A Trip to the Moon

Front matter

A

TRIP

TO THE

Preface

THE

PREFACE.

IAM not ignorant to what Danger Treatises of this Nature are liable, on account of a Mistake that prevails among the more ignorant Sort, who deny the Transmigration of an Inhabitant of one Planet to another, as firmly as they deny the Transmigration of Souls from one Body to another, But tho' I do not take upon me to defend the latter, since I dare not pretend to argue better than Pythagoras has done, yet I hold the former, and bring the most convincing Argument for it, Experience. I went, I saw, I return'd; I ventur'd my Life many Times for the Information of my Countrymen, who, I hope, will shortly by their own Ingenuity, confirm what I have said. There is one Objection against this Piece, which I think ought to be remov'd. It may be said, that the Author never has been in the Moon, since he relates very little, but what is observable among us, for he talks of Plays, Coffee-Houses, Balls, Ladies, Teas Intriguing, Pythagoreans, and other Things, which may be easily apply'd to our selves, and are in Use among us. To this I answer,

First, That to condemn a Man without sufficient Evidence, is contrary to our Irish Statutes, neither can suck Evidence be had, till some Body arrives from the Moon, who I am sure will bear Witness to all I have set down.

Secondly, The Similitude of Manners is but a weak Objection. Does not every Body know that Nature in all her Works delights in Uniformity? Why then may not the Inhabitants of our secondary Planet be like us in their Behaviour? I doubt not, but if I had seen more of them I should have been able to describe Persons like some of our Neighbours. As to what is said concerning Government, let none misapply it: I had sworn Allegiance to King George the First of glorious Memory, before my Departure, and was always firmly attach'd to the Hanoverian Succession, against the base Pretensions of a cowardly, spurious, Popish Pretender; besides, a monarchical Government can never be applied with the the least probability to the Crown of Great Britain. In the next Place, let me make some Apology for endeavouring to account for some Things in an uncommon Manner.

The best Philosophers have been famous for their own Conjectures, some of which I have follow'd, and made bold to add my own, where they were not very positive. Other Accounts I have related according to the receiv'd Doctrine of the Moon, for which I am oblig'd to my dear Friend Tckbrff.

What has been said, may suffice to vindicate me from such Aspersions as evil-minded Persons may cast upon me, who look no higher than their own native Earth. It remains that I address my self to those of a more generous Disposition, who I hope will excuse small Faults, and impute them rather to my Ignorance, than to any design of imposing on the Publick.

Chapter I.

A

Trip to the Moon, &c.

CHAP. I.

Containing an Account of the Authors Design to travel. His going to Sea. His Arrival at Teneriffe. His Ascent to the Peak. His being taken up by a Whirlwind. The Manner of his Journey towards the Moon. Some Reflections made by the Way. His Arrival at the Moon, and what happened thereupon.

TO satisfy a violent Inclination which I always had to see foreign Countries, and being incapacitated by my Circumstances to travel barely for the Improvement of my Mind, I thought it most adviseable to turn Sailor; and in pursuance to my Design, I bound my self to one James Anderson, Master of the Runner, a Vessel of about 75 Tun, (tho' the Custom-house had it but 70) belonging to Dublin, in the Year 1718. This I did against the Will of my Mother, my Father being dead a little before, of which I have many Times since repented, and observ'd, that those who will not be directed by their Parents, meet with ill Success in their Undertakings.

On the 6th of June 1718, we set sail for the Canaries, being loaden with Beef, Butter, Cheese, Candles and Soap, and in a few Hours got clear of the Land. But here I cannot but mention the sad Condition my Mother was in at our parting; she accompanied me to the Side of the Vessel, and there, with abundance of Tears, represented to me the Dangers of the Sea; but finding it was too late to detain me, she swoon'd in my Arms. I then began to wish my self free, and could not forbear shedding some Tears. The Captain who was present at this Interview, being afraid my Mother's Tears would move him so much as to part with me, like a good Man that wou'd avoid Temptation, went down to his Cabbin, and gave Orders to bring me aboard by force. His Orders were obey'd, and my Mother was left as dead upon the Shore. I had no sooner got aboard, but I was set about some of the hardest Work of the Ship, and was comforted by being told it would make me forget my Mother. This I bore very patiently, having no Body to accuse but my self for my Sufferings. The Reader must excuse me if in this Voyage I do not give him an Account of our Courses, since I being unacquainted with sailing, and fully griev'd for my Mother, did not much mind them.

