
at the Honours of the Nobility.
I found
66
The TRAVELS of
I found my Gold ſhrink excef-
ſively after this Expence. Apart-
ments were aſſigned me near the
Palace, and I applied myſelf with
all Diligence to ſtudy the Genius
of theſe Idanders.
СНАР.
Capt. John HOLMESBY. 67
CH A P. VII.
Genius of the Nimpataneſe; their
Metropolis ; Dreſs ; extraordinary
Ceremony.
TH
HE People of Nimpatan,
like the Japoneſe, entertain
the higheſt Contempt of all other
Mortals. The Maxims of Policy
eſteemed
in Europe appear to them
ridiculous. Their Paſſions are
violent but foon cool; they are cre-
dulous to Folly, yet, when impoſed
on through their Credulity, no Na-
tion forms wifer Refolutions to
puniſh thoſe who deceive them, or
puts them leſs in Execution. Their
Diſpoſition is naturally martial,
but
68
The TRA VELS of
but rendered uſeleſs to them by the
Policy of their Government. They
differ from all other Inſulars. An
Illand, furrounded by the Sea and
abounding with Ports, naturally
points out to the Inhabitants com-
mercial Purſuits and naval Defence.
This the Nimpataneſe laugh at.
They place all their Safety in
Land-forces, which are ſtationed in
every Part of the Coaſt where they
wait for an Enemy, which they
might prevent if they pleaſed by
maintaining a Fleet at Sea. .
The Metropolis of Nimpatan is
called Kello. Nothing diſcovers
the Genius of a People more than
their Buildings. Their Streets are
narrow, and Houſes fo crouded,
that it is uſual for twenty or thirty
Perſons
Capt. John Holmesby. 69
Perſons to live in the Space of five
Yards ſquare, whence, in Times
of Peſtilence and Fire, infinite
Numbers perish. The grand Coun-
cil-houſe is mean below Criticiſm :
and their other publick Edifices are
generally clumſy, heavy Things,
without Taſte or Convenience.
The Emperor's Palace is an irregu-
lar Heap of low dirty Buildings, in-
ferior to the Offices of the Palaces
of many private Noblemen in Ex-
rope.
I contracted an Intimacy, wich
an Officer, in the Emperor's Apart
ments, named Tirbka. His Taſte
was more refined, and Underſtand.
ing more acute, than is commonly
met with in Nimpatan. Whar
kave me the higheſt Opinion of
70
The TRAVEL s of
him, was, I diſcovered him infi-
nitely generous; ſo that when I
ſhewed him my Idol, I ſcarce per-
ceived
any
Diminution of it.
Before I could appear at Court
it was neceſſary to be furniſhed
with a ſuitable Garb: My good
Friend ſent me one in higheſt Mode;
but it was ſome Time before I
could endure it. To deſcribe it is
difficult. I may convey fome Idea
to the Reader, however, of my
Dreſs, to ſay, that a Sort of Veſt
which covered all the Body, ex-
cept the Head and Hands, made
of Silk, was firſt put on.
This
was faſtened by Ligatures round
the Inſtep, the Hams, the Waiſt,
the Neck, the Arms, the Wriſts,
all which the Faſhion requiring to
be
Capt. John HOLMESBY. 71
be as tight as could be endured,
made me very ungain and ſtiff, and
my uſual Circulation being ſtopped,
I was at firſt greatly indiſpoſed.
Over this was thrown a looſer Kind
of Garment. My Hair and Beard
were cut off, and I was obliged to
cover my Head with a Cap of
Network, on which was ſown a
monſtrous Quantity of Hair unlike
mine in Colour, and the Difpofi-
tion of the Curls bearing no Re.
ſemblance to any Animal's Hair
on the Face of the Earth.
The Dreſs of the Women was
inore abſurd ſtill.- It totally de.
{lroyed the Figure of their Species,
for, inſtead of the delicate Figure of
Woman, it preſented the Spectator
with a monſtrous Form unknown
172
The TRAVELS of
to Nature ; the Face was covered
with a red Fucus, the Neck loaded
with a Quantity of ridiculous Or-
naments, the Breaſts ſqueezed flat
with a Kind of Coat of Mail drag'd
cloſe with the utmoſt Violence,
the Hips ſhooting forth of each
Side for ſeveral Yards ; ſo that the
whole Sex reſembled a great Bell
with a long flat Handle to it.
I had juſt reconciled myſelf to
my Cloaths, when one Morning
Tirbka invited me to ſee a Cere-
mony which is performed annually
in the Preſence of his imperial
Highneſs, and which, he told me,
would not only afford me Pleaſure,
but give me an Opportunity of ſee-
ing the moſt illuſtrious Perſons in
the Iland.
1933
I at-
Capt. John HOLMESBY. 73
I attended him to a large Court,
the Area of which was paved with
Marble. The Buildings round
were
loaded with Galleries,
covered
with Tapeſtry for the Spectators.
My Friend had got a convenient
Place for me in one of theſe. Soon
after his imperial Majeſty appeared
with his Guards and Nobles, and
ſcated himſelf on a Throne under
ſeated
a magnificent Pavilion. His High-
acfs was of a middle Stature, his
Aſpect melancholy, and of the Span-
if Caft, but I was afterwards in-
forined, that this Look was only
peculiar, to his Highneſs upon this
Occalion, at other Timnes being
chcărful enough.
In a little Time entered the
Treaſurer Gribbelino. He was disa
E
guiſed
74
The TRAVEL s of
guiſed by a Load of Dreſs peculiar
to the Ceremony; but I knew him
by a certain Aukwardneſs in his
Gait. He walked with a ſlow Pace,
bowing every Step, and ſmiling on
the Company. He was ſcarce ad-
vanced half Way, when a Number of
People, with Baſkets in their Hands
filled with Ordure of all kinds, ap-
proached. Gribbelino
trembled and
looked pale. They firſt began with
venting a thouſand Reproaches,
and ſuch a Torrent of ill Language
as is not to be found in the Chro-
nicles of Billingſgate. When they
had worked themſelves into a Fury,
they diſcharged the Contents of
their ſeveral Baſkets at Gribbelino.
The Treaſurer immediately took
to his Heels : His Enemies purſue :
The
Capt. Jonn HOLMESBY. 75
The Clamour increaſes: Dirt flies
on all Sides : Gribbelino exerts all
his, Agility. Some ſticks, on his
Cloaths, and ſome he eſcapes. In
the Confuſion Gribbelino pulls ſome
Scraps of Paper out of his Pocket,
and throws them amongſt bis Pusa
fuers. All who pick them up im,
mediately throw away their Bar.
kets, and embrace Gribbelino. By
this means, he ſoon has a Majority.
A general Battle enſues. The in-
perial Features are ſtrongly marker
with Concern and Diſpleafiire.
Mutual Accuſations, Hatred, and
private Intereſt appear on all Skles.
At length both Parties, weakened
anid wearied, ſtop their Rage to
Coplent.
E 2
Gibbern
6 The TRAVEL S of
..
Gribbelino, having recovered his
Breath, marched up to the imperial
Throne, where he made an Ha-
rangue upon his Majeſty's Igno-
Yance of Government, his mean
Deſcent, and many other Scurrili-
ties, he then took his Highneſs by
the Noſe, and endeavoured to lift
him from his Seat. This Ceremony
ended, he returned to the Croud
in the Area; from whom he col-
lected ſeveral Loads of Paper, all
which he threw in his Majeſty's
Lap, which concluded the Shew.
In vain I endeavoured to trace
out the Origin of this extraordinary
Cuſtom : Thoſe who defended it,
faid, it was an Emblem of the Li.
berty of the antient Nimpataneſe,
inſtituted to preſerve them from
the
Capt. JOHN HOLMESBY. 77
the Tyranny of their Princes; the
other Side affirmed, that the Ten-
dency of a Cuſtom to Anarchy
oucht to be deemed a Reaſon for
aboliſhing it. It is true, the four
preceding Emperors of Nimpatun
endeavoured to aboliſh a Cuſtom
fo derogatory to their Dignity, but
the popular Prejudice in its Favour
has been ſo ſtrong, that it is ſtill
kept up. och
33
E 3
78
The TRAVELs of
w
CH A P. VIII.
W
The Author's Audience of the Trea-
Jurer Gribbelino; of Service to
bim; explains the Nimpatan Go-
vernment.
Ithin a few Days after thi
vs after this
Event, I received a Mera
ſage from Gribbelino, defiring me
to repair immediately to him.
obeyed. The Treaſurer no ſooner
faw me, but he threw his Arms
about me, crying, My dear Friend,
I am undone. You poſſeſs the
God of Nimpatan ; he muſt affift
me, or I periſh.
The whole Scheme of Power in
this Iſland, continues he, is reduced
We
to
Capt. John HOLMESBY. 79
to a few Principles. The People
ſend Repreſentatives to the great
Council of the Nation. This is
done very unequally, no Regard
being paid to the Number of People
or Extent of Ground, but to cer-
tain Cuſtoms, which throw the
Elections into a very few Hands.
Theſe People are zealous Worſhip-
pers of Crallilah, and by that Deity
we bring our Purpoſes to Perfection.
Here, continued he, is the Speech,
which I deſign his imperial Ma-
jeſty ſhall ſpeak, when he meets
his Council; and this is the Aus-
fwer which I propoſe they ſhall
make, with his Highneſs's Reply.
Now the Secretary Roſſillon, jealous
my Power, deſigns to oppoſe
this Speech, and to remove mne by
accufing
E 4
The TRAVEL & of
accuſing me of various Crimes,
The Sentiments of the People, in
this Cafe, are of no Importance, be-
cauſe not conſulted. My Buſineſs
is to fecure a Majority in the great
Council, and that is to be brought
to paſs, by the Affiſtance of that
Treaſure which you are Maſter of
He ceaſed ſpeaking. Upon which
I replied, that he need not doubt
of his Superiority, if in my Power
to accompliſh it, and that he ſhould
ſend his Opponents to me.
He redoubled his Expreſſions of
Gratitude and Affection at my An-
I had long deſired to have an
Inſight into the Policy of theſe
People, and thought this Oppor-
tunity favourable. The Treaſurer,
being
Capt. JOHN HOLMESBY. 81
being relieved from his Anxiety,
ſeemed diſpoſed to indulge me
with a long Audience.
The Syſtem of Nimpatan is ſo op-
pofite to the Opinions prevalent in
Europe, that I may poſſibly ſeem
guilty of that Infirmity cominon
to Travellers, whilft: I deſcribe it.
-----But it was always my Cuſtom,
every Night; to make Memoran,
dums of all Things remarkable
which had occurred in the Day ;
ſo that I can depend better upon
my Papers, as Things noted in
thein were then ſo freſh in my Me-
mory
Accordingly, therefore, I begged
of Gribbelino to vouchſafe me an
Account of the Government of
Nimpatan; becauſe its Principles
appeared
E 5
82
The TRAVELS of
appeared fo oppoſite to the few Ideas
I had acquired by Reaſon or Ob-
fervation, that it was incomprehen-
fible to my Underſtanding. Upon
this Account, if ever I returned to
Europe, a Relation of a People to
extraordinary would certainly en-
gage my Countrymen's Attention,
who are ever delighted with ſtrange
Accounts of other Countries, and
purchaſe no Books more than
thoſe upon ſuch Subjects: That if
my Adventures carried an Appea-
rance of Fiction, they were fure
having a quick Sale; for though
I ſhould ever pay the ſtricteſt Re-
gard to Truth, yet, the Truths I
Thould relate, happening to prove ſo
wonderful, as to reaſonably paſs for
Folfhoods, this Circumſtance ini-
duced
Capt. John HOLMESBY. 83
duced me to be more preſſing in
point of Information.
My dear Countrymen will par-
don my Freedom ; but I am deter-
mined to ſpeak the Truth with In-
difference, whether it is favourable
to me or not. All I contend for is,
that the Truths I relate are as ſur-
priſing as the Fictions which are
all the reigning Taſte ; fo that
whilft my Countrymen read, they
are charmed with all the Beauties
of Romance, and when they throw
the Book afide, can yet enjoy the
Reflection, that----all this is true.
This Digreſſion will merit Ex-
cufe, I hope.
The fundamental Maxim of
Nimpatan, ſaid Gribbelino, is, that
every Action of Mankind is go-
E 6
verned
84 The TRA VE L s of
a
verned by Advantage ;y for this
Reaſon we worſhip the Deity Cral-
hilabe What is called Government
in this place is not the Intereſt of
the whole, but of a Part. We
conſider the People as a Horſe,
and the Uſe of the Rein as
Guide to conduct them where our
Pleaſure calls. The above Maxim
no where is more viſible than in
thoſe who are neareſt the imperial
Throne. The End we propoſe
is Riches and Power, aggrandizing
ourſelves and Families. Now the
Misfortune is, that there are Mil-
lions who have the ſame End in
View, and not having the Power,
have beſides a bitter Envy. Here
is is, that all our Skill and Addrefe
are neceffary, and thoſe Arts are
requi-
Capt. JOHN HOLMESBY. 85
requiſite which conſtitute the Wil
dom of our Government. W nola
There are only three Principles,
which we lay down as the Rule
of our Conduct in this Reſpect.
