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a Monster, I confidered myfelf to be a perfect Stranger in the Country, and that fuch a Misfortune could never be charged upon me as a Reproach, if ever I should return to England; fince the King of Great-Britain himself, in my Condition, muft have undergone the same Distress.

My Mafter, pursuant to the Advice of his Friend, carried me in a Box the next Marketday to the neighbouring Town, and took along with him his little Daughter, my Nurse, upon a Pillion behind him. The Box was close on every Side, with a little Door for me to go in and out, and a few Gimlet-holes to let in Air. The Girl had been fo careful to put the Quilt of her Baby's Bed into it, for me to lie down on. However, I was terribly fhaken and difcompofed in this Journey, tho' it were but of half an Hour. For the Horfe went about forty Feet at every Step, and trotted fo high, that the Agitation was equal to the rifing and falling of a Ship in a great Storm, but much more frequent: Our Journey was fomewhat farther than from London to St. Alban's. My Mafter alighted at an Inn which he used to frequent ; and after confulting a while with the Innkeeper, and making fome neceffary Preparations, he hired the Grultrud or Crier to give Notice thro' the Town of a strange Creature to be seen at the Sign of the Green Eagle, not fo big as a Splacnuck (an Animal in that Country very finely shaped, about fix Feet long) and in every Part of the Body refembling an human Creature, could speak feveral Words, and perform an hundred diverting Tricks.

I was placed upon a Table in the largest Room of the Inn, which might be near three hundred Feet fquare. My little Nurfe ftood on a low Stool clofe to the Table, to take Care of me, and direct

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what I fhould do. My Mafter, to avoid a Croud, would fuffer only thirty People at a Time to fee me. I walked about on the Table as the Girl commanded: She asked me Queftions, as far as the knew my Understanding of the Language reached, and I answered them as loud as I could. I turned about feveral Times to the Company, paid my humble Refpects, faid they were welcome, and used fome other Speeches I had been taught. I took up a Thimble filled with Liquor, which Glumdalclitch had given me for a Cup, and drank their Health. I drew out my Hanger, and flourished with it after the Manner of Fencers in England. My Nurse gave me Part of a Straw, which I exercised as a Pike, having learned the Art in my Youth. I was that Day fhewn to twelve Setts of Company, and as often forced to go over again the fame Fopperies, till I was half dead with Wearinefs and Vexation. For those who had feen me made fuch wonderful Reports, that the People were ready to break down the Doors to come in. My Master, for his own Interest, would not fuffer any one to touch me except my Nurfe; and, to prevent Danger, Benches were fet round the Table at fuch a Distance as to put me out of every Body's Reach. However, an unluckly School-Boy aimed a Hazel-Nut directly at my Head, which very narrowly miffed me; otherwise, it came with fo much Violence that it would have infallibly knocked out my Brains, for it was almost as large as a small Pumpion: But I had the Satisfaction to fee the young Rogue well beaten, and turned out of the Room.

My Mafter gave public Notice, that he would fhew me again the next Market-Day, and in the mean Time he prepared a more convenient Vehicle for me, which he had Reason enough to do;

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for I was fo tired with my first Journey, and with entertaining Company for eight Hours together, that I could hardly ftand upon my Legs, or fpeak: a Word. It was at leaft three Days before I reco vered my Strength; and that I might have no Reft at Home, all the neighbouring Gentlemen from a hundred Miles round, hearing of my Fame, came to fee me at my Mafter's own Houfe. There could not be fewer than thirty Perfons with their Wives and Children (for the Country is very po-pulous ;) and my Mafter demanded the Rate of a full Room whenever he fhewed me at Home, al-' though it were only to a fingle Family: So that for fome Time I had but little Eafe every Day of the Week (except Wednesday, which is their Sabbath) although I were not carried to the Town.

My Mafter, finding how profitable I was like to be, refolved to carry me to the moft confiderable Cities of the Kingdom. Having therefore provided himself with all Things neceffary for a long Journey, and fettled his Affairs at Home, he took Leave of his Wife, and upon the 17th of Auguft 1703, about two Months after my Arrival, we fet out for the Metropolis, fituated near the Mid dle of that Empire, and about three thoufand Miles Distance from our Houfe: My Mafter made his Daughter Glumdalclitch ride behind him. She carried me on her Lap in a Box tied about her Wafte. The Girl had lined it on all Sides with the fofteft Cloth fhe could get, well quilted underneath, furnished it with her Baby's Bed, provided me with Linnen and other Neceffaries, and made every Thing as convenient as the could. We had no other Company but a Boy of the Houfe, who rode after us with the Luggage.

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My Mafter's Defign was to fhew me in all the Towns by the Way, and to ftep out of the Road for fifty or an hundred Miles, to any Village, or Perfon of Quality's Houfe, where he might expect Cuftom. We made eafy Journies of not above feven or eightfcore Miles a Day: For Glumdalclitch, on Purpofe to fpare me, complained the was tired with the Trotting of the Horfe. She often took me out of my Box, at my own Delire, to give me Air, and fhew me the Country, but always held me faft by a Leading ftring. We paffed over five or fix Rivers, many Degrees broader and deeper than the Nile, or the Ganges; and there was hardly a Rivulet fo fmall as the Thames at London-Bridge. We were ten Weeks in our Journey, and I was fhewn in eighteen large Towns, befides many Villages and private Families.

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On the 26th Day of October, we arrived at the Metropolis, called in their Language Lorbrulgrud, or Pride of the Universe. My Master took a Lodging in the principal Street of the City, not far from the Royal Palace, and put out Bills in the ufual Form, containing an exact Description of my Perfon and Parts. He hired a large Room, between three and four hundred Feet wide. He provided a Table fixty Feet in Diameter, upon which I was to act my Part, and pallifadoed it round three Feet from the Edge, and as many high, to prevent my falling over. I was fhewn ten Times a Day, to the Wonder and Satisfaction of all People. I could now fpeak the Language tolerably well, and perfectly understood every Word that was fpoken to me. Befides, I had learned their Alphabet, and could make a Shift to explain a Sentence here and there; for Glumdal

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clitch had been my Inftructor while we were at Home, and at leifure Hours during our Journey. She carried a little Book in her Pocket, not much larger than a Sanfon's Atlas; it was a common Treatife for the Ufe of young Girls, giving a short Account of their Religion; out of this she taught me my Letters, and interpreted the Words.

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The Author fent for to Court. The Queen buys him of his Mafter the Farmer, and prefents bim to the King. He difputes with his Majefty's great Scholars. An Apartment at Court provided for the Author. He is in high Favour with the Queen. He ftands up for the Honour of his own Country. His Quarrels with the Queen's Dwarf.

HE frequent Labours I underwent, every

Day, made in few Weeks a very confiderable Change in my Health: The more my Mafter got by me, the more infatiable he grew. I had quite loft my Stomach, and was almost reduced to a Skeleton. The Farmer observed it, and, concluding I muft foon die, refolved to make as good a Hand of me as he could. While he was thus reafoning and refolving with himself, a Slardral, or Gentleman-Ufher, came from Court, commanding my Mafter to carry me immediately thither, for the Diverfion of the Queen and her Ladies. Some of the latter had already been to fee me, and reported ftrange Things of my Beauty, Behaviour, and good Senfe. Her Majefty, and those who attended her, were beyond Meafure

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