On the 12th of August following, we arriv'd at Teneriffe, being driven thither by stress of Weather, for our Design was to land at Palma, to take in Sugar; we got into Santa Cruz Bay, which is to the North East of the land, and rode in 17 Fathom of Water. The Storm continued for some Days after we had providentially cast Anchor; during which Time, my Curiosity and Rashness prompted me to ascend the Peak.

My Conversation with Sailors, and their Reports, had given me such strange and pleasing Ideas of remote Countries, during my stay in Dublin, especially of Teneriffe, (altho' they vary'd a little in their Computations; and many, I am persuaded, have affirm'd that they have been at the Top of the Mountain, when they never were within 1000 Leagues of the Island) that I resolv'd to be an Eye-witness of what T had heard.

The next Morning, I began to prepare for my intended Journey, just as the Sun was above the Horizon. I hasten'd Breakfast as much as I cou'd, and after I shifted my self I begg'd the Assistance of two of the Sailors to set me on Shore, which I obtain'd, on Condition that I wou'd divide whatever I got, with them. I consented and was set on Shore.

I was no sooner landed, than I began seriously to reflect on my folly, (then not hearing the Noise of the Seamen, or Curses of my Master) I remember'd my Mothers warnings, but above all her swooning: My Master's fair Promises before I was his Servant, and his hard Usage after, which made me often wish my self at home, and reckon my Stripes as my Deserts. I went on thus melancholy, till I perceiv'd my self to ascend the Hill, and then I bent my self wholly upon confirming what I had heard; but to my great surprize, I found scarce one Word I had heard to be true, except that the Mountain is very high. It is certain that it is very large too, and that many may have ascended it; but then they may have ascended by different Ways, and some may have met with more inequalities in their ascent than others, which may have occasion'd a Difference in their Accounts of its Height. I was wholly unprovided with Instruments to take its Altitude, having brought nothing along with me, but a Bottle of Brandy, a Piece of Cheese, and a few Biscuits. I only observ'd, that I was 56 times weary in my ascent; by which given Number, if my Health and habit of Body were now the same, I could easily find out the Number sought for, viz. the Height of it. For by going up and down any Mountain of a moderate Height, till I was 56 times weary, and by finding out a mean Proportional between ascending and descending, and by making allowances for Trips and Stumbles, and the Storm, I humbly conceive, an ordinary Mathematician may measure the Height of the Peak of Teneriffe.

With much difficulty I got within sight of the Top of the Mountain, (I mean so as to see every Part of it distinctly) where I sat down to refresh my self. I pull'd out a Biscuit and held it in my left Hand, whilst I employ'd my right in searching for my Cheese; but the Wind was so violent that it blow'd away half my Biscuit as if it had been a Wafer, which oblig'd me to hold my Head between my Legs, while I Eat what I thought proper; but I am not certain to this Day, whether the Biscuit was crack'd or not. At length I arriv'd at the very Summit of the Mountain, where I was oblig'd to discharge by Vomiting what I had lately eaten, that purer Air being very disagreeable to my gross Constitution; this made me think very meanly of my self, who in my own Country was constantly complaining of close and foggy Weather; when I found that such a Place was no more fit for me to breathe in, than Heaven is for habitual Sinners, if they might be permitted to go there without Repentance.