The firſt is, To extend the Do-
minion of Dependence. This is
done by Multiplication of civil and
military Pofts; by Monopolies, by
wealthy Combinations, by increaf-
ing the Officers of the Revenue ;
for the greater the Number of
Prizes the more will be the Adven-
turers in a Lottery. But. Poverty
is neceſſary to make theſe lucrative
Places more deſirable. We there-
fore affix the greateſt Scandal and
Misfortune on Poverty. We teach
the Nimpataneſe to deſpiſe the Poor,
to fhun their Company, to diſre-
gard
86
The TR A V ELS of
:
gard Birth, Virtue, Merit, every
Thing, in this Refpect. All Men
therefore here, conſider Poverty as
the greateſt Evil. On the other
Hand we promote Luxury, en-
courage Diverfions, Pleaſures, and
Entertainments, becauſe they pro-
dace this Evil, and create Depen-
dence. At the ſame Time we
borrow all we can, eſteeming the
Increaſe of our Debts the Increaſe
of Security.
The ſecond Principle, Is to di-
vide and govern. It is impoffible
to give you an Idea of the Tenets
avowed by the two Parties which
counpoſe our Nation, becauſe they
change them every Hour. Let it
fuffice to obſerve to you on this
Hlead, that it is a ſtanding Rule,
Capt. John HOLMESBY. 87
that the Party which has the Su-
periority is always in the right, and
that the Standard of Truth, Juſtice,
and Equity, is Majority. In the
next Place, no Regard to Merit,
Birth, Talents, Virtue, is ever paid.
The only Queſtion we aſk, is, what
Party does he eſpouſe? If a Friend,
he is qualified for every Thing.
Laſtly, we propagate a Spirit of what
we call Party-Honour; fo that, if
in this Queſtion, Whether white is
black? The Party-Anſwer is Yes,
every Man of that Party, in Honour,
is obliged to ſay Yes too. Indeedour
common Method is this, when any
Point is put to the Queſtion, we
fend each Partiſan the proper An-
ſwer wrote on a Scrap of Paper,
which he gives implicitly. This
I
is
88
The TRAVEL S of
:
is a fure Way, beſides the learte
Trouble to our Friends.
This Syſtem has been warmly
oppoſed by thoſe who poſſeſs the
Lands of this Iland; but to fhew
our Contempt of them, we erected
an Intereſt in Oppoſition, which
we called the Paper-Intereſt. That
is, we affixed an imaginary Value;
to certain Pieces of Paper, founded
upon Credit for Time; of which
Pieces of Paper a Number was
circulated equal to the real Value
of the Lands. The whole was
incorporated into one Stock, the
Management of which depended
upon the Majority of Property in
that Stock, which Majority you
may be certain we always kept in
our Hands ; ſo that nový they are
The
pretty quiet.
Capt. John HOLMESBY. 89
The third Principle is, if any re-
lift the above Arguments, to uſe ſuch
as Power puts in your Hands. Thoſe
Places whoſe Inhabitants preſume to
think contrary to us, experience our
Reſentment in ſeveral Ways. Some-
times we quarter a large Body of
the imperial Troops upon them,
whoſe Conſumption creates a Scar-
city and Dearneſs of Neceffaries.
We likewiſe order the Gatherers
of the Cuſtoms and Impoſts to give
them all the Trouble they poſſibly
can. We baniſh them from all
Hopes of Preferment; we repre-
ſent them as dangerous Perſons,
deteſtable in the Eyes of all Men.
Here he pauſed. I muſt this In-
ftant, ſaid he, repair to his High-
neſs. I will ſtep and fetch you a
Paper,
90
The TRAVELS of
Paper, which contains the whole
Policy of Nimpatan. Conceal it
whilft you reſide here; when you
return to Europe, make it publick.
Next to Power give me Fame.
promiſed Obedience, and then he
withdrew.
Cena
CH A P.
Capt. John HOLMESBY. 91
A
CH A P. IX.
The Maxims of Gribbelino.
THI
gave me.
HIS Chapter contains a Tranſ-
lation of the Paper, which
Gribbelino
The Maxims
it contains are ſo oppoſite to our
European Policy and Opinions, that
I do not doubt of their affording
Entertainment.
The MAXIMS of GRIBBELINO,
Treaſurer to his imperial High-
neſs the mighty and ſublime
Emperor of Nimpatan.
I.
There is but one real Diviſion of
Mankind; thoſe in Power, and
thoſe out of Power.
Every
92 The TRAVELS of
II.
Every Virtue is Vice diſguiſed.
III.
Policy, Juſtice, Truth, are not
plain to Man, but only diſcovered
with great Labour and Refinement.
IV
To
· ravage Countries which
never injured you, and deſtroy the
Inhabitants with your Soldiers, is
folid Glory
V.
To deſpiſe Agriculture implies a
Nobleneſs of Soul.
Do you
VI.
you want to invade any Na.
tion ? ſwear that it affifted your
Enemies. The Pretence will do.
.
.
Be
Capt. John HOLMESBY. 93
VII.
Be profuſe of Promiſes ; perform
as Intereſt directs.
VIII.
When you declare War againſt
an Enemy, amuſe the World with
pretended, conceal the real Mo-
tives.
SIX.
If you love Eaſe, Sloth, and
Pleaſure, on all Occaſions divulge
your
Love of Peace; becauſe ſo
beneficial to the World
X.
Is any one envied by you ? praiſe
him to others, load him with Ho-
nours ; you may then deſtroy him
unſuſpected.tums
The
1123
94
The TRAVEL of
XI.
The Rule of Equity and Right,
is Convenience and Self-intereſt.
.
XII.
Cover your Ambition, Luft, or
Avarice, with a Shew of Love to
your Country.
XIII.
Cunning is the Soul of Policy,
preferable to Wiſdom, fuperior to
Force.
XIV.
a
Counſellor ? give
Counſel by the Rule of Self-inte-
Are you a
XV.
If your Deſigns are diſcovered
before ripe for Execution, uſe Im-
pudence and Diffimulation,
If
Capt. John HOLMESBY. 95
.
XVI.
If you deſire to be preferred, in-
trigue, flatter, comply with Vice,
be ignorant of Letters.
ਗਈ । XVII. .
All Meaſures are lawful to gain
a Crown.
XVIII
Are you ambitious of the glorious
Surrame of Great ? Invade your
Neighbours, ſlaughter your Sub-
jects, trample upon Religion, Truth,
and Virtue.
XIX.
The Situation of your Affairs
makes a particular Promiſe ne-
ceſſary. When that Neceſſity
ceaſes, the Obligation to Perfor-
mance ceaſes alſo.
I want
06
The TRAVELs of
.:
XX.
I want to enſlave ſuch a Pro-
Vince. Make ſome rotten Title
then invade it with Fire and Sword.
If the People ſubmit, you have a
Right of Conqueft: If they relist,
they are Rebels and Traitors. In
both Caſes if you win, it is Glory:
If you loſe you loſe your Subjects
Lives, which affects not you.
you inverno
ΧΧΙ.
inveſted with ſupreme
Command, and a great Sum is
offered to betray your Truſt? ac-
cept the Money, blame the Per-
plexity of your Orders, and accufe
thole who ſent you.
XXII.
Or in this Caſe, ſeek you the
Ruin of an Inferior in Command
Capt. John HOLMESBY. 97
Do it, though the Ruin of
your
Country is involved with it.
XXIII.
You accede to a Treaty with
your Enemy. The Rule of Obli-
gation is the Spirit and not the
Words of the ſaid Treaty; and the
Spirit of the Words is that Con-
ſtruction which is moſt favourable
to your preſent Intereſt.
Theſe are the wiſe Maxims of
my Friend Gribbelino. The Ori-
ginalhas Examples to every Maxim,
which
prove
the Truth of it from
Practice and Experience ; but theſe
I have not tranſlated, for Fear of
their being made Subjects of Of-
fence. There are few Inſtances
of human Depravity which have
not a Parallel in every Country.
F
СНАР,
98
The TRAVELS of
C HA P. X.
The Author's Vift to a Mad-houſe
Deſcription of it; Catalogue of the
Patients.
Continued to divert myſelf with
obſerving the Manners and Cuf-
toms of the Inhabitants of Kelfo.
My good Friend Tirhka uſed con-
ſtantly to affiſt me in my
Excur-
lions; and indeed was of the ut-
moft Service to me. Every Place
was open to us by Means of my
golden Idol, though, by this Time,
it was reduced to one third of its
original Bulk, at which I began to
be uneaſy
Tirbka propoſed one Day to me
to vilit the Gormarkzel, Thele are
2
Capt. John HOLMESBY. 99
à Set of Mortals which the People
of Nimpatan, conſidering as mad
and deprived of human Reaſon,
ſhut out from Society. The Build-
ings where they live reſemble Mo-
naſteries. Theſe Places are walled
round, and have but one Gate, at
which are placed Guards Day and
Night.
To one of theſe Mad-houſes Tirh
ka carried me.
The Guards at the
Gate, upon ſeeing my Gold, ad-
mitted us directly; but I was ſur
priſed that the Influence it had
up-
on them diminiſhed it ſo much.
When we entered, the Beauty and
Regularity of the Building ſtruck
me. The Whole had a noble Sim-
plicity; and was divided into very
convenient Apartments for the Pa-
tients :
..
F 2
The 'TRAVELS Of
has a con-
tients : And every Apartment had
a Garden belonging to it.
Whilſt we were gazing, the Su-
perintendant of the Houſe approach-
ed us; I diſplayed my Gold as
uſual to him, upon which he called
me aſide. I ſuppote, whiſpered hey
that the Perſon with you
fiderable Eſtate, to which you are
next Heir (whiſpering lower) I can
make all Things eaſy: We have
private Apartments. You are mil-
taken, replied I. Have you any ſcold-
ing Wife? Any ſevere Father? Any
Bar in your Road to Preferment?
Command me; let me ſerve you.
Upon my Word, cried I, no ſuch
Thing: I am a Stranger, and Cu-
rioſity brings me here to ſee your
Patients: The Perſon with me is a
Friend.
Capt. John HOLMESBY. 101
Friend. At this he returned with
me to Tirbka, who wondered at our
Buſineſs ; but I concealed it from
him.
We then were conducted into a
large Quadrangle, where we were
left alone, with a Liberty of viſiting
any of the Apartments which we
liked. We went to the Door of the
neareſt, and ſeeing no Grate to peep
through at the Patient, as is uſual
in Europe, I was at à Loſs; but,
my Friend ſaid, that the Patients
in Nimpatan ſuffered no Confine-
ment, fave by the Walls that ſur-
rounded the Place, which was ſpa-
cious, and of large Extent.
His Voice being heard by the
Perſon within, he immediately
opened the Door. He was a young
Man
F 3
The TRAVEL's of
Man of a compoſed Aſpect, his
Dreſs ſomewhat negligent; and he
was inclining to be lean. He civilly
defired us to walk in ; and Tirbka
telling him I was a Stranger, he
immediately inquired concerning
the Cuſtoms and Manners of Eu-
roße, fo pertinently, that I could
not forbear aſking the Reaſon of his
being in that Place.
had the Honour, ſaid he, to be
Painter to the Imperial Court, and
äm allowed to exceed all
feſfion in Skill and Diſpatch. What,
cried I, is Eminence in Science a
Symptom of Lunacy? Hear me,
replied the young Man; I was em-
ployed to paint the Portraits of the
moft principal Perſonages of the
Court: I made it a Rule to copy
Nature,
Capt. JOHN HOLMESBY. 103
Nature, and drew the Likeneſs to
Admiration : In a Word, I hated
Flattery; but my Ruin was owing
to a Maid of Honour : She had a
long Nofe. Her Imperial Majeſty
ordered her Picture to be drawn, and
to be ſentinto the Country to a young
Nobleman, to whom ſhe deſigned
to marry her. I drew the Lady's
Picture ; and it was ſent to the Per-
fon intended for her Huſband. He
was diſpleaſed with her Features,
and particularly with that eminent
Infirmity in her Face; and imme-
diately left his Father's Houſe; and
the young Lady is now the Jeſt of
the whole Court.
The Method ſhe took to puniſh
me was this. I had deſigned a hu-
man Figure for a Statuary of my
Acquain-
F4
104
The TRAVELS of
Acquaintance, and ſent it to him ;
by Miſtake it was carried to the
Lady's Father: He enjoys a confi-
derable Place at Court. Upon
which I was immediately arreſted,
Effects ſeized, and found guilty
of Treaſon. Heavens ! interrupted
I, can deſigning a Figure hazard
the Safety of a State? Yes, replied
the Painter.
That Figure, ſays my Accuſer,
appears to the Sight, ſimply that of a
Man, but within it is big with every
Miſchief that can befal a People.
I prove it thus from the human
Body
The Head is
Gribbelino.
The Shoulders, the Paper Interest,
The Arms,
Treaties.
The
Capt. John HOLMESBY. 105
a Court.
The Teeth,
Taxes.
The Noſe,
a Plot.
The Tongue,
a Bribe.
The Throat,
Savings.
The Stomach, Elections:
The Secrets, Privy Members.
The Excrements,
The Buttocks,
the People.
The Feet,
an Army.
A Fart,
an Expedition.
Beſides, adds he, the Diſeaſes in-
cident to the Body confirm the
Truth of his traiterous Deſigns.
For Inſtance;
The Fox means
Corruption.
