The only Talk now in Town was our designed Journey to the Moon, for which a great many of the swiftest Flyers were inlifted with Promises of great Reward. Palanquins were made sharp at each End, to cut the Air; the warmest Mantles and Hoods were made for the Bearers, and the Projector's and my Palanquin were close, and lined with Down.
A Company was erected, Shares sold of the Treasure we were to bring back; and happy was he who could first subscribe. These Subscriptions were sold at 2000 per Cent. Advantage, and in less than two Months, the Time spent in preparing for our Journey, I saw at least Five Hundred Lacqueys, who had fallen into the Trade of buying and selling these Subscriptions in their gilt Palanquins, and Train of Servants after them. The Squabbaws, the Vultuaquilians, the Minister, and some of the Grand Council, shared amongst them Fifty Millions of Spasma's, ready Money, for what they sold of this chimerical Treasure.
This open'd my Eyes, and I found I had been very short-sighted, in condemning the Minister for giving Ear to a Project so contrary to Reason: But when I saw the noblest Families, and such whose Ruine was necessary to his own Support, sell their Estates to buy Shares, I look'd upon him as the wisest Minister in the known World; and was lost in Wonder, when I confider'd the Depth of his Designs.
I took the Liberty, once to mention my Astonishment to him, with all the Deference due to his exalted Quality, and with the Praises he justly deserved. He answer'd me, that he fear'd I saw farther than was either convenient, or safe for me, if my Taciturnity did not equal my Penetration. This he spoke in a Tone which gave me Apprehension of Danger; I threw my self at his Feet, and begg'd he would rather kill me, than suspect my Zeal for his Service; that what I had taken the Liberty of saying to his Excellency, I had never the Imprudence to mention to any other; and that I hop'd the Experience he had of me would assure him of my Secrecy. Learn, said he, that Ministers work like Moles, and it's as dangerous to shew them you can enter into their Views, as to attempt their Lives: I have a Confidence in you; but had any other held me the same Discourse, I would have put it out of his Power to have repeated it to a third Person.
[The Author begins his Journey to the MOON.]
LL things necessary being provided, and the Palanquins of Provisions being sent before to join us at the Mountain Tenera, I had an Audience of Leave of his Imperial Majesty and his Squabbaws; after which, I went to receive my last Instructions from his Excellency. He gave me a Paper, with Orders not to open it, till I was arrived at the Mountain, which was about a Thousand Miles from the City. He having wish'd me a good Journey, said he had given Orders to six lusty Cacklogallimans to obey those I should give them; that he depended on my Fidelity and Prudence, and therefore, as I would find, had reposed a great Trust in me. I made him a suitable Answer, and retired to my Apartment in the Palace, where I found the Projector, who told me we were to set out the next Morning before Day. I asked him, in Case we succeeded in our Journey, and found the Riches we coveted, how we should bring away any Quantity?
"If, said he, that happens, we shall, in a second Journey, be provided with Vehicles, if there is Occasion; but I propose to extract such a Quantity of the Soul of Gold, which I can infuse into Lead at our Return, that we may be rich enough to pave the Streets with that valuable Metal; for a Grain will, infused into Lead, make an Ounce of pure Gold. Now, if a Penny-weight of the Soul will make Twenty four Ounces, or Two Pound of Gold, consider what immense Treasure we may bring back with us, since the Palanquineers can fly with Five Hundred Weight in a Palanquin."