Whilst I was thus meditating on my own corrupt Nature, a sudden Whirlwind came, that rais'd me from the Place I stood on; I suppose, that by Vomiting, (for it was very violent) I had increas'd the bulk of my Body, by the swelling of its Parts in my convulsive Motions; so that it then became equal to more columns of Air than it was equal to before my Vomiting; besides it was become lighter by the discharge I had made, which might alone produce what follow'd. For since we know that Vessels at a Key float or lye adrift as the Tide comes in, or goes out, and learned Men have given us this Reason for it, viz. That at high Water, the subjacent columns of Water are greater, or at least equal to the Bulk and Weight of the Vessel, and at low Water the contrary; it follows, that there must be a certain quantity of Water, less than which wou'd not be able to sustain a Body of a certain Weight and Magnitude. This may be easily apply'd, by considering that Air and Water are both Fluids, and differ only in their Density, and some other Properties which I have no occasion to mention; so that it is probable in the last Degree, that my Body became then so proportionate to the subjacent columns of Air, that it easily sustain'd me. Or admitting, not granting, that this will not clearly account for it, I can yet have recourse to the Storm, which was then the Occasion of the continued Motion of my Body. But leaving such Disquisitions to the Learned, and confessing my own Weakness in attempting any thing of this Kind, I shall proceed to relate what happen'd in my Voyage to the Moon, (for so I may call it) having already hinted at the Analogy between Air and Water. After I had been rais'd from the Mountain, I was carried at such a rate for a while, that I almost lost my Breath; but the Force of the Whirlwind gradually abating, my Passage became more easy, till I came to a Place of Resting. This was a Space between the Vortices of the Earth and Moon, where the Attraction of neither prevail'd, but the contrary Motions of their Effluvia destroy'd one another.

Here I began to look about me, and deplore my Condition; I feared that when my Provision was consum'd, (for that I happen'd to have kept, being better secur'd than my Hat, which had been blown away,) I must inevitably die with Hunger, tho' I were secure from being crush'd by filling to either of the Planets: But my Pride soon prevail'd over this desponding Humour, when I consider'd my Circumstances in another light. I began to think I was too good for the Society of Mortals, which Opinion I was encourag'd in, by calling to mind every Action which I thought shou'd be rewarded, throwing the bad Ones entirely out of the Account: So that I now fancied my self made a Star, and that as my Body was to give Light to Men's Eyes, so my Actions which I accounted good, were to be set as an Example they shou'd imi- tate. And altho' upon surveying my self, I found nothing Luminous about me, yet I was persuaded those on Earth wou'd think otherwise, and that I was render'd incapable of perceiving it my self at that Time, lest being conscious of it I shou'd become too haughty and unfit for that exalted Station. But then I began to consider, whether I might not derive the Light which I thought I gave from the Sun, and by the Motion of my Arms, and flowing of my Hair, be taken for a Comet. But this I rejected as erroneous, and wou'd not be oblig'd to the Sun for his Rays, so that I resolved to be independent, and model my Course by my own Reason. This I instantly set about, and resolving to be singular, and make People gaze at me, I intended to move from S. S. E. to N. N. W. and to perform but one Revolution in a royal Period, whether it happened to be long or short, so that I might be consulted about the Fate of a King, tho' I knew nothing of the Matter.

Pleas'd with those imaginary Prospects, and being well rested, I began to stir, and put my Projects in Execution; but this I found so difficult by means of the contrary Attractions, that my former desponding Humour return'd with an addition of Malice and Envy. I saw that I must Die, and perhaps never be heard of if I continued where I was, so that I strove with all my might, to throw my self back to the Earth, hoping I might kill some Body by my Fall, whose Friends wou'd spread abroad my Fame, tho' ignorant of my Intentions. To compass this, after much Labour, I remov'd my self somewhat farther from the Verge of the Earth's Atmosphere, intending to fall with the greater Rapidity, and bring certain Death to any Mortal I shou'd chance to light on. But this I shou'd never have any hopes of obtaining, had it not been that a Cloud full of Hail was driven towards me by the Whirlwind. I laid hold on the Opportunity, and putting both my Hands against it, by all Strength, I caus'd it to re-act upon me as much as I acted upon it, so that I was quickly remov'd into the Sphere of the Moons Attraction, more than I intended; for two thirds of my Body being attracted by the Moon, the rest soon follow'd, so that I was carried with incredible swiftness, which still increas'd in my fall towards that Planet.