The Fever,
a Rebellion.
The Dropſy,
Luxury
The Conſumption,
Debt
The Cholic an Oppoſition.
An Apoplexy, A Revolution.
His
he Fox m
F 5
106 The TRAVEL S of
His Plea was admitted; but a
Friend infiſting I was diſordered in
my Senfes, and proving it, by my
thinking to pleaſe every Body in
drawing their Likeneſs, when all the
World knows every Body would
anmake themſelves if they could, I
was ordered to this place, where I
live very comfortably on what is
allowed me out of my Eſtate...
I pitied the young Man's ill
Treatment; and leaving him, vi-
fited the next. He was a Youth
about Seventeen, exa&ly ſhaped, and
of an engaging Air: I could not help
aſking the Reaſon of his Reſidence
there. My Father, ſaid the Youth,
is of the antient Nobility ; being
born to a vaſt Inheritance, he des
figned me an Education ſuitable to
Capt. John HOLMESBY. 107
the Taſte of our Nation: But I
uſed to ſtudy the Hiſtory of our
own and foreign Nations, and their
different Policy, weighed the ſeveral
Syſtems of Philoſophy, roſe early
every Morning, and went betimes
to Bed. I loved and honoured my
Parents, behaved with Reſpect and
Humility to every one, and abhor
red all vain and frivolous Pleaſures.
This Behaviour, ſo different from
that of my Equals, induced my Fa-
ther to pronounce me mad; and
accordingly he ſent me here, till I
recover my Senſes.
3 In Mhort, I began to think I was
in a Dream. We viſited all the Pa-
tients in the Houſe; their Number
might be about eighty: When I
came home I took down ſome of
F 6
the
as me harts,
108
The TRAVELS of
the moſt remarkable, a Catalogue
of which I preſent the Reader with;
adding the Sentence of the Coun-
cil of Health.
The Firſt an elderly Man; be-
ing in Love with Poverty, fold his
Eſtate, and built an Hoſpital; his
Heir ſued the Truſtees for Reco-
very, and the Founder for Lunacy.
He was tried before the Council
of Health. The Verdict,
Stark mad,
The Second was a Prieſt, who de
firing ſome Preferment, having a large
Family, ſtudied ten Hours every
Day, and never flattered the Great.
Mad.
The Third, a Phyſician, defirous to
preſerve his Health; he drank only
Water
Capt. John HOLMESBY. 109
moderate Exerciſe, and good Hours.
Water, abſtained from Fleſh, uſed
Mad.
The Fourth, an old Man of long
Experience; he preſented the Empe-
ror with a Plan of perfect Govern-
ment; propoſed a Remedy for all
focial Evils; and to remove Lying
and Corruption from a State, toge-
ther with a Scheme to immortalize
Liberty, and deſtroy arbitrary Power
for ever.
Raving mad.
The Fifth, a Youth; a Lady falling
in Love with him, and granting him
the laſt Favour, upon Honour, he
afterwards married her.
Diſordered in Mind.
The Sixth, a Soldier: He entered
the Service at Twenty, and was then
three
?
ti
The TRAVEL S of
thrtefoore Years of Age. He
thought that Courage and Honour
Would promote him, ſo diſdained to
follicit the Emperor's Favourite ;
wherefore, after forty Campaigns,
beginning to refent his holding
the fame Rank in the Army, as he
did the firft Day he accepted a
Commiſſion, the Council judg'u
him
Mad.
The Seventhya Lawyer: Heoffer'd
a Scheme to the Council of State
for making Lawſuits leſs tedious,
and to lower the Fees of Courts of
Juſtice.
Raving mad.
The Eighth, a Scholar: He main-
tained in the Schools, that Virtue
was the ſupreme Happineſs of
Man, and that to deviate from her
is inevitable Miſery. Diſtracted
The
Capt. John HOLMESBY. ut
The Ninth, a Politician: He pro-
pored that all thoſe concerned in
the Government ſhould reſign their
Salaries, and keep their Places, and
be content with the Glory of ſerving
the Commonwealth faithfully.
Incurably mad.
The Tenth, a young Gentleman:
Amarried Lady of Beauty and For-
tune, falling in Love with him,
made a Tender of her Perſon to
him ; but her Huſband being the
young Gentleman's Friend, he
·lighted her Favours.
Mad.
Theſe ten Inſtances will ſuffice
to give the Reader an Idea of the
reſt. I found that this Houſe was
appointed for Male-Patients : I left
the Place with ſeveral Reflections
upon
112 The TRAVELS of
of
upon the Difference of national
Cuſtoms, and the Nature of Vice
and Virtue, with the Sentiments of
Mankind upon them; which Me
ditations employed me, till my
Friend Tirbka awaked me, and
took his Leave.
CH A P.
enote
Capt. John HOLMESBY. 113
photo
C H A P. XI.
The Author elected a Member of the
Academy of Kelſo; viſits the Aca-
demy; diſcourſes with the Head of
it ; the Philoſopher wha fought for
Truth; conſults the Academy upon
Morality and Agriculture; preſents
- it with a Curioſity:
A Few
Few Days after this I re-
ceived a kind of Diploma
from the Academy of Kelſo, the
Purport of which was, that, in
Confideration of my profound Taſte
for Literature, my perfect Know-
ledge of the Sciences, and my rare
Talents and Accompliſhments, they
did
114 The TRAVEL S of
om my Surprize, I told the Per
Doura
did me the Honour to chooſe me a
Member of that Society.
When I was a little recovered
from
fon who brought the Inſtrument of
my Election, that, ſenſible of the
Honour done me by that learned
Body, and full of Acknowicdge-
ment, I accepted of the Favour ;
npon which, with a profound Bow,
he retired.
I had often heard of that venera
ble Society, and was impatient till
I had ſeen it; I therefore deſired
Tirhka to bear me Company to the
Calmanfora, or in our Language,
the Abode of Wiſdom for lo they
named the Place where theſe Philo-
ſophers reſided.
Com
su When
ro
Capt. John HOLMESBY. 115
:::
When we came there the Build
ing ſurpriſed me; it was the moſt
fordid and inelegant I had ever ſeen:
It reſembled the moſt the Caravan-
ſeras of the Eaſt.
The Porter admitted us without
Difficulty, and we were immediately
introduced to the Sage, who had
the Government of the College :
He was a tall old Man, with a long
Beard to his Girdle.
After mutual Compliments upon
the Honour done me by the Society,
and
my great Abilities, he con-
ducted me to a large Room, which
he called the Repoſitory of Know-
ledge. It was filled from Top to
Bottom with an immenſe Collection
of Monſters, unnatural Births, Pro-
digies of Nature, in ſhort, of every
Thing
116
The TRA V ELS of
Thing that was frightful. When
I had ſurveyed the Room with At-
tention, the venerable Sage turn-
ing towards me, You ſee, ſays he,
the wonderful Effects of human
Genius, to what a Pitch it ſoars.
What prodigious Acquiſitions of
ſocial Happineſs and Virtue are
made by the Labours of the Learn-
ed. Not content with ſearching
every Corner of the Earth, from
Pole to Pole, they aſcend to Hea-
ven, count the Stars, meaſure the
Diſtances of the Planets, ranſack
the Bowels of the Mountains, and
the Secrets of the hoary Deep are
open to them: They collect what-
ever is curious, rare, and uncom-
mon in Nature, and place the pre-
cious Depoſitum amongft their
Treaſures:
Capt. John HOLMESBY. 117
$
Treaſures : They are, in a Word,
the Admiration of Mankind, ca-
refſed, and beloved in every Place.
He was interrupted here by an odd
Figureentering the Room; it was an
old Man, whoſe Cloaths were all in
Tatters, and whoſe Aſpect ſeemed
meagre, and pinched with Want.
He was abſorbed in Contempla-
tion, and advanced up to the Sage
without taking any Notice of us
I want the Urinal, ſaid he, which
the Secretary Rofillon lately pre-
ſented to the Society; it may be of
Service to me in my Search: The
Sage found it immediately, and as
he held it to the old Man, This U-
rinal, addreſſing himſelf to me, is
a great Curioſity ; a very great Cu-
rioſity indeed! (turning it about in
his
MED
us
The TRAVELS of
.
his Hand) This Urinal is demon-
ſtrative of an alkaline Principle,
exiſting in the fanguinary, diuretic
Syſtem. A Niece of Secretary Ros
fillon's, laboured under a violent
Suppreffion of Urine; a copious
Draught of a ſtrong ſpirituous Wan
ter, with ten Repetaţurs, gave her
Relief, and this Urinal received
the Cauſe of her Diſeaſe: Upon
emptying it, the Phyſicians were
ſurpriſed with an aduſt, rancid Mat-
ter, copiouſly adhering to the Sides
of the Glaſs, which upon a nicer
Examination, and from the Colour
ſeemed to be a ſtrong alkaline Pow-
der, ſecreted from the Blood. This
extraordinary Phænomenon occa-
fioned its appearing here ; examine
it : Upon this I took it in my Hand,
Capt. John HOLMESBY. 119
.
but being ignorant of ſuch Matters,
I could ſee nothing but a Sediment,
very common in thoſe Veſſels, fo
returned the Urinal to the Sage.
He gave it to the ragged Philofo-
pher, who ſeizing it with Trans-
port, left the Room in the ſame
abſent Manner.
The Sage reſum'd : There goes
the Mirror of Science! That old
Man, continued he, is of a good
Family, and at Twenty poſſeſſed a
large Eſtate: At that Age he ap-
plied himſelf diligently to ſtudy
the ſeveral Syſtems of Philoſophy
received by the learned World,
After peruſing and examining all,
and finding them contradictory,
and without any certain Criterion,
by which he might diſcover the
true
1 20
The TRAVELS of
true from the falſe, he reſolutely
propoſed to ſearch after Truth till
he found it. He has fine Abilities,
which, ſupported by his Fortune,
might have been of Service to his
Country; but he diſdain'd ſuch
narrow Views, and dedicated him-
felf to the Service of Mankind.
He has Vpent all his Eſtate, and
forty-five Years of his Life, in pur-
fuit of Truth ;. and he now pro-
miſes the Public a full Completion
of his great Diſcovery next Year, if
he lives. I muſt own that he meets
not with great Credit, becauſe he
has ſo often diſappointed the pub-
lic Expectation, by ſome unlucky
Accident or other:
For my Part, this Diſcourſe was
in a great Meaſure unintelligible to
mes
Capt. John HOLMESBY.
12
me; but the Appearance of the
Sage created in me an Opinion of
his profound Wiſdom. My Bro-
ther Harry, at that Juncture, hap-
pening to be the Subject of iny
Thoughts, together with the lowd
and irregular Life he led in England,
I was reſolved to conſult the Sage
about his Reformation; where-
upon, fetching a deep Sigh, I have
a Brother, I ſaid, who is a moft dil
folute Mortal, his Will is a Slave to
his Paſſions, and his Paſſions are
dead to every Object but Senſe: He
has conſumedhis Fortune in Gaming
aid Revelling; he is ungrateful to
his Friends, and derides every
Thing manly or ſerious : Aflift me,
O wife Philoſopher ! I cried, direa
me to recover my unhappy Brother
G
froin
122
The TRAVEL S of
from this Diſeaſe; learn me fome
Leſſons, by which I may inſtruct
him to ſet himſelf at Liberty again;
to regulate his Paffions, and reve-
rence the Charms of Sobriety and
Virtue.
Have you any Memoirs of his
Life ? they muſt be entertaining,
replied the Sage : The Public love
the Lives of diffolute Perfons; I
ſhould be glad to read or digeſt
them into Order.
This Evaſion convinced me of
my Miſtake; but being willing to
glean as much Knowledge as poſſi-
ble in my Travels, to improve my
native Country, if I ſhould have
the good Fortune to return to Eng-
land, I begged his Advice upon a
different Occaſion, namely, of Capt.
Clayton's
2
Capt. John HOLMESBY. 123
GO
Clayton's Eſtate, which Iwas certain
would be in my Poffeffion, if Law
did me Juſtice, when I came
home. There was a large Field, con-
fiſting of about forty Acres, which
ever proved infertile, though he
had tried every Method to remove
the Cauſes of that Infertility,
begged, therefore, my Philoſopher
(after relating the Cafe very clearly
and diftin&tly) to aſſiſt me with his
Advice.
Having pauſed a While, the Earth
ſaid he, is the Parent of all Thinga;
The produces Animals, and at the
faine Time every Thing for their
Support. The vigorous Beams'of
the folar Globe are the Seeds which
impregnate and make her fruitful,
and by quickening the Particles of
G2
124
The TR A VELs of
her Womb, cauſe a Circulation of
thofe volatile Salts, which are the
Life of every Thing : She gives us
Corn, and Wine, and Oil, Apparel,
and all the Neceſſaries of Life,
which ſhe pours out with a boun-
teous and unſparing Beneficence.
The Seeds rejoice in the enlivening
Heat; they germinate, and expand
their delicate Fibres ; they ſhoot
forth their tender Roots; their yer-
dant Leaves bloom in the Face of
Heaven, and delight the Heart of
Man. The Mountains and Rocks
confeſs the Benignity of Nature,
proftrate at her Foot, and burſting
with Gratitude, they preſent their
different Productions ; ſo that every
Part of the World joins in ſhower-
ing Bleſſings on Mankind.
