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strange if such writers as these should be found extremely
common； since nature hath been a most parsimonious distributor of
her richest talents； and hath seldom bestowed many on the same
person。 But； on the other hand； why there should scarce exist a
single writer of this kind worthy our regard； and； whilst there
is no other branch of history （for this is history） which hath
not exercised the greatest pens； why this alone should be
overlooked by all men of great genius and erudition； and
delivered up to the Goths and Vandals as their lawful property；
is altogether as difficult to determine。 And yet that this is
the case； with some very few exceptions； is most manifest。 Of
these I shall willingly admit Burnet and Addison； if the former
was not； perhaps； to be considered as a political essayist； and
the latter as a commentator on the classics； rather than as a
writer of travels； which last title； perhaps； they would both of
them have been least ambitious to affect。 Indeed； if these two
and two or three more should be removed from the mass； there
would remain such a heap of dullness behind； that the appellation
of voyage…writer would not appear very desirable。 I am not here
unapprised that old Homer himself is by some considered as a
voyage…writer； and； indeed； the beginning of his Odyssey may be
urged to countenance that opinion； which I shall not controvert。
But； whatever species of writing the Odyssey is of； it is surely
at the head of that species； as much as the Iliad is of another；
and so far the excellent Longinus would allow； I believe； at this day。
But； in reality； the Odyssey； the Telemachus； and all of that
kind； are to the voyage…writing I here intend； what romance is to
true history； the former being the confounder and corrupter of
the latter。 I am far from supposing that Homer； Hesiod； and the
other ancient poets and mythologists； had any settled design to
pervert and confuse the records of antiquity； but it is certain
they have effected it； and for my part I must confess I should
have honored and loved Homer more had he written a true history
of his own times in humble prose； than those noble poems that
have so justly collected the praise of all ages； for； though I
read these with more admiration and astonishment； I still read
Herodotus； Thucydides； and Xenophon with more amusement and more
satisfaction。 The original poets were not； however； without
excuse。 They found the limits of nature too straight for the
immensity of their genius； which they had not room to exert
without extending fact by fiction： and that especially at a time
when the manners of men were too simple to afford that variety
which they have since offered in vain to the choice of the
meanest writers。 In doing this they are again excusable for the
manner in which they have done it。
Ut speciosa dehine miracula promant。
They are not； indeed； so properly said to turn reality into
fiction； as fiction into reality。 Their paintings are so bold；
their colors so strong； that everything they touch seems to exist
in the very manner they represent it； their portraits are so
just； and their landscapes so beautiful； that we acknowledge the
strokes of nature in both； without inquiring whether Nature
herself； or her journeyman the poet； formed the first pattern of
the piece。 But other writers （I will put Pliny at their head）
have no such pretensions to indulgence； they lie for lying sake；
or in order insolently to impose the most monstrous
improbabilities and absurdities upon their readers on their own
authority； treating them as some fathers treat children； and as
other fathers do laymen； exacting their belief of whatever they
relate； on no other foundation than their own authority； without
ever taking the pains or adapting their lies to human credulity；
and of calculating them for the meridian of a common
understanding； but； with as much weakness as wickedness； and with
more impudence often than either； they assert facts contrary to
the honor of God； to the visible order of the creation； to the
known laws of nature； to the histories of former ages； and to the
experience of our own； and which no man can at once understand
and believe。 If it should be objected （and it can nowhere be
objected better than where I now write；＇12＇ as there is nowhere
more pomp of bigotry） that whole nations have been firm believers
in such most absurd suppositions； I reply； the fact is not true。
They have known nothing of the matter； and have believed they
knew not what。 It is； indeed； with me no matter of doubt but
that the pope and his clergy might teach any of those Christian
heterodoxies； the tenets of which are the most diametrically
opposite to their own； nay； all the doctrines of Zoroaster；
Confucius； and Mahomet； not only with certain and immediate
success； but without one Catholic in a thousand knowing he had
changed his religion。
＇12＇ At Lisbon。
What motive a man can have to sit down； and to draw forth a list
of stupid； senseless； incredible lies upon paper； would be
difficult to determine； did not Vanity present herself so
immediately as the adequate cause。 The vanity of knowing more
than other men is； perhaps； besides hunger； the only inducement
to writing； at least to publishing； at all。 Why then should not
the voyage…writer be inflamed with the glory of having seen what
no man ever did or will see but himself？ This is the true source
of the wonderful in the discourse and writings； and sometimes； I
believe； in the actions of men。 There is another fault； of a
kind directly opposite to this； to which these writers are
sometimes liable； when； instead of filling their pages with
monsters which nobody hath ever seen； and with adventures which
never have； nor could possibly have； happened to them； waste
their time and paper with recording things and facts of so common
a kind； that they challenge no other right of being remembered
than as they had the honor of having happened to the author； to
whom nothing seems trivial that in any manner happens to himself。
Of such consequence do his own actions appear to one of this
kind； that he would probably think himself guilty of infidelity
should he omit the minutest thing in the detail of his journal。
That the fact is true is sufficient to give it a place there；
without any consideration whether it is capable of pleasing or
surprising； of diverting or informing； the reader。 I have seen a
play （if I mistake not it is one of Mrs。 Behn's or of Mrs。
Centlivre's） where this vice in a voyage…writer is finely
ridiculed。 An ignorant pedant； to whose government； for I know
not what reason； the conduct of a young nobleman in his travels
is committed； and who is sent abroad to show my lord the world；
of which he knows nothing himself； before his departure from a
town； calls for his Journal to record the goodness of the wine
and tobacco； with other articles of the same importance； which
are to furnish the materials of a voyage at his return home。 The
humor； it is true； is here carried very far； and yet； perhaps；
very little beyond what is to be found in writers who profess no
intention of dealing in humor at all。 Of one or other； or both
of these kinds； are； I conceive； all that vast pile of books
which pass under the names of voyages； travels； adventures；
lives； memoirs； histories； etc。； some of which a single traveler
sends into the world in many volumes； and others are； by
judicious booksellers； collected into vast bodies in folio； and
inscribed with their own names； as if they were indeed their own
travels： thus unjustly attributing to themselves the merit of others。
Now； from both these faults we have endeavored to steer clear in
the following narrative； which； however the contrary may be
insinuated by ignorant； unlearned； and fresh…water critics； who
have never traveled either in books or ships； I do solemnly
declare doth； in my own impartial opinion； deviate less from
truth than any other voyage extant； my lord Anson's alone being；
perhaps； excepted。 Some few embellishments must be allowed to
every historian； for we are not to conceive that the speeches in
Livy； Sallust； or Thucydides； were literally spoken in the very
words in which we now read them。 It is sufficient that every
fact hath its foundation in truth； as I do seriously aver is the
ease in the ensuing pages； and when it is so； a good critic will
be so far from denying all kind of ornament of style or diction；
or even of circumstance； to his author； that he would be rather
sorry if he omitted it； for he could hence derive no other
advantage than the loss of an additional pleasure in the perusal。
Again； if any merely common incident should appear in this
journal； which will seldom I apprehend be the case； the candid
reader will easily perceive it is not introduced for its own
sake； but for some observation