It was my good Fortune to fall into a Fish-pond, which our sharp-sighted Philosophers mistake for a Part of the Sea, and call it Sinus Rorum; but I hope they will not be so bold as to deny what I say, since they all confess that they never were there. It is call'd in the Language of the Moon Brugg-Quqns because it belongs to the King of Quqns. By good Fortune the King's Fisherman was angling for the Diversion of some of the Court, when I fell into the Pond, and the hook which was tied to his Line, got into one of my Button-holes, so that he was oblig'd either to draw me out, tho' my Fall had terribly affrighted them, or lose his Rod, which wou'd have been punish'd with Death, for there they are oblig'd to perform whatever they undertake, be it never so difficult.

Chapter II.

CHAP. II.

Containing an Account of the People's Care of him. His Surprize upon his Recovery. His manner of Learning their Language in a Night's time, with an Account for it.

W and dirty as I was, and Dead in all outward Appearance, he drew me out of the Pond to the Amazement of all that saw me. I was carried to the King's great Hall to be consulted on, and expos'd to publick View. All that saw me believ'd me to be a Land Animal, and that some Bird of Prey had dropt me, being tir'd with my weight; but their chief concern was to bring me to life, which was soon effected, by a few Herbs which they pounded, pouring the juice of them down my Throat, and applying the Leaves by way of Poultice to my Posteriors. It may seem a little strange, that those Herbs shou'd be so powerful; but if we consider that the Moon has an Influence upon the Plants of the Earth, whence they derive their medicinal Qualities, it follows that the nearer any Plant is to that Body, it possesses those qualities in a more eminent Degree, and consequently that those which grow upon it must excel all others. The Fright I was in upon my first opening my Eyes, had like to deprive me utterly of that Life which they were so sollicitous to preserve; and I will leave it to any Man's own Breast, whether he wou'd not be terrified as much as I was, to find himself among such a Set of Animals as I am going to describe, without knowing how he was introduced to such Company. The Assembly was made up of Brutes and half Brutes, there were Bears, Wolves, Tygers, Foxes, Monkeys, Cats and Dogs, &c. and those of several Kinds, with certain other Animals, very like the Pictures which I have seen of Beasts, in the East and West-Indies; others had only one or more Members of Beasts; but what amaz'd me most of all was, that those Brutes walk'd upright and spoke, which I am sure was enough to terrifie any Man that has liv'd since Æsops Days. The first I took notice of, was a Wolf, that held me by the Wrist; I apprehended that he wou'd instantly devour me, upon the Notice which I thought he had of an Earthy Smell about me, by the extraordinary fineness of his olfactory Nerves, whence he might judge me to be Dead; for I mistook the Poultice in my Breeches for something more offensive; but I afterwards understood, that he was only an eminent Physician, that had not always good Success, and was then feeling my Pulse. I found my self very weak, and was for taking a Dram, for I had still kept my Bottle, but my Doctor Wolf hindred me, alledging as I understood after, that my Distemper was not yet come to its Crisis. He was of Opinion, that the Humours of the Body insist as much upon Liberty and Pro- perty, and are as sensible of an Affront as an Englishman, and that Distempers arise only from their striving to keep out Strangers; besides, the animal Spirits are design'd for a Standing Army to suppress Riots, and assist the weak Proprietor; but considering the great waste I had made of them, and that Brandy was a spirituous Liquor, he fear'd that a Dram wou'd be too powerful an Enemy for what was left of my animal Spirits, and that the Conflict wou'd end in my Destruction.