He
Capt. John HOLMESBY. 125
He ſtopped : bowing, I replied,
That I would not fail to publiſh his
Diſcoveries as ſoon as I returned to
England. What Sort of a Place is
England? Have you any learned
Men ? Any Philoſophers? Any
Lovers of Nature? We have many,
I replied, who make ſuch Things
their Profeſſion; but my ſeafaring
Way of Life, alas ! makes me ig-
norant of their Notions. But what
is the State of Science, rejoined the
Sage, in your Country? What En-
couragements are given to Learn-
ing ? What is the public Opinion of
Philoſophy ?
* Never did I ſo much regret my
Ignorance as at this Time ; how-
ever, that I might not give an uis-
favourable Character of my native
Country,
G 3
126
The TRAVELS of
Country, I ſaid that we had five hun-
dred Poems publiſhed every Year ;
a treble Quantity of ſmaller Works
called Pamphlets; as alſo Lives,
Hiſtories, and Novels innumerable.
Lives, interrupted the Sage haftily,
of whom? Of Whores, returned I,
Bullies, Rakes, Ranters, Roarers,
Baſtards, and Adulterers. Does
your
Nation reliſh ſuch Lives? re-
joined he. Yes, ſaid I, the more de-
bauched, the better; ſo that the Au-
thors, who make Writing their
Bread, are obliged to fink human
Nature to the very Standard of Pro-
fligacy, to make their Works ſell :
Befides, we deal vaſtly in Dictiona-
ries, becauſe they require no Ge-
nius in Compoſing, and enable
Man who has them to appear as a
great Reader ; a Vanity we give
greatly
a а
Capt. John HOLMESEÝ. 127
Iny conſtant Cuftom to buy, be
greatly into. But there are every
Month alſo publiſhed Magazines
of Knowledge, which Books, it was
cauſe of their univerſal and compre...
henſive Contents. Magazines ! an.
important Title, replied the Sage:
What Sciences? What Diſcoveries -
in Philofophy? What Illuſtrations
of Morality are contained in them?
They are a Kind of Medley, I re-
plied, conffting of Extracts from
Books, Effays, Stories, News,Songs,
Politicks, Stocks, Bankruptcies,
&c. They muſt be very large----
About three Sheets.----Happy Na-
tion! thrice cultivated People, cried
the Sage : Have you no Produce of
the Country, no Curioſity worthy
of this Temple of Science ? I told
him, that being ſhipwreck'd, I had
only
G4
128
The TRAVELS of
only ſaved
my Waiſtcoat and
Breeches with which I ſwam to
Shore. It is the Dreſs uſed in your
Country, ſaid the Sage, a pretty
Curioſity, it will be of great Uſe
towards forming a natural Hiſtory
of Europe ; may I requeſt it of
you? Having promiſed to ſend
them, he deſcended with us into
the Area, and as we were taking our
Leave, Stop, ſaid he, you are a
Stranger, and live in a remote Part
of the World ; I have made a Dif-
covery of infinite Importance to
Mankind: Take this Paper, (pul-
ling it out of his Boſom) let the
Globe, in every Part of it, know
my Merits, and what Philoſophy
owes to my Labours : I received it
and withdrew.
When
Capt. John HOLMESBY. 129
When I got home, I opened the
Paper, and found the Title of it to be
as follows: A Computation of the exact
Number of Particles of Light, wbicb
tbe Element of Fire converts a Pint
of Oil into, in a Lamp whoſe Aper-
ture is three-twelftbs, and whoſe Wick
is one-twelfth of an Inch in Diame.
tér ; alſo, at what Diſance ſuch a
Light is perceptible, and in whar
Ratio, the Intenhty of the Light des
creales, as its Diſtance is from the
Center. This being above my Un-
derſtanding, I threw the Paper by,
bat brought it with me to England,
where I gave it to a Friend, who
deſigns to get it publiſhed in the
Philoſophical Tranſactions.
After peruſing the Paper, I ſent
the Waiſtcoat and Breeches to the
Academy
G5
130 The TRAVEL S of a
..
Academy; I was forry they were
no better, the Waiſtcoat was Flan-
nel, with blue Stripes, and the
Breeches Leather, which ſhone like
Glaſs with Greaſe, being what they
gave me when I was feized. I
thought they would be refuſed, but,
to my great Honour, happening to
call there a little Time after, I be-
held my greaſy Breeches hanging
up in a magnificent Glaſs-Caſe, and
found, that my Waiſtcoat was made
a Preſent of, as a great Curioſity, to
a new-founded Academy at Negro-
zee, a Town about fifty Leagues
digitales
g
from Keljo.
una 900
god to be
С НА Р.
75g
Capt. John HOLMESBY. 137
CHAP. XII.
The Author's Adventure with a female
Gamefler ; Attempts to introduce bim-
Self to the Emperor of Nimpatan 13
the Difficulties in that Affair; Ine:
terview with the Emperor.
TH
"HE Report of my Treaſure
did not fail to draw Num.
bers to viſit me, upon whom my
Taliſman had the ſame Effect as the
Loadſtone on the Needle; but with
this Difference, my golden Magnet
was ſenſibly diminiſhed by its Influ-
ence upon the Subjects it attracted.
One Evening, a married Lady of
grçat Beauty, and of higheſt Birth
in Nimpatan, came to my Aparta
G6
ment
132 The TRAVELS of
ment ; ſhe had been married two
Years to a Nobleman, who was
doatingly fond of her, nor was the
Lady leſs in Love with her Huf .
band : They lived extremely happy,
till an Accident violated that conju-
gal Harmony, for which they were
the moſt eminent of all the Nobility
in Kelſo. The national Infirmity
of Nimpatan is Gaming; the Paſ-
fion of this people is ſuch for Play,
that they purſue it through allDan-
gers and Obſtacles, and generally,
ceaſe not, till they feel the fatal
Conſequences of their Imprudence.
This Lady, by a Run of ill Luck,
and by Deſpair and Eagerneſs to re-
trieve it, had loſt a Sum, the Pay-
ment of which would injure much
her Huſband's Fortune :b When
there-
Capt. John HOLMESBY. 133
a
therefore, the required a Sum from
him to defray the Debt, in the Sur-
priſe of his firſt receiving the News
of her Loſs, he began to expoftulate
with her, in a Tone ſomewhat
ſharper than he before was accuſ-
tomed to, upon the Miſconduct of
ſuch Steps : The Lady reſented it,
Words followed, which ended in
Swoon on the Lady's Side; and on
his ruſhing out of the Room was
informed of theſe Circumſtances by
a Friend of the Lady's, and that the
Moment ſhe had recovered from
her Swoon, ſhe did me the Honour
to pay me a Viſit. I ſaw Diſtreſs
and Pride ſtruggling in her Viſage
the Moment ſhe entered : Stranger,
ſaid the Lady, I hear thou pofíeffeft
that Idol which my Nation adores;
Honour
134
The TRAVEL S of
Honour is nothing but the Idea
which the World has of our Acm
tions, which Idea it forms alone
from thoſe Actions which it knows.
Be appriſed that I am at preſent in-
volved in a terrible Dilemma ;, I.
have a Debt, the Failure of paying
which will injure my Honour: I
muſt therefore prevent this Breach
of my Reputation, by another
Wound upon my Honour, in Fact,
but which, being unknown, will
preſerve my Character ; ſo that I
ſhall have the Satisfaction to pre-
ſerve that imaginary Honour, more
to be valued than every Thing elſe..
Yes, dear Stranger! throwing her
Arms about me, and burſting into
Tears, yes, I muſt hazard every
Thing for the Sake of my dear Ho-
nour---
Capt. John HOLMESBY. 135
nour---thew me the Deity! let me
feel his Influence! my Perfon! my
Soul! is at your Diſpofal: Every
Charm which Nature has adorned
me with, is thine---So faying, ſhe
fwooned in my Arms.
I neither love lufcious Defcrip-
tions, nor to make the World be-
lieve that I am more virtuous than
my Neighbours----I refifted the
Temptation, and had I yielded, I
ſhould have as freely faid ſo. Iknow
that I injure my Reputation, and
ſhall incur the Cenfure of being a
meer Poltroon by this Confeffion;
but Truth, the fole Guide of my
Pen, is dearer to me than all Things.
I threw cold Water upon her Face,
and feated her in an eaſy Chair:
After ſome Time when ſhe reviv'd,
I
136 The TRAVELS of
.
a
I ſaid to her, For Heaven's Sake!
Madam, compoſe yourſelf: Your
Fortune is not deſperate----Send
your Creditors to me----Recover
your Happineſs; and may Prudence
guard you for the future againſt
ſuch Misfortunes. I waited not for
Reply, but immediately led her
out of my Apartment.
I ſhould have omitted this Ad-
venture, but my Enemies having
made it a Handle to ruin me fome
1
Time afterwards, I am obliged to
inſert it. If Truth obliges me to
give a diſadvantageous Idea of the
Lady, becauſe my Innocence re-
quired ſuch a Vindication, I defire
that Lady to pardon me, and to
conſole herſelf with the great Num-
ber of her Sex of higheſt Quality,
who,
Capt. John HOLMESBY. 137
who, in like Circumſtances, have
not had the good Fortune to eſcape
uninjured.
weto
I had now been fome Months in
Kelſo, during which Time I had
been flattered with the Expectations
of the Honour of being introduced
to his imperial Majeſty; but I found
ſome Pretence or other always fruf-
trating that Expectation. My Pa-
tience being exhauſted, I was re-
folved, at the Hazard of the impe-
rial Diſpleaſure, to attempt a Gra-
tification of my Curioſity. In this
Affair I ſolely depended upon my
Gold, promiſing myſelf that uſual
Succeſs, which I met with from its
Influence.
With this Hope I went one Morn-
ing to the Palace; could I have form-
ed
738 The TRAVEL S of
:
...
::
ed the leaſt Idea of this Undertak-
ing, I had never attempted it. Let
me aſſure the Reader, that I was
inceſſantly employed for three and
forty Days, in obtaining a Sight of
his Highnefs.
This will appear more credible
when I relate the Number of Offi-
cers in the Palace, whofe Leave
was neceſſary, before I approached
the Emperor : Their Number, to
the beſt of my Memory, was four
hundred and feventy-fix; befides,
it is the Cuftom of that People to
eſteem Difficulty of Acceſs as a To-
ken of Dignity, which Difficulty
increaſes as the Perfon's Rank does. ***
I remember that I was five Days
and four Nights obtaining the Sight
of Murzee, who is the Emperor's
Confident,
Capt. John HOLMESBY. 139
Confident, and neareſt to his Per-
fon. My Cuſtom was, when I had
gained one Door, to furniſh myſelf
with Proviſions from the Perſon
who admitted me, which I bought
at an extravagant Rate. I
I flept
upon a Carpet, which one of the
Pages was ſo obliging to let me
have for ten Times the Value, when
I began to find the Length of my
Undertaking. I was obliged to
make uſe of my Gold to every one
of theſe Officers, and ſo great was
the Sympathy between the Metal
and their Souls, that my Taliſman,
when I came before his Majeſty,
was dwindled to the Size of a Gooſe
Quill.
When Murzee introduced me to
his Highneſs, it was about two
Hours
140
The TRAVELS of
->
Hours after Sun-riſe; he was alone,
in a Kind of Saloon, lying upon a
Sofa : His Perſon was rather of the
talleſt Size, his Features delicate
and effeminate, his Dreſs plain and
ſimple. Having proſtrated myſelf
thrice, according to the Cuſtom of
the Country, he bad me riſe, and
relate the Occaſion of my Audience.
In as few Words as poſſible I re-
plied, That I was born many hun-
dred Leagues from Nimpatan, but
Fortune having thrown me in his
Kingdom, where I had received
ſuch Tokens of Goodneſs, and more
eſpecially ſuch undeſerved Honours
from his Majeſty, that I thought it
my Duty to return perſonal Thanks,
and to behold that imperial Hand
which had ſhowered down ſuch
Bleſſings
-
Capt. John HOLMESBY.
141
Bleſſings upon me. You are the
wealthy Stranger, replied his Ma-
jeſty, recommended to the Order
of Glumki, by my Treaſurer Grib-
belino? The ſame, I replied. From
what Part of the World are you
come? ſaid he: I anſwered, from
an Iſland of Europe, called Great
Britain ; that I was an Engliſhman,
and had been thrown by a Storm
upon the Coaſt of Nimpatan. He
made no Reply, but turning to Mur-
zee, I propoſe, Murzee, ſaid he, to
have ſome Converſe with this
Stranger ; ſupply him with Neceſ-
ſaries till I have Leiſure. Upon
which I withdrew with that Fa-
vourite.
.
CHAP ,
142
The TRAVELS of
023
CH A P. XIII.
The Author's Bebaviour at Court ;
Diſcourſe with the Emperor con-
cerning England; bis Sketch of
Engliſh Hiſtory ; his imperial
Majeſty's Obſervations upon it.
A
Courtier's Life was ſo opp
oppo-
ſite to my Way of Living
and Education in England, that I
preſently conceived an Averſion for
it. Every Perſon was obliged to
move, ſpeak, and behave, accord-
ing to a certain Tariffe of Polite-
neſs publiſhed every Year at Kelfo.
