Captain Samuel Brunt - A Voyage to Cacklogallinia
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Captain Samuel Brunt >> A Voyage to Cacklogallinia
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"There are a great many Mysteries in Religion, which, as we don't
know what to make of them, are altogether unnecessary, and ought to
be laid aside, as well as a great many Ceremonies, which ought to be
lopp'd off for being chargeable."
The rest gave their assenting Nod, and seem'd to wonder at, and applaud
his Eloquency. In a Moment, I saw him preaching to a Mobb against the
Luxury of the Age, and telling them it shew'd a Meanness of Spirit to
want Necessaries, while the Gentry, by force of long Usurpations on
their Rights, rioted in all manner of Excess. That Providence brought
none into the World that he might starve; but that all on Earth had a
Right to what was necessary to their Support, which they ought to sieze,
since the Rich refus'd to share with them. From a Preacher I saw him a
Captain of a Rabble, plundering the Houses of the Nobility, was terrible
to all; and tho' he declared for levelling, would be serv'd with the
Pomp and Delicacy of a Prince; marries his Daughters to Lords, hoards
an immense Treasure, and wakes from his golden Dream.
Another Shade I saw suborning Witnesses, giving them Instructions what
to swear, packing Juries, banishing, hanging and beheading all his
Enemies, sending immense Sums to foreign Courts, to support his Power at
Home, bribing Senates, and carrying all before him without Controul,
when he vanish'd. My _English_ Friend told me, that Soul belong'd to the
Body of a Money-Scrivener, who almost crack'd his Brain with Politicks,
and thought of nothing less than being a prime Minister. I knew him
while I was in the World; his whole Discourse always ran on Liberty,
Trade, Free Elections, _&c._ and constantly inveigh'd against all
corrupt and self-interested Practices. I saw Persons descended from the
ancient Nobility fawning on Valets who were arrived to great Preferment
for Pimping; I beheld others contriving Schemes, to bring their Wives
and Daughters into the Company of Persons in Power, and aiming to
gain Preferment for themselves, at the Expence of the Vertue of their
Families; nor was there a Vice, a Folly or a Baseness, practised in this
World below, tho' ever so secret, which I did not see there represented,
the Particulars of which being too long for this Place, I must beg Leave
to refer them to the Second Volume of my Voyages.
In the mean time I was allow'd a Week to satisfy my Curiosity, and make
my Observations on all the strange things which were there to be seen,
which I may justly reckon the most agreeable Part of my whole Life; and
also a further Time to refresh my self: Which being done, we prepared
for our Journey, being provided with all things necessary for that
Purpose.
As I found in my self that longing Desire (which is natural to all Men,
who have been long absent from Home) of returning to see my own Country;
and being besides unwilling to go back to _Cacklogallinia_, the Actions
and Designs of the first Minister, to which I was privy, having made
such Impressions upon me, that I was prejudic'd against their whole
Nation; nor was that Prejudice remov'd, by being acquainted with their
Laws, Customs and Manners, some of which appeared to me unreasonable,
and others barbarous.
I say, upon the aforesaid Considerations, I apply'd my self to some of
the _Selenites_, whose Courtesy I had already experienced, asking them,
whether they could direct me to find out some Part of the Terrestrial
World, known and frequented to by _Europeans_: They were so good to give
me full and plain Instructions what Course to steer thro' the Air for
that Purpose, which I was very well able to follow, having a Pocket
Compass about me, which I brought from _England_, it having long been
my Custom never to stir any where without one.
It being necessary to bring _Volatilio_ into the Design, I went to him
and told him, that as we were so unfortunate not to succeed in finding
out the Country of Gold, it would be adviseable to return home some
other Way, in hopes of better Success in going back; otherwise we might,
in all Probability, meet with a disagreeable Welcome from the Emperor
and the whole Court. _Volatilio_ hearken'd to these Reasons, and besides
having the true Spirit of a Projector in him, which is, not to be
discouraged at Disappointments, he consented to my Proposal.
Accordingly we set out, and after some Days travelling, we meeting with
little or nothing in our Journey differing from our former, we lighted
safely upon the _Blue Mountain_ in _Jamaica_. Here I was within my own
Knowledge; for having formerly made several Voyages to _Jamaica_, was no
Stranger to the Place.
Now therefore I thought it time to acquaint the _Cacklogallinians_
with the innocent Fraud I had put upon them; they seem'd frighted and
surprized, as not knowing how to get home to their own Country: For
_Volatilio_ apear'd to be quite out of his Element. However, I directed
them which Way to steer, which was directly Southward; and having rested
for some time, they took their Leave of me, and _Volatilio_, with his
_Palanquineers_, began their Flight, as I had directed them, and I never
saw them more.
As for my Part, I made the best of my Way to _Kingston_, where coming
acquainted with one Captain _Madden_, Commander of the _London Frigate_,
he was so kind, upon hearing my Story, to offer to give me my Passage
_gratis_, with whom having embark'd at _Port Royal_, I reach'd my native
Country, after a Passage of Nine Weeks.
_FINIS._
* * * * *
Thranscriber's note: The following corrections were made:
p. xi
retold by Firdausi in the _Shaknameh_, of Kavi Usan
_spelling as in original, but no comma_
p. 28
Latitude of ---- Degrees North
_original has blank space_
p. 73-77
He put several into my Hands _to end of chapter_
_original has entire text in one paragraph_
p. 75
is altogether vain
_original reads_ altoherget
p. 78
allured to...
_not an error_
p. 84
and new Disputes
_original reads_ and and new...
the poor Clergy (for they are not all rich,
_original reads_ are not all rich) _with extra parenthesis_
p. 87
It is, true there is a Council
_comma in original_
p. 119
Shares sold of the Treasure
_original reads_ Teasure
p. 135
Julip and Jonquil
_so in original_: Tulip?
p. 138 end
...and view the Country.
_original has comma at end of paragraph_
p. 144
Affiability and Gravity
_spelling as in original_
p. 147
I went with them...
_original has paragraph in quotation marks_
p. 151
I repeated...
_original has beginning of paragraph in quotation marks_
p. 152
...to assist me." He told me...
_original continues quotation marks to end of paragraph_
p. 158
Goal (twice)
_spelling as in original_ (Gaol)
p. 161
_Courvite_'s Regiment
_original has_ Reigment ]
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