I was forc'd to submit to his Judgment without knowing at that time his Reasons, and was convey'd by a couple of Mastiffs in the Ticking of a Bolster, which they had emptied for that purpose, to a convenient Apartment. The Room where I was laid, was order'd to be kept dark 'till I cou'd learn their Language; and a Gentleman with an Ass's Head, appointed to instruct me. The Method which he took for my Improvement, was to make me repeat after him the Names of those Things I seem'd to have occasion for, and 'till I had done so, I was sure not to get the use of them. I improv'd daily to his great Satisfaction, 'till I thought I was able to walk abroad; but not knowing how to express my self to him so as to be understood, or why my Chamber was continually darken'd, I ventur'd to get up once before him, and grope for my Cloaths; but he imagining that I wanted the Chamber-Pot, brought it to me with great speed, crying out Lmldnse, which was the Name of it, that I might repeat it after him; but I was so provok'd at his Mistake, that I only answer'd in plain English B—d and W—ds; he thinking that I strove to repeat Lmldnse, when I curs'd and swore, and finding that I did not do it, imputed it to some Defect in my Tongue; upon which he instantly left me to go and advise with his Brethren. Not finding my Cloaths, I was oblig'd to lie down again, full of Indignation, and resolv'd rather to starve my self, than live as I had done much longer. But my Tutor soon return'd with a couple of Mules, who were to assist him in the splitting of my Tongue with a Silver Three-pence. One of the Mules approach'd me with a Candle and a Three-penny Piece, whilst the other secur'd my Hands, and my Tutor offer'd to open my Mouth, often repeating Lmldnse. I thought at first they had design'd the Three-penny Piece for the same Use to me that Demosthenes made of Pebbles, 'till they began to proceed to the Operation. My Tutor had made me roar so much, and become so uneasy, by an immoderate Expansion of my Jaws, that I happily put out the Candle, which gave me some respite, and frustrated their Intentions; for we were no sooner in the Dark, and that I was left to my self, whilst the others were employ'd in lighting the Candle, and getting Ropes to tie me, than I rose to put my self in a posture of Defence, suspecting their Intentions, from the Usage I remember'd to have seen Magpies meet with in my own Country. But they return'd before I cou'd find any thing which I thought proper for my Defence, so that I resolved to repeat whatever they said as distinctly as I cou'd, hoping by that means to preserve my Tongue, which succeeded as I cou'd wish. For my Tutor, upon his Entry, was discoursing very seriously with a young Man whom he brought to assist him, and among other Words, often mentioned Lmldnse, which I repeated very distinctly. The whole Company turn'd their Eyes upon my Tutor, who, appearing surpriz'd, left the Room. I ran to the young Man, whom I had not seen before, and by many obliging Gestures prevail'd upon him to stay with me. They observ'd my Fondness for him, and thought him to be the most roper Person to instruct me. Tckbrff, for that was his Name, accepted of the Office, and to my great Satisfaction, in a short Time, made me fit for Conversation. He was one that had been a Brute, but by applying to Learning, and considering his Folly, he recover'd his human Shape; he was generally de- spis'd by all Beasts, and by some reputed to be a Conjurer, since there were Beasts that affirm'd themselves to be more virtuous than him, yet were in no likelihood of recovering their human Form. He did not much mind their Aspersions, but employ'd himself chiefly in reclaiming such as he found most tractable. He observ'd that I was one of good natural Parts, and might probably arrive at Knowledge by shorter Methods than had been us'd with his Countrymen. The first Tryal which he made of me, was to make me perfect Master of their Language; and this he effected in a Night's Time, after the manner I shall relate. He took a large and correct Dictionary, and minc'd the Leaves of it; those he put into an Earthen Vessel half full of Water, and cover'd it so close that no Air could come into it; he plac'd the Vessel, with its upper Part parallel to the Horizon, upon a gentle Fire, where he let it remain thirty-nine Minutes. The Air which was inclos'd in the Vessel, being put into a violent Motion by the Heat of the Fire, together with the Motion of the Water, soon reduc'd the minc'd Leaves to a Consistence of Jelly. The Vessel had been cover'd so closely, to hinder any of the Letters from being carried off in Vapours, and that the Air in the upper part of the Vessel might act with the greater Force. He then set it by to cool, before he ventur'd to uncover it; and when it was perfectly cold, gave it to me to eat for Sowins with White-wine and Sugar. This serv'd me for Supper, and I was order'd to sleep as soon as I had taken it; he wou'd not leave me that Night, but watch'd me as I slept, and assur'd me in the Morning, that he was wonderfully delighted to hear me break Wind in my Sleep; sometimes with all the force of Rhetorick, sometimes in the Tone of a Grammarian.