To this Rule all Perſons in the
Court were obliged to ſubmit, no
Regard being paid to Difference of
Hu-
Capt. JOHN HOLMESBY. 143
Humours or Diſpoſitions; which to
me appeared as ridiculous as or
dering all Perſons Shoes to be made
to a Laſt of the fame Size. This
was obſerved with Reſpect to Dreſs,
which was under the Direction of
one of the moſt eminent among
the Emperor's Relations; becauſe
the Poſt was conſidered as the moſt
important and profitable of all
others.
Murzee conducted me to an
Apartment, where I was ſupplied
with every Thing neceſſary in a
magnificent Manner. But an Eng-
life Sailor, the Reader will con-
clude, muſt make a very ſcurvy Fi-
gure, in ſuch a Situation. To fay
the Truth, I became ſoon the Jeft
of the whole Court.
Dwarfs
2
The very
144
The TRAVELS of
Dwarfs and Pages would play un-
lucky Tricks with me. There
was, in particular, one Thing which
afforded great Diverſion. Being
bred to Sea, and uſed to ſay Yes or
No, when I meant thoſe Anſwers,
they would be conſtantly aſking me
Queſtions, for the Sake of making
a Jeſt of me: For the Rules of the
Court require you to ſay No, when
you mean Yes; and Yes, when
you mean No. But I foon found
out the Jeft, and uſed to lye in a
little Time as well as the beſt of
them. There was another Piece
of Politeneſs, which I confeſs I
never could attain. What we call
in England Promiſes, are termed,
in the imperial Court, Words of
Courſe ; now being uſed ſo long
to
Capt. John HOLMESBY. 145
to Tars, who are in general as
honeſt Fellows as any in the World,
for the Life of me, I could never
break myſelf to this Cuſtom. It
is rude not to promiſe every Thing
you are deſired; but you are quiteun
poliſhed, even to think of perform-
ing it. It is ſtill more polite, if you
are certain that the Thing promiſed
is not, nor ever will be in your
Power to perform. I knew one
who was eſteemed the moſt finish'd
Courtier, who, having privately fold
a Place in Reverſion, promiſed it
gratis to fifty different Perſons.
This Politeneſs attracted the Ad-
miration of the whole Court. There
was another odd Practice which I
cannot omit, and that is, they would
ſmile in my Face, and ſay all the fine
H
Things
...
146
The TRAVEL & of
.
Things in the World to me, and
the Moment they left me they
would turn all they had ſaid into
Ridicule, and make my Peculiari-
ties the Subject of their Raillery.
I thought it was very diſhoneſt
Uſage; but I found it was the Guf-
tom of the Country, fo I e'en, as
we ſay in England, made the beſt
of a bad Market.
I was in fome Pain concerning
my Stay, and the Motives which
induced his Highneſs to command
it. I tried often to diſcover them;
but one Day I had one Anſwer,
and the next another; fo that there
was no believing a Word that was
ſaid. To ſay the Truth, I fuf-
pected that the Report of my Trea-
ſures might occaſion it, and that a
Plan
Capt. John HOLMESBY. 147
.
Plan was forming to deſtroy me for
the Sake of them, which made
me uneaſy, eſpecially when I knew
that my Stock was fo low: But
theſe Suſpicions were injurious to
that Prince.
An Officer came one Morning,
to conduct me to that Monarch, by
his expreſs Command. He had
been indiſpoſed, which occafioned
his Delay in fending for me. Не
was in his Cloſet and alone, his
Favourite being that Morning gone
to ſee a Match between a black
and a white Snail, which of them
crawled ten Yards firſt. ----Great
Sums were depending upon the
Event of this Race.
I was embaraffed greatly when
I firſt entered his Highneſs's Cloſet;
H2
but
*
ras
14.8 The TR AVEL S. of
but the ſoft Condeſcenſion which
he aſſumed preſently compoſed me,
and reſtored me to all the Preſence
of Mind neceſſary upon ſuch an
Occaſion,
Having commanded me to fit
down, his Highneſs began thus :
I have long deſired to ſee an Inha-
bitant of thoſe immenfe Conti-
nents, which our Writers affirm
ſpread themſelves beyond the
great
Ocean. Thou ſayeſt that thou art
tative of thoſe Regions ; and,
liaving paſſed the Ocean, haft been
caſt on my Dominions by a Storm.
They maintain, that in thoſe Coun-
tries are ſeveral mighty Empires
and Cities, abounding with People,
with Arts and Sciences cultivated
fedulouſly, with wiſe Laws, and
every
Capt. John HOLMESBY. 149
every Thing neceſſary to the Life
of Man. I would hear from thee,
O Stranger! a Confirmation of the
Truth or Falfhood of ſuch Rela-
tions; tell me therefore what Idea
I am to form of our Hiſtorians.
Europe, I replied, is a Quarter
of the Globe, fuperior to the reſt
in Arts and Arms. I then diſtindi-
ly recounted the ſeveral States and
Governments which compoſed it;
their chief Towns, Trade, Genius,
Religion ; all which Knowledge I
owed to Gordon's Grammar, a Book
I uſed to read often. I concluded
with a particular Account of Great
Britain.
His Highneſs heard me with ad-
mirable Patience ; and when I
ſtopped, replied, I think that you
faid
H3
50
The TRAVELS of
faid you were a Native of the laſt
ihentioned Place ; you therefore
muſt know thoroughly the Laws
and Government of that Country,
which heard, may poflibly afford
ſomething uſeful and inſtructive.
Though different Nations obey
Cuſtom, rather than Reafon, in
their reſpective Conſtitutions, which
Cuſtoms ariſe from the Paſſions of
Mankind, and therefore we
doubly prejudiced in their Favour;
yet it is Virtue to liſten to, and
Wiſdom to improve by the Uſages
of other Nations; to examine thcir
Itsutions, and to refcrm or ſhun
Abuſes by our Refleâions upon
them.
He waited for my Reply. To
lay the Truth, I was aground.
Politicks
Capt. JOHN HOLMESBY. 191
Politicks were out of my Latitude.
I was unwilling to injure my Coun-
try by mifrepreſenting it; and yet
Silence, I thought, would have
been a Sign of Ignorance in me,
or of Unworthineſs in the Subject
I was required to ſpeak to. By
good Fortune, I had been reading
Baker's Chronicle at Capt. Clayton's
before this Voyage; and beſides I
was very well verſed in thoſe ex-
cellent Debates publiſhed in the
Mazagines. For uſing to frequent magas
the Coffee-Houſes when alhore; Iinaga
was obliged to qualify myſelf for
the Company I often met there,
who uſed to examine the Conduct
of the Miniſtry, the Application of
the publick Money, the State of
the Conſtitution, and ſuch like pa-
triot
tolog
+tia
H4
152 The TRAVEL S of
vided into many petty
triot Topicks, with as much Zeil
as if the Nation's Fate depended on
their Deciſions. It ſerved as an
Amuſement then; but when I was
to explain theſe Things to a mighty
Monarch, I trembled.
I began with giving his High-
neſs an Account, as clear as I could,
of our national Hiſtory.
Britain, I ſaid, was originally
inhabited by a ſavage People, di-
and Hunting were the principal
Objects of their Purſuits. Their
Manner of Life was the Impleft in
the World, and the chiefeít Au-
thority was in the Hands of the
Druids. It is uncertain how long
the Britons lived thus. About fe-
venteen Centuries
ago,
the Romans,
Na.
a
Capt. John HOLMESBY. 153
a Nation at that Time Maſters of
the World, invaded Britain.
But the Roman Valour and Ex-
perience would ſcarcely have ſub-
dued the Britiſh Courage on that
Occaſion, if the Roman Policy had
not been ſuperior to their Valour.
The Britons reſiſted, in a Manner
unarmed, the Romans for two
hundred Years, with variods Suc-
ceſs; but at length the Romans, in-
troducing Rapine, Luxury, and .
Corruption, obliging the Youth to
enliſt in their Legions, and ſending
them abroad, cheriſhing Diviſions,
and introducing their Form of Go-
vernment, fubdued the fimple, ig-
norant Natives of Britain.
Two Centuries more elapſed,
when the Britons were ſo deger
Н.
5
nerated,
154
The TRAVELS of
nerated, that thofe Men, whoſe
Anceſtors had ſubdued often the
braveſt People in the World,
dreaded the Inroads of a barbarous
People in the northern Part of the
Iland. Lewdneſs, Cruelty, and
Diffimulation; Pride, Envy, and
Drunkenneſs; Party-Rage, Lux-
ury, and Corruption, at that Time
raged in the civil and religious Go-
vernment of Britain.
The Britons, under the Domi-
nion of a weak and wicked Prince
applied to the Saxons for Aſiſtance.
Theſe Foreigners, a warlike People,
arrived in Britain as Allies, but in
the End became Maſters. They
expelled the Natives, introduced
their Policy, and divided the Ifland
into ſeven Governments. This
Hep-
Capt. JOHN HOLMESBY. 155
Heptarchy, having laſted almoſt
four hundred Years, came under
the Dominion of one.
That Monarchy ſubſiſted under
Princes of various Nations for two
hundred Years, when Luxury and
Corruption in the Laity, Ignorance
and Lazineſs in the Clergy, when
a total Contempt of divine and hu-
man Laws, when Oppreſſion of
every Kind again appeared in Bri-
tain. This invited the Normans,
a ſmall but valiant People, who
made a Conqueſt of the Engliſh at
one Battle, killed their King, al-
tered their Government, treated the
Vanquiſhed with every Kind of
Severity and Cruelty; ſo that from
Liberty and Plenty they fell into
th
sain H 6
156
The TRAVELS of
3
:
the moſt wretched Servitude and
Diſtreſs.
The Engliſh felt theſe Miſeries
for two Centuries, when one of
their Monarchs, ſeizing the Crown
unjuſtly, and oppoſing the ſuper-
ftitious Spirit of thoſe. Times, gave:
them an Opportunity to eſtablith
their Liberties, by a facred and
invaluable Charter, which is pre-
ferved inviolable. (though many
Times attacked) to this Day.
The two ſucceeding Centuries
beheld the Engliſh Sceptre chiefly
in the Hands of Princes of their
own Nation. During this Period,
the Balance of Power was de-
ſtroyed by the Nobility, the Reſult
of which was a long Train of civil
Wars: For two Families (of York:
and!
2
Capt. John HOLMESBY. 157
and Lancaſter) claiming the Crown
of England, ſupported their Pre-
tenſions with various Succeſs, till
the contending Houſes were united
by the Marriage of Henry of Lan-
caſter and Elizabeth of York. Theſe
Wars, joined to the Humour of
making French Excurſions, created
a military Spirit; ſo that the Engliſh
in thoſe Days were a Nation of
Soldiers.
This Prince made it his princi-
pal Buſineſs to deſtroy the Power
of the Nobility, which he effected.
His Succeſſor, finding the Current
of Power running into the Channel
of the Eccleſiaſticks, and being
thwarted and deceived by the
Church of Rome, aboliſhed the Re-
ligion then eſtabliſhed; which
great
Event
158
The TRAVELS of
1
Event is one of the noted Periods of
our Hiſtory, called the Reforma-
tion.
-
19:
The two next Reigns were taken
up with religious Struggles; but
the Acceffion of Elizabeth and her
long Government entirely turned
the Scale in favour of the Re-
formers. The Power inſenſibly
fell into the Hands of the Com-
mons; the Genius of the Nation
was totally changed; we were no
longer a martial, but mercantile
People; we placed our Defence in
a Navy, which Step preferved us
from the moſt formidable Invaſion
ever menacing our Iſland.
This wife Princeſs dying unmar-
ried, the Crown devolved upon
another Family: The Object of
whoſe
Capt. John HOLMESBY. 159
whoſe Government was, to recover
the Power out of the Commons,
and to render the Sovereign abſo-
lute. Greater was the Struggle
for this Point, than any known in
our Hiſtory; one Prince of this Fa-
mily died by the Executioner, a fe-
cond was baniſhed, and a third o-
bliged to fly and make a formal
Abdication of his Kingdom. Civil
Wars, Party Madneſs, Injuſtice,
Rapine, Luxury, Profaneneſs, Hy-
pocriſy, and Licentiouſneſs of all
Kinds, mark this Æra.
The Engliſh then invited a fo-
reign Prince to govern them, which
Revolution makes another remark-
able Period in our Hiſtory. The
Liberties of the Subject, and Prero-
gative of the Prince, were then
more
160
The TRA V E L S of
more plainly aſcertained ; Property
was fecured, and different Princi-
ples of Government were intro-
duced.
But theſe Bleſſings were not able
to extinguiſh the Fire of Party:
The Principles introduced had ſmall
Inconveniencies, which not being
timely attended to, became dange-
rous Evils. The principal Object
of Attention became a partial Re-
gard to Succeſſion, till, inſenſibly,
the Balance of Power was deſtroyed,
the mercantile Genius of Elizabeth's
Days was depreſſed, the martial
Spirit of the Henries and Edwards
Days was degenerated, Indolence
and Careleſsneſs, Inſenſibility to the
public Good, Faction in Politics;
Luxury in Manners, and Profane-
neſs
Capt. John HOLMESBY. 161
neſs in Religion, foreboded a cer-
tain Tendency to univerſal Anarchy
and Diffolution.
