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not choose to attend to； a note towards the end of the book
attributing certain of the letters to the author of the preface；
the attribution being accompanied by an agreeably warm and
sisterly denunciation of those who ascribed to Fielding matter
unworthy of him。 From these the letter which I have chosen；
describing a row on the Thames； seems to me not only
characteristic； but； like all this miscellaneous work；
interesting no less for its weakness than for its strength。 In
hardly any other instance known to me can we trace so clearly the
influence of a suitable medium and form on the genius of the
artist。 There are some writersDryden is perhaps the greatest
of themto whom form and medium seem almost indifferent； their
all…round craftsmanship being such that they can turn any kind
and every style to their purpose。 There are others； of whom I
think our present author is the chief； who are never really at
home but in one kind。 In Fielding's case that kind was narrative
of a peculiar sort； half…sentimental； half…satirical； and almost
wholly sympatheticnarrative which has the singular gift of
portraying the liveliest character and yet of admitting the
widest disgression and soliloquy。
Until comparatively late in his too short life； when he found
this special path of his （and it is impossible to say whether the
actual finding was in the case of Jonathan or in the case of
Joseph）； he did but flounder and slip。 When he had found it； and
was content to walk in it； he strode with as sure and steady a
step as any other； even the greatest； of those who carry and hand
on the torch of literature through the ages。 But it is
impossible to derive full satisfaction from his feats in this
part of the race without some notion of his performances
elsewhere； and I believe that such a notion will be supplied to
the readers of his novels by the following volumes； in a very
large number of cases； for the first time。
THE JOURNAL OF A VOYAGE TO LISBON
DEDICATION TO THE PUBLIC
Your candor is desired on the perusal of the following sheets； as
they are the product of a genius that has long been your delight
and entertainment。 It must be acknowledged that a lamp almost
burnt out does not give so steady and uniform a light as when it
blazes in its full vigor； but yet it is well known that by its
wavering； as if struggling against its own dissolution； it
sometimes darts a ray as bright as ever。 In like manner； a
strong and lively genius will； in its last struggles； sometimes
mount aloft； and throw forth the most striking marks of its
original luster。
Wherever these are to be found； do you； the genuine patrons of
extraordinary capacities； be as liberal in your applauses of him
who is now no more as you were of him whilst he was yet amongst
you。 And； on the other hand； if in this little work there should
appear any traces of a weakened and decayed life； let your own
imaginations place before your eyes a true picture in that of a
hand trembling in almost its latest hour； of a body emaciated
with pains； yet struggling for your entertainment； and let this
affecting picture open each tender heart； and call forth a
melting tear； to blot out whatever failings may be found in a
work begun in pain； and finished almost at the same period with
life。 It was thought proper by the friends of the deceased that
this little piece should come into your hands as it came from the
hands of the author； it being judged that you would be better
pleased to have an opportunity of observing the faintest traces
of a genius you have long admired； than have it patched by a
different hand； by which means the marks of its true author might
have been effaced。 That the success of the last written； though
first published； volume of the author's posthumous pieces may be
attended with some convenience to those innocents he hath left
behind； will no doubt be a motive to encourage its circulation
through the kingdom； which will engage every future genius to
exert itself for your pleasure。 The principles and spirit which
breathe in every line of the small fragment begun in answer to
Lord Bolingbroke will unquestionably be a sufficient apology for
its publication； although vital strength was wanting to finish a
work so happily begun and so well designed。 PREFACE THERE would
not； perhaps； be a more pleasant or profitable study； among those
which have their principal end in amusement； than that of travels
or voyages； if they were wrote as they might be and ought to be；
with a joint view to the entertainment and information of
mankind。 If the conversation of travelers be so eagerly sought
after as it is； we may believe their books will be still more
agreeable company； as they will in general be more instructive
and more entertaining。 But when I say the conversation of
travelers is usually so welcome； I must be understood to mean
that only of such as have had good sense enough to apply their
peregrinations to a proper use； so as to acquire from them a real
and valuable knowledge of men and things； both which are best
known by comparison。 If the customs and manners of men were
everywhere the same； there would be no office so dull as that of
a traveler； for the difference of hills； valleys； rivers； in
short； the various views of which we may see the face of the
earth； would scarce afford him a pleasure worthy of his labor；
and surely it would give him very little opportunity of
communicating any kind of entertainment or improvement to others。
To make a traveler an agreeable companion to a man of sense； it
is necessary； not only that he should have seen much； but that he
should have overlooked much of what he hath seen。 Nature is not；
any more than a great genius； always admirable in her
productions； and therefore the traveler； who may be called her
commentator； should not expect to find everywhere subjects worthy
of his notice。 It is certain； indeed； that one may be guilty of
omission； as well as of the opposite extreme； but a fault on that
side will be more easily pardoned； as it is better to be hungry
than surfeited； and to miss your dessert at the table of a man
whose gardens abound with the choicest fruits； than to have your
taste affronted with every sort of trash that can be picked up at
the green…stall or the wheel…barrow。 If we should carry on the
analogy between the traveler and the commentator； it is
impossible to keep one's eye a moment off from the laborious
much…read doctor Zachary Gray； of whose redundant notes on
Hudibras I shall only say that it is； I am confident； the single
book extant in which above five hundred authors are quoted； not
one of which could be found in the collection of the late doctor Mead。
As there are few things which a traveler is to record； there are
fewer on which he is to offer his observations： this is the
office of the reader； and it is so pleasant a one； that he seldom
chooses to have it taken from him； under the pretense of lending
him assistance。 Some occasions； indeed； there are； when proper
observations are pertinent； and others when they are necessary；
but good sense alone must point them out。 I shall lay down only
one general rule； which I believe to be of universal truth
between relator and hearer； as it is between author and reader；
this is； that the latter never forgive any observation of the
former which doth not convey some knowledge that they are
sensible they could not possibly have attained of themselves。
But all his pains in collecting knowledge； all his judgment in
selecting； and all his art in communicating it； will not suffice；
unless he can make himself； in some degree； an agreeable as well
as an instructive companion。 The highest instruction we can
derive from the tedious tale of a dull fellow scarce ever pays us
for our attention。 There is nothing； I think； half so valuable
as knowledge； and yet there is nothing which men will give
themselves so little trouble to attain； unless it be； perhaps；
that lowest degree of it which is the object of curiosity； and
which hath therefore that active passion constantly employed in
its service。 This； indeed； it is in the power of every traveler
to gratify； but it is the leading principle in weak minds only。
To render his relation agreeable to the man of sense； it is
therefore necessary that the voyager should possess several
eminent and rare talents； so rare indeed； that it is almost
wonderful to see them ever united in the same person。 And if all
these talents must concur in the relator； they are certainly in a
more eminent degree necessary to the writer； for here the
narration admits of higher ornaments of style； and every fact and
sentiment offers itself to the fullest and most deliberate
examination。 It would appear； therefore； I think； somewhat
strange if such writers as these should be found extremely
c