When I awoke, I receiv'd a particular Account of what he had done, and thank'd him with all imaginable Expressions of Gratitude. But I was very desirous to know whether the Mules intended to slit my Tongue or not, or if they did, what cou'd be their reason for it; to which I receiv'd this Answer: That I might observe, that in their Language four or more Consonants were often join'd in one Word without a Vowel intervening, and consequently requir'd a greater Volubility of Tongue than other Languages where the Case is otherwise, that Member being chiefly employ'd in the Pronunciation of Consonants; And in order to my more speedy and better learning their Language, it was thought advisable to divide my Tongue, that I might be able to pronounce two Consonants at once, since I had not been accustom'd to it from my Infancy; and that my former Tutor, mistaking my Meaning, (as I had inform'd him) had persuaded some as ignorant as himself to consent to the Proposal.

Chapter III.

CHAP. III.

Containing an Account of his being sent for by the King. His Discourse with Tckbrff about the King. His Manner of approaching him. Some Observations on bis Courtiers. His Approach to him. His escaping being put to death; and what Discourse he had with Tckbrff about the People of his own Country, and the People of the Moon.

T King upon notice of my Recovery, gave Orders that I shou'd be brought before him; upon which I desir'd the Advice of Tckbrff: He told me first that the King, who was an absolute Monarch, was an ambitious Tyrant, he was one that never troubled himself about the Good of his People; but if ever their Interest interfered with his even unlawful Diversions, it was entirely neglected; he was a great Lover of Pleasure, and of every thing that was new, which he was pleas'd to call polite Learning, (tho' he was often fond of, and encourag'd the greatest Absurdities); an Instance of which he gave me, in the Preferment of one to great Posts of Trust, who had only propos'd to make the Rays of Light palpable to the Hands; out of which, when his Design was perfected, he intended that an Apartment for the King shou'd be built; and altho' the failing in a Project was to be punish'd with Death, where the Projectors were such Fools as to confess their Disappointment, yet this Man requir'd such a long Time, and so great Expences, that he was sure to outlive his Proposals. He had, however, amus'd the King with an odd Account of the Means he wou'd make use of, and made them so unintelligible by the help of the Mathematicks, that he was believ'd to mean honestly, and a Pension was settled on him for effecting his Design. The Rays of Light were to be let into a dark Room, one by one, thro' Holes equal to their Bulk, which he affirmed he was well acquainted with. Here was a Mathematical Demonstration of an Hour long, which I omit for the Reader's sake. They were then to be refracted ninety-nine times by passing thro' different Mediums, which wou'd weaken their Force so much, that they might be at length fix'd in a Liquor which he had prepar'd for that purpose; and when the vacant Interstices of the Liquor were fill'd with them, (for he asserted that there was a Vacuum) by Chymical Operations, he wou'd gather them into Vessels to be reserv'd, till he got enough of all Colours for erecting the Building. The Cement which he propos'd for them, was Cartesius's subtle Matter, which might be gather'd by Sheets daub'd with a bituminous Substance, compounded of the Effluvia of certain Bodies, whose Virtues he was well acquainted with. Those Sheets were to be hung in the open Air till the subtle Matter had cover'd them; then they were to be boil'd in Vessels hermetically seal'd 'till the subtle Matter had stuck to the Tops of them, whence it might be taken and laid by for use. This short Account he gave of one among the many famous Men who were then at Court.