Sailors are better Proficients in
Navigation than Hiſtory. I ſhould
not, therefore, have troubled my
Reader with a Sketch of Events
known to all the World, had I not
been unwilling to leave out his High-
neſs’s Remarks upon what I obſerved
to him; and I thought, relating his
Remarks, and omitting the Occaſion
of them, would cauſe their being
miſunderſtood, or deftroy the Clear-
neſs and Perſpicuity of them.
I was obliged to uſe many Cir-
cumlocutions, and to define ſeveral
Articles, of which this Prince could
poſſibly have no Idea; but when I
had finiſhed, he ſmiled, and replied,
Your
:
162
The TRAVELS of
Your Account of Europe, and Hi-
ſtory of Britain, gives me a bad
Opinion of Mankind, and particu-
larly of your Country: This quite
diſconcerted me. I ſecretly curſed
the Pamphlets and Magazines for
miſleading me, and wiſhed I had ne-
ver looked into any of them. I find,
continued his Highneſs, your Iſland
was more brave and virtuous in its
ſavage, than in its civilized State.
The Air of Britain ſurely breathes
Diffention. The four Revolutions
which you have mentioned, all fuc-
ceeded rather by inteſtine Faction
in the Vanquiſhed, than Bravery in
the Victor ; but I obſerve, that you
faid the Saxons were invited over ;
had the Emperor of Britain no
Subjects
Capt. John HOLMESBY. 163
Subjects of his own to rely on? I
anſwered in the Affirmative: Why
then, ſaid his Highneſs, did he not
arm them? I ſaid, becauſe Vorti-
ausy
gern knew that he deſigned to en-
ſlave his Subjects; he therefore
could rely on them no longer than
he concealed his Deſigns : Accord-
ingly he choſe foreign Inſtruments,
who, in the End, deprived him of
his Kingdom.
Your Emperor, ſaid he, is cer-
tainly then very careful to baniſh
Luxury, to heal Diviſions, to re-
move Corruption ; for by your Ac-
counts, thoſe fatal Enemies to King-
doms, occaſioned thoſe Invaſions,
Conqueſts and Revolutions, which
have happened in your Iſland. He
is, no doubt, very exact with Re-
gard
164. The TRAVEL & of
.
3
.::
gard to the Morals and Integrity of
his Miniſters, and Industry of his
Subjects ? he encourages the Sci-
ences, and loves learned Men ? No
Prince in the World more, cried I
in haſte, but, in our Country, the
Laws made to defend us from a
bad, cramp the Hands of a good
King: He cannot do as he would,
but as the Laws direct. What are
thoſe Laws ? replied the Monarch
of Nimpatan. It is impoſſible, I
ſaid, to repeat them: Be aſſured,
that they are the moſt excellent in
the World; and notwithſtanding
this, they are ſo numerous as to fill
one hundred and fifty large vo-
lumes in Folio. He interrupted
me. In corrupt Commonwealths
we always find moſt Laws, becauſe
mots
Capt. John HOLMESBY. 165
moſt Occaſion for them; but we al-
ways find them worſt executed in
ſuch States. Are theſe Laws
known to all ? No, replied I, not
to one in Ten thouſand : There are
a Body of Men, whoſe Profeffion
it is to ſtudy theſe Laws, who, in
Cafes of Diſpute, are paid for con-
ſulting and explaining them. But
the End of Laws, ſaid his High-
neſs, is to defend all the Members
of any Government; and all Go-
vernments contain Numbers of
poor People; theſe want this De-
fence moſt, to protect them from
the Violence of the Rich. What
do the Poor do in your Country
when they are injured, if they muſt
be at a great Expence even to know
the Laws ? tom barne **
I
166
The TRAVELs of
4
appear
I confeſs I was at a Loſs what to
anſwer. I told his Highneſs that
Law was not my Profeſfion; all I
could ſay was, that in capital Cafes,
where little or nothing came to the
Lawyers, the Rich ſeldom
ed, but, that every Month poor
Rogues were executed by Dozens ;
but that in Courts which deter-
mined Matters of Property, and
where great Fees were paid, no
poor Man ever appeared. But a
poor Man may, by Death, have a
Claim, cried the Emperor. If it is
five hundred Pounds, ſaid I, he had
better give up his Title than conteſt
it; for that Sum will not defray
the Expence of a Suit through the
different Courts of Juſtice. If he
gains his Caufe, the Coſts will
(wallow
Capt. John HOLMESBY. 167
ſwallow up the Fruits of his Vic-
tory.
As I ſaid theſe Words, Murzee
entered: Joy was in his Features,
Succefs ſmiled in his Countenance,
He then gave his Majeſty a long
Account of the Snail Race, of which
he had been a Spectator; and, that
after a ſharp Conteſt, the black
Snail won by the Length of his
Horns, and that he had betted a
conſiderable Sum upon his Head.
I fat mute during his Narrative,
but obſerved two Things, that his
Majeſty received his Account
very
coldly, and that the Favourite,
whilft he was ſpeaking, gave me
feveral Smiles and Nods, which, by
the Uſage of the Court, is always a
ſure
168
The TRAVELS of
.
ſure Sign you are an Object of
Envy and Hatred.
When Murzee finished, the Em-
peror went with him out of theClo-
fet, and I was conducted to my
Apartment.
H
CH A P. XIV.
The Author diſcourſes with the Empe-
ror upon the Engliſh Conſtitution ;
the Emperor's Remarks.
YROZEEKE, Emperor
of Nimpatan, was a Prince
of folid Judgment, of uncommon
Penetration, of nice Diſcernment,
and incomparable Parts. His E.
ducation, among Flatterers and Sy-
cophants, and the falſe Glitter and
Hypocriſy of Courts, had not been
able
,
Capt. John HOLMESBY. 169
S:
able to eradicate theſe valuable
Accompliſhments. His Notions of
Government were ſo profound and
exquiſite, that they were worthy of
an European Cabinet; and his Cou-
rage was ſo invincible, that antient
Rome would have applauded it.
I diſcovered, that it was owing to
the Leſſons of a Sage, whom this
Prince uſed privately to viſit when
his Father took the Diverſion of
Hunting, that his natural Talents
were not totally diffipated : But the
young Monarch, unfortunately let-
ting fall fome Expreſſions oppoſite
to the fundamental Policy of Nim-
patan, and his Counſellor being dif-
covered, the Sage was ſeized, and
Thut up in one of their mad Houſes.
In Truth, fome of the more refined
I
Courtiers
170
The TRAVELS of
Courtiers look upon the Imperial
Brain itſelf, as a little diſordered.
After this Interview, his High-
nels would often vouchſafe to ſend
for me, to hear my Accounts of the
Countries where I had travelled,
but more particularly he wanted to
have a clear Idea of England, of its
Principles of Government, and of
its Conftitution.
There was no Subject upon Earth
for which I was by Nature, or Ap-
plication, more unfit, than Politics.
Perhaps the Vanity of being ho-
noured with ſuch Favours from fo
great a Prince, makes me expoſe
iny Ignorance to my Countrymen;
but as this is a Foible, common to
Travellers, I hope to meet with In-
dulgence.
3
Onc
Capt. John HOLMESBY.
DOT
One Day, when I had the Ho-
nour to be alone with his Highneſs,
he was enquiring into the Origin
and Nature of Liberty: I ſuppoſe,
began his Highneſs, that the End
of all Government is civil Liberty,
which does not exempt Individuals
from Subjection, but requires Obe-
dience to Laws eſtabliſhed by uni-
verſal Conſent.
The great Point is, where to place
the Power of enacting thoſe Laws,
and to contrive ſuch a Weight to
balance that Power, as to be able
to check any Exceſs ſubverſive of
the civil Rights of Mankind. From
your Repreſentation of European
States, I perceive that this power is
lodged in one, in few, or many,
but that in your Country it is ſhared
between
I 2
172
The TRAVELS of
between all three ; that in the
Courſe of your Hiſtory, the one,
the few, and the many, have de
ftroyed the Form of your Conſtitu-
tion, by a Uſurpation of the whole
legiſlative Power, which has occa-
fioned all the remarkable Struggles
and Events in
your
Nation. Now
I cannot conceive any great Benefit
from your Form of Government,
becauſe it is always inſecure ; for
the Security of your Liberty lies in
the Virtue of the People: If they
are corrupt and profligate, Liberty
is more endangered in your com-
pound, than in a ſimple Form of
Government ; for the Power they
derive from the Conſtitution, being
purchaſed by bad Men, will cer-
tainly ſwallow up the lefſer Brana
chés
Capt. John HOLMESBY. 173
ment.
ches of the Legiſlature, if the Pur-
chaſers deſire to render themſelves
abfolute. But who is truſted with
the Execution of theſe Laws ?
The King, I replied. I perceive
then, anſwered Hyrozeeke, that this
important Truſt of civil Power,
being unequally divided, will, one
Day, deſtroy your Form of Govern-
The Weight of the execu-
tive Power, which is the moſt lu-
0
crative, being thrown into the Scale
of the Crown, will give it an Ad-
vantage over the reſt, as to deſtroy
the Balance of Power, Nay, this
Influence will be more pernicious,
as the People are more corrupt,
which confirms my Obſervation,
that Liberty is more inſecure in a
mingled, than in a ſimple Form of
Go-
1 3
174
The TRAVELS of
in the
Government.
I know that you
will ſay, Liberty is ſafer, when
Power is divided in many Hands;
admitted in a virtuous People : But
from the Injuſtice, Weakneſs, and
Wickedneſs of Man; becauſe the
very Being of Society ſprings from
a Deſire of Preſervation againſt
theſe Evils : You are therefore in
a Condition doubly precarious...
Your Nation will find the Re.
venue a more dangerous Enemy
than the Prerogative, for it will
conſtitute a diſtinct Interest, inde-
pendent of the People, becauſe it
is ſuflicient to purchaſe a Majority
of your Repreſentatives, if they
ſhould be corruptible; for the
Shue of the People, and Nobles
Capt. John HOLMESBY. 175
in the Legiſlature, will be an in-
fufficient Barrier againſt Corrup-
tion, armed and ſupported with im-
menſe Treaſure.
The Caſe, indeed, will be alter-
ed with reſpect to the Prince,
though not to the People ; if this
executive Power, by the Prince's
Indolence or Weakneſs, is put into
the Hands of bad Miniſters, they
are then doubly armed for Deſtruc-
tion, and poffefs every Means of
Tyranny which the legiſlative, or
executive Powers, united, can af-
ford.
I obſerved that he held fome Pa-
pers in his Hand, which were Notes
that he had taken upon the Queſ-
tions he had aſked me, and which
his Highneſs opened ſeveral Times
during
14
376 The TRAVELS of
during this Converſation. For my
Part, theſe Things were Arabic to
me; they were too refined : But
thinking that the Sentiments of lo
great a Monarch would be curious
and agreeable to my Countrymen,
I have given a ſhort Relation of
them.
:::
CHA P. XV.
Caval againſt the Author at Court;
be is ſeized, and confined; bis
Patent and Diploma taken away;
offlies 10 bis Friends in vain;
Debates at Court about his Puniſh-
ment, bis Sentence.
THE royal Favours I received
became ſoon the Topick of
Diſcourſe at Kello.. Gribbelino had
Notice of my Admiffion to his
ve him
Capt. Jown HOLMESBY. 177
Highneſs the Moment I had Au-
Intelligence of every Tranſaction
at Court. The Affiftance which
he had lately received from me,
prevented his expelling me from
the imperial Court, until they in-
formed him that I grew more and
more a Favourite, which News de-
termined him to lay aſide all Re-
gard, and to ruin me.
With this Intent le formed a
Cabal againſt me, of which Mur-
zee was Chief. My Friend Tirkka
gave me Notice of my Danger, and
perſuaded me to fly. I confeſs
that I never ſuffered greater Em-
barraſsment ; my golden Idol was
gone---The Influence upon the
Court Pages, and menial Servants
neceſ
I 5
::.
are ac
178 The TRA VEL$ of
neceſſary to my Convenience and
Eaſe, and the inſatiable Avarice of
Murzee, had annihilated it. In
this Diſtreſs I thought of the Gold,
which I had in the Savage's Plan-
tation, and therefore formed a
Scheme of going thither to fetch it.
The Night before the propoſed
Execution of this Project, as I was
ſtepping into Bed, four of the Em-
peror's Guards ruſhed into the
Room, and producing a Warrant,
hurried me into a Kind of Dungeon,
ſcarcely permitting me to dreſs.
Morning being come, I was
dragged before Gribbelino; the Mo-
ment he ſaw me, Be not alarmed,
cuſed of high Crimes againſt the
Emperor ; have Patience, I do not
doube
Capt. John HOLMESBY. 179
doubt. but your Innocence will ap-
pear; beſides, you need not be un-
eaſy, ſo long as you are poſſeſſed of
the great Compoſer and Healer of
Differences.
Alas! alas! cried I, in a lamen-
table Tone, the Deity has forſaken
me! the Souls of thoſe who came
to me upon his Account, have de-
prived me of his Affiftance fo that
I am pennyleſs. Dear and worthy
Gribbelino give me ſome Advice,
affift me in this terrible Conjunc-
ture, and grant me an Opportunity
to vindicate my Innocence---You
have known me.
I know you! interrupted the Trea-
furer--Baſe and unworthy Wretch!
Haſt thou fuch, monſtrous Impu-
dence, as to make me an Accom-
16
plice
180 The TRAVEL S of
plice of your Crimes? I never ſaw you
before---Away with him to Priſon,
audacious and ſuperlative Villain !
He turned away in great Fury,
and I was immediately confined in
a dark and diſmal Hole, and no
Perſon ſuffered to ſee me; but I
was permitted to write, and to re-
ceive any Letters, provided the
Gaoler inſpected them.
I ſent immediately to Tirkba, re-
queſting him to viſit thoſe who had
felt the Influence of my Gold, in
order to obtain fome Relief in my
preſent Diſtreſs. That faithful
Friend acquainted me in a few
Days with his ill Succeſs; not one
Perſon recollecting me, or acknow-
ledging the Reception of the leaſt
Favour from me. si
This
Capt. JONN HOLMESBY. 181
To
This almoſt broke my Spirits.
News of my Poverty ſpreading) I
received the imperial Mandate,
which degraded me from the Or-
der of Glumki. It ſignified, that
his Highneſs underſtanding what a
uſeleſs, wicked Wretch, what a
mean, traiterous, ignorant Coward
I was, he therefore was pleaſed
to remove me from his perſon for
ever, and to make me a Plebeian
again. Another Inſtrument came
too from the Academy of Kelſo;
the Purport of it was, That having
diſcovered me to be a Perſon of
no Tafte, a mere Stranger to the
Sciences, and, in a Word, an
illiterate Blockhead; that learn-
ed Body, the true Diſcerner of
Merit,
182 The TRÄVELS of
Merit, thought proper to blot out
the Name of ſuch a ſtupid Fellow
from its Liſt of wife and learned
Men.
But the Malice of Gribbelino reft-
ed not here. He aſſured the Huf-
band of the Lady who came to my
Apartment, that I took an immo-
deſt Advantage of her Situation ;
for the Falfhood of which Charge I
appeal to the Cafe as before related.
He perſuaded the Emperor that I
was an artful Hypocrite, and had
formed a Plot to aſſaſſinate him,
and ſeize his Kingdom ; for the
Falfity of which I appealed to the
Inhabitants of Kelſo, who knew that
I lived a peaceable Life, never going
armed, and expreſſing the utmoſt
Des
Capt. John HOLMESBY. 183
.
Deteſtation of all Plots and Con-
ſpiracies whatever.
But it was in vain for me to aſſert
my Innocence; the ſupreme Coun--
cil deliberated
upon
the Puniſhment
which I was to ſuffer : The Court
was divided upon this Head ; Grib-
belino was for putting me to a flow
Death, or to the Rack, to extort a
Confeffion from me of the Trea-
more on the
fure which I muſt have concealed
ſomewhere, and which ought to be
brought into the imperial Treaſury,
my Goods being confiſcated by my
Treaſon. Murzee propoſed a Plan
of Torture, which the Phyſicians
had aſſured him would not kill the
Criminal under three Months
Some, more moderate, propoſed a
Mad-houſe, affirming, that ſeveral
Symp-
::
184 The TRAVELS of
Symptoms of Lunacy had appeared
in my Conducts and therefore de-
fired to have me tried by the Coun-
cil of Health. This was contra-
dicted by others, who maintained,
that as I was a Stranger, the Treat-
ment which all Strangers uſually
received in Nimpatan ought to be
deemed Puniſhment ſufficient for
my Crimes, unleſs that Part of my
Accuſation which concerned the
Safety of his Highneſs, was proved
true, and if it was, I then ought
to ſuffer Death.
Upon this, one of the Council
gravely roſe from his Seat, and
having hemmed three or four
Times, pulled off his Gloves and
laid them on the Table, faid, That
having had the Honour to be long
a
Capt. John HOLMESBY. 185
BC
a Member of that honourable Body,
he had duly weighed the ſeveral
Reaſons which the noble Perfo
nages who had ſpoken had brought
upon this Queſtion now before
them ; but that their Reaſons to
him did not ſeem concluſive, nor
their Opinions relative to the pub-
lic Good: Nay, he took the Liber-
ty to ſay, That there was more
Appearance of Paſſion in their De-
terminations, than became the Dig-
nity of ſuch an illuſtrious Aſſembly.
For Tortures, continued he, are ex-
preſive of Cruelty, except where the
Laws expreſsly allow them ; becauſe
Mercy, the oppoſite, forbids them:
Moreover, with Submiſpon, in this
Caſe, the Symptoms of Lunacy, tho'
ſtrong, yet are inſufficient to deter-
mine
186
The TRAVELS of
mine this honourable Body; not-
withſtanding, whereas the Criminal,
without doubt, merits all the Severity
of the Law ; likewiſe, his Offence is
of the blackeſt Dye; beſides, his Caſe
will be a Precedent bereafter : For
theſe Reofons, give me Leave to pro-
poſe a middle Expedient on this Oc-
caſion, to inflict an adequate Pu-
niſhment; give me Leave to ſay,
Gentlemen, a Puniſhment which
is temper'd with Mercy.---Furniſh
him with a Boat and fome Pro-
viſions; and, if upon any Account,
by Night or Day, directly or in-
directly, the Criminal ſhall land
upon, return to, touch, or ſet Foot
upon our Coaſts, or upon any Beaſt,
or in any Carriage ſhall be convey-
ed to any Place, or ſhall in any
Caſe
Capt. John HOLMESBY. 187
Cafe quit the ſaid Boat, to refreſh,
or reſt himſelf in Nimpatan, then,
every Perſon or Perſons ſhall have
an indubitable Right, by any Wea-
pon lawful or unlawful, to kill,
flay, wound, or deſtroy, or in any
wiſe put to Death the ſaid Crimi-
nal, called, and known commonly,
by the Name of Giroatskee.
This Speech was feconded with
great Applauſe. Gribbelino, in-
deed, was obſerved to fit in a very
ſullen Mood, playing with a Key
upon the Table, and it was expect-
ed, that the Perſon who had ſpoke,
would have his Place taken from
him; but I cannot aver what hap-
pened when I left Kello.
I had this Account from Tirkba,
who had Intereſt enough to be ad-
mitted
188 The TRAVELS of
mitted into the Room, which Ad-
miſfion, for my Sake, he was folli-
citous to obtain.
A Copy of my Sentence was im-
mediately ſent me, and Notice giv-
en, that it would be put in Execu-
tion in a few Days.
CH A P. XVI.
The Author's Sentence executed; Ef-
cape; Returns to his old Planta-
tion Schemes,
leaves it.
3
Otwithſtanding that Allay
of Mercy in my Sentence,
to me it appeared more terrible
than inſtant Death. I prepared,
however, with all the Calmneſs and
Reſolution I was Maſter of, to uſe
my
Capt. John HOLMESBY. 189
my beſt Endeavours to preſerve my-
ſelf, and to leave the reſt to Fate.
Accordingly, in five Days Time,
the Warrant came for my Sentence
to be put in immediate Execution.
A Kind of Cheſt was brought,
made of a Sort of Hickery Wood,
very light, and which juſt fitted me:
It had no Aperture, ſave a Vent-Hole
at one End for freſh Air; and after
they had tied my Hands, they ſhut
me in it. I ſuppoſed that I was laid
upon ſome Carriage, for I was drawn
along at a violent Rate.
How long my Journey was, I
know not; for, in a little Time,
the Cloſeneſs of my Confinement,
and my Hurry of Spirits, threw me
into a Swoon; and when I reco-
"
yered I found myſelf unbound, and
in
Igo
"The TRAVELS of
in a Boat, driving along with the
Tide, through the Mouth of a con-
ſiderable River into the Sea.
There blew a ſmart Gale full
againſt Tide, which cauſed a large
Swell; fo that, I ſuppoſe, the freſh
Air, joined to the Agitation of the
Boat by the Waves, brought me to
my
Senſes.
I immediately roſe, and looking
round me I perceived ſome Horſe-
men on the Banks, who, feeing me,
ſhouted lo loud, that I plainly heard
them, but the Stream hurried me
ſoon out of their Sight. I fell to
rummaging the Boat, which was ca-
pable of holding fifteen Perfons ; it
had a Deck, and a little Cabbin to
ſleep in, with a Maſt, and one Sail
tattered a little. I found two large
Jars
Capt. John HOLMESBY. 191
Jars of Water, three Cafks of dried
Beef, one Jar of Bread, and a Copy
of my Sentence wrote, on a Skin
of ſome Beaſt, very fairly, which
I have now by me, and propoſe at
my Death to leave it to Greſham
College. I have at preſent lent it
to the Curate of our Pariſh, who
begged the Uſe of it for a little
Time, deſigning to draw fome Ar-
guments from it in Defence of an
Affertion, which he is about to
maintain in a Diſſertation wrote for
that Purpoſe; namely, that the He-
brew Tongue is the Mother-Lan-
guage of Mankind. I had no Charts,
Compaſs, Quadrant or Plumb-Line;
however, I began to ſupply thoſe
Defects, by making a Kind of a
Quadrant with a knife I had in my
Pocket,
192 The TRAVELS of
Pocket, and a piece of thin Board:
I drew the Lines with a Pin, and a
Stone, which I found in the Ballaſt,
ſerved me for a Plummet. I knew
ſome of the Stars near the ſouthern
Pole, and having made an Obfer-
vation, ſuch as it was, judged that I
was nearly 15° S. Latitude.
As the Coaſt ran North, I pro-
poſed to keep along Shore in that
Courſe, reſolving to fill my Jars, if
I could, undiſcovered, and, if poſ-
fible, to keep my Stock of Salt Pro-
viſions untouched, till the laſt Ex-
tremity. It was about Noon when
I found myſelf alone in the Boat,
and by Night, as the Wind luckily
ſhifted, I had run ſeveral Leagues ;
I was obliged to tye a Cord to the
Rudder, and hold the Sail in one
Hand,
Capt. John HOLMESBY. 193
Hand, ſteering with the other : At
Night I ran into a Creek, ventured
afhore, filled one of my Jars, and
got ſome Herbs, and a little Fuel
to burn; for in a Locker at the
Helm, I found a large Burning-
Glaſs and an Iron Pot, left, as I ſup-
poſed, by Accident.
The Moon
Thone very bright, but towards
Morning the Sky was clouded over,
and the Wind roſe. To be taken
alhore, was Death; for a Deſcrip-
tion of me and the Boat, and a Re-
ward for taking me, was ſent all
over the Kingdom: They told me
this, when my Sentence was read
to me.
I choſe,
therefore, to truſt to the
Mercy of the Waves, and ſhifting
my Sail to the Windward, put off
K
to
194
The TRA VELs of
to Sea. At Sun-riſe, to my Con-
fort, the Wind abated, and diſco-
vering a Cape at a Diſtance, I ſteer-
ed directly for it, the Wind being
fair, and reached it in ſix Hours.
I no ſooner doubled the Cape but I
perceived ſomething white, at a valt
Diſtance, full North, the Shore
here was covered with Woods, fo
that I thought I might ſafely run
in and take a little Reſt, which I
greatly wanted : I therefore faſt-
ened my Boat, and boiling a Piece
of Beef, and drinking the Broth
filled with the Herbs I had got, I
fell into a Sleep, and waked not
till Night was far gone.
The next Day I ſteered for thoſe
white Clouds, keeping as cloſe to
the Shore as poſſible, except where
I could
Capt. John HOLMESBY. 195
:
:
I could ſteer from one Headland to
another: I was no leſs than four
Days before I arrived at them, be-
cauſe the Wind was contrary; but
I no ſooner approached them, but
I found that they were the Cliffs
where I eſcaped, when I was firſt
caſt away.
***
It fortunately was calm, ſo that
I leiſurely looked about for a con-
venient Place to land. I was ſome
Hours ſearching, but, at length, I
diſcovered a Cove which was dry at
low Water. I thruſt my Boat in,
and ſecuring it as well as I could,
went aſhore not far from the Place
where I landed firſt.
I freely confeſs, that it was the
only Time I had felt Joy for a long
while; for Iknew there was now no
Danger
K2
196
The TR A VEL's of
to
Danger of meeting any of the Inan-
ders, either to deſtroy me, or to ſtrip
me, with their Avarice. I longed
gain the Retreat, where I had
lived ſo innocently, and free from
the accurſed Vices of Men but I
knew that it was impoffible, unleſs
I could
could diſcover fome other úni-
known Path to aſcend thoſe Preci-
pices; tho' my Comfort was, I had
Proviſions, and whilst my Boat was
ſafe, had a Poſſibility of eſcaping.
I wearied myſelf for two Days in
my Search; the Nights I paſſed in
my Boat--- I began to deſpair ; but
Neceflity ſharpens our Wits : The
ſecond Day I diſcovered at a Dif-
tance one of the finalleſt Precipices,
covered with Shrubs, within an
hundred Yards of the Beach : Next
Day
Capt. John HOLMESBY. 199
to me, when the Savage firſt affift-
ed me.
:
I could not avoid ſhedding Tears,
when I ſaw the Spot where that
venerable Creature firſt met me. I
made no Difficulty to find that
Plantation where I had paſſed ſuch
a Number of agreeable and uſeful
Hours. A thouſand tender Thoughts
ruſhed upon me when I beheld it,
which, together with the Sufferings
I had undergone, from the Vile-
neſs of Mankind, made me reſolve
in that Moment, upon a voluntary
Solitude, far from the Sight of Man.
The Cattle I had left, were all
alive and ſafe ; but three Months
Abſence, the Reader will conclude,
muſt be injurious to my Plantation :
In Truth, my Fences were all trod-
den
К. 4
200
The TRAVELS of
den down, and the whole was
ſpoiled by their ſeeking for Paſture;
but the narrow Path leading to the
ſandy Plain I had left fo ſecured,
that they could not break thro
that Way; which Precaution I took
at my Departure, to prevent my
Plantations being diſcovered.
The Gold, which I had buried,
I found all ſafe: At the Sight of it,
I thought of its wonderful Influ-
ence upon the People of Nim-
patan, and forgetting the Rapture
I felt upon ſeeing that beloved Spot,
burnt with Revenge. All-powerful
Gold, I knew would procure me a
Pardon at Court, and thatGribbelino
himſelf could not oppoſe ſuch an
Antagoniſt. I confeſs the Weak-
neſs of my Heart, but a Deteſta-
tion
Capt. John HOLMESBY: 201
tion of ſuch a ſordid Principle im
mediately ſucceeded.
I paſſed the Night in my old Ha-
bitation, with Inquietude enough
concerning what Courſe. I ſhould.
take ; after a thouſand different
Schemes, a Defire of ſeeing my
Friends in Old England again pre-
vailed: I was reſolved, at length,
in Favour of attempting my Re-
turn, in Spite of thoſe Dangers
which threatened it.
I began with loading myſelf at
fundry Times with the Gold, I
killed ſeveral Goats, dried their
Fleſh in the Sun, and making Bags
of their Skins, filled them with
Grain. The moſt valuable Thing
was the ſmall Pocket-Compaſs,
which I had ſwam with to Shore.
The.
K 5.
202
The TRAVELS of
The Method I uſed, was to load
myſelf, and deſcending the Hill till
I came to the place where the Rock
began, I rolled my Bundle down
the Rock. I could not make above
two Journeys a Day; ſo that I was
employed in this Work above five
Weeks, with exceſſive Labour.
Having finiſhed my Work, and
carried away
all I thought neceſſa-
ry, I deſcended the Rock by the
fame Method I got up it. I
found all my Things ſafe; but here
begun a freſh Toil to carry my
Things to my Boat. I went to the
Edge of the Cliff, which might be
fifty Yards diſtant, and perceiving
that I could bring my Boat under
the Rock, which hung over at the
Height of thirty Yards, I formed
a
Capt. John HOLMESBY. 203
a Scheme to avoid the Trouble of
ſuch a Portage, and in ſuch a hot
Climate, being bliſtered exceſſively
already
I returned to the Boat, and got
Rope ſufficient for my Purpoſe ;
with this I returned to the Place,
where I faſtened one End to a Bolt
drove into the Ground, and making
Loops in it at convenient Diſtances,
threw the other End into the Sea :
I then returned to iny Boat, and
ſearched the Place preſently. Af-
ter this I made faſt the Boat to the
Line, which hung down, and, by
Means of the Loops, eaſily aſcend-
ed to the Place where my Things
were; then, with a ſmall Cord, I
let down my Stores into the Boat,
and every Time deſcended to untie
K 6
the
204 The TRAVEL S of
the Cord, and aſcend with it again;
by this Means I carried all my
Things in one Day aboard, which
elſe would have coft me the Labour
of a Week,
CH A P. XVII.
The Author puts out to Sea ; won-
derful Deliverance; taken up near
the Coal of Guiney ; returns to
England; concludes bis Voyage.
W
HEN I got into the Boat,
I ſtowed my Proviſions and
Neceſſaries as conveniently as I
could; and, putting the Gold, which
might be about ſeventy Pounds
Weight, into the Locker at the
Stern, I looſed the Rope, and taking
the
Capt. John HOLMESBY. 205
the Advantage of the Wind, fet
fail to the Northwards, according
to the Plan which I had laid down.
As I was failing, I recollected that,
in our Converſation, the Indian had
told me of ſome Countries Eaſt
ward, which, by his Deſcription,
could not be many Days Sail. My
Misfortune was, that I could make
no Way but before the Wind, as I
had but one Pair of Hands and
one Sail.
I reſolved therefore to conceal
myſelf, if poſſible, in ſome Creek,
till the Wind ſhifted ; but whilft I
was looking for a convenient Place,
a ſtiff Gale blowed Weſt. I feized
the Opportunity, reſolving to ſteer
Eaſt, as long as I could poſſibly keep
Shore
sosti
think of reſiſting it; my Heart beca
206 The TRAVELS of
Shore in Sight, and then to change
my Courſe to North.
I found the Current ſet ſtrong
from Shore, and went at a great
Rate; it carried me with ſuch Vio-
lence, that it was in vain for me to
gan to fail as I began to loſe Sight
of the Iſland. The Current in-
deed abated of its Rapidity, but
the Wind blew ſtrong.
In this Situation it was impoſſible
for ine to think of gaining Shore
with my fingle Strength; all my
Hope was, that as it happened not
to be the ſtormy Seaſon, and I had
Proviſions, the Wind might poſſibly
ſhift, ſo that I might return.
The Wind kept blowing for fix
Days with the ſame Strength, when
I
Capt. John HOLMESBY. 207
.
I thought it began to abate towards
Evening ; but in the Morning it
blew as freſh as ever, and continued
for a Week longer; ſo that I con-
cluded I was in thoſe Latitudes
where the Trade-Winds blow:
My poor Tool of a Quadrant ferv-
ed me in ſome Meaſure to find out
the Latitude, which I judged to be
3°N. This confirmed me in my
Opinion; I therefore faſtened the
Rudder, and tving the Corner of the
Sail ſlackly to the Gunnel of the
Boat, took my Reſt, when Night
came, and compoſed myſelf to my
Fate as well as I could. Tho' my
Proviſions were not near exhauſted,
yet I allowed myſelf as little as
poſſible, barely to ſupport Nature,
and drank about a Pint and a half
esperto
of
208
The TRAVEL $ of
me
of Water in twenty-four Hours ; at
which Allowance I computed my
Jars would laſt me two Months or
more.
No Creature can judge
what Agitations of Hopes and Fears,
of Comfort and Deſpair, tortured
Weeks which I paſſed in my ſmall
Boat, in the great Ocean. I now
began to conclude myſelf loſt, when
one Morning I thought I diſcovered
a Sail; it is not poſſible for any
Emotion of the Soul, I think, to
equal the Joy which I then felt.
I had ſcarce Power
to keep myſelf
from ſwooning, but I ran to my
Jars, and took a large Draught of
Water, which prevented it. I was
not deceived, I ſaw it plainer every
Moment; as I drew nearer, I per-
ceived
Capt. JOHN HOLMESBY. 209
ceived that they ſlackened Sail ; in
that Moment I thought of my Gold
in the Locker; I was juſt going to
throw it into the Sea, for fear it
Thould tempt the People in the Ship
to deſtroy me, but wanting Reſo-
lution, I concluded to wait till I
ſaw of what Nation the Veffel
belonged to.
I ſoon came within Gun-ſhot,
when they hailed me in Engliſh;
I had not Spirits to anſwer, but
made a Signal with a Piece of a
Sail, which I held at the End of a
Pole.
It was not long before I reached
the Ship, and found that it was the
Seaborfe, Captain Jacobs, whom I
had formerly been acquainted with
at Portſmouth: My ſtrange Dreſs,
with
2 IO
3
you anſwer me.
The TRAVELS of
with an Air of Fear and Terror,
which midda my Features had con-
tracted in ſpight of my Philoſophy,
made him not know me. When I
faluted him, and called him by his
Name, he was ſtruck with Aſtoniſh-
ment, and immediately led me into
the Cabbin, without ſpeaking.
Good God! ſaid he, what, Capt.
Holmesby? The ſame indeed, I re-
plied. Why you have been dead
and buried in the News-Papers this
Year and a Half: But what Dreſs
is this ? Are you mad ? This Boat
is not of European Structure--- I ſee
you are faint with Surprize---Let
the Surgeon bleed you, and drink a
I thought it prudently adviſed, and
was let Blood accordingly; but I fell
into
Capt. John HOLMESBY. 211
into a Fever a few Days after,which,
I ſuppoſe, would have been fatal, but
for this Precaution. Having borrow-
ed a Suit of the Captain's Cloaths, I
recounted to him
my
Adventures,
fince my leaving England, with a
Deſcription of the Iſland I had dif-
covered, and ended with defiring
him to let me fetch the Gold out
of the Boat, which having done,
and taken fome few Things beſides,
I ordered her to be funk.
He told me that he was return-
ing from a Voyage to the Coaſt of
Guiney, from which we were diſtant
about twenty Leagues; that the
next Place he ſhould touch at
would be the Cape Verd Iſlands, from
whence he was to fail to England.
I
:
212 The TRAVEL S of
F
I took a particular Notice of the
Latitude when Capt. Jacobs met
me, propoſing to apply to the Go-
vernment for Authority, to take
Poffeffion of the Illand which I
had diſcovered, in his Majeſty's
Name, not doubting but to have
a Commodore fent with a Squa-
dron for that glorious Purpoſe.
I enquired of the Captain, whe-
ther he had heard of Capt. Clayton ?
He told me he was informed of
that Gentleman's Death, and that
my
Brother had taken Poffeffion of
his Eftate.
This afflicted me; but as I did
not doubt recovering it, when I ar-
rived in England, I made myſelf,
in ſome meaſure, eaſy. After a
ſafe
oſe I wore when I was feized and
Capt. JOHN HOLMESBY. 213
fafe Paflage I landed at Graveſend,
and by the Captain's Advice took
my Gold with me, which, to my
great Comfort, fetched me in Lon-
don near four thouſand Pounds.
I went to my Brother Francis,
who had ſerved now two Years;
the Youth was ready to ſink, for I
had bought a Suit of Cloaths of the
ſame Colour and Fineneſs with
carried on board the Weft-Indiaman,
and which were ſuch as I common-
ly wore; he therefore concluded it
was my Ghoſt that ſpoke to him :
After undeceiving him, and telling
him of my wonderful Eſcape (at
which he lifted up his Eyes, with
all the Ardency of that pure Devo-
tion
214
The TRAVELS of
*
tion which ingenuous Minds, un-
tainted with Vice, feel upon extra-
ordinary Mercies) I enquired into
Family-News----When you was
miſſed, ſaid he, ſo ſtrangely, it was
concluded that you was murdered;
our good Friend Capt. Clayton,
died ſoon after, and my poor
Mo-
ther about three Months
ago,
and
Siſter is gone to board at Ports-
mouth : As to Brother Henry, he
broke my Mother's Heart, I dare
ſay; he has entirely run out the
Family-Eſtate, and mortgaged Capt.
Clayton's, which he took Poffeffion
of at his Death, though it was cer-
tain the Captain deſigned to alter
his Will, but the Suddeneſs of his
Death prevented him.
my
Capt. John HOLMESBY. 215
I embraced him, and took
my
Leave, with ſome Cautions againſt
thoſe Temptations which London
preſents daily to one of his Age, and
with the warmeſt Affurances of
my
Love and Friendſhip; but the wor-
thy Youth needed not theſe Cau-
tions, as his Conduct afterwards
ſhewed. I ſhall not trouble the
Reader with any Thing more, than
that I recovered Capt. Clayton's El-
tate from my unhappy Brother, and
took my Siſter to live with me. To
prevent, however, my Brother's
ſtarving in a Gaol, I allowed a Gui-
nea a Week to be paid him every
Monday, in ſuch a Manner, that it
was to ceaſe if he mortgaged it, or
took a Penny of it upon Credit be-
fore-
..
216
The TRAVELS of
fore-hand. I paid all his Debts,
and deſign to recover my Father's
Eſtate, with which pious Intention
I cloſe this Acount of my Voyage.
.
V
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BQQKS printed for F. and J, NOBLE.
30. Northern Memoirs ; or, The Hiſtory
of a Scotch Family, 2 Vol. 6 s. bound.
31. Roxana ; or, The Fortunate Miſtreſs,
38. bound.
32 Rival Mother; or, The Hiſtory of the
Cauntels de Salens, and her two Daughtets, p2
Vol 6 s. bound.
33. Suppoſed Daughter ; or, Innocent
Impoſtor. In which is compriſed the enter-
taining Memoirs of Two North-Country Fa-
milies of Diſtinction, in a Series of thirty
Years, 3 Vol. 9 s. bound.
34. True Merit, True Happineſs, exem
plihed in the entertaining and inſtructive Me-
moirs of Mr. S-2 Wol. os, bound.
35. Trial of the Lady Allurea Luxury, be.
fore the Lord Chief Juſtice Upright, on an In-
formation for a Confpiracy, I s. 6 d. ſewed.
In the Preſs, and ſpeedily will be publiſhed,
(In Two Volumes, Price 6 s. bound)
THE
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OF
Miſs SALLY SABLE.
N8728
0.74
UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
QUAERIS PENINSULAR AMENAMI
Buningles Lakery
Company
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08122
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SCIENTIA
LIBRARY VERITAS
OF THE
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CIRCUMSTIGE
CHARLES A. DENISON
B.L. 1893 LL.B. 1894
BEQUEST
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