XXX INTRODUCTION. 



nothing in 'em but what is civil ; and the good Repuhlich of 

 Letters, is not at all pleas'd with Reading such slandering 

 Ncivs. It w^ould be a strange Thing indeed, that the most 

 innocent and commendable Persons should be inevitably 

 expos'd to the Mercy of malicious Preachers and Journalists, 

 of the like Character, because their Satyrs generally go unpun- 

 ish'd. Some Reasons which are not necessary for me to explain 

 here, oblige me to say here in favour of Mr. Leguat, that 

 the Relation he has published, is faithful and triie ; as 

 reasonable Persons also agree that it contains many Circum- 

 stances which are very extraordinary and worth Relating ; I 

 am equally certain of both. The Objections that are made 

 against an Epitaph, and two other small Particulars of that 

 Nature, in his Book, are fit only to shew the Inconsideration 

 of those that make 'em, as well as their great Unkindness. 

 As it has often happen'd, that the Writer of the abovesaid 

 Nouvelles has ridicul'd some Books of which he has made 

 Extracts, so he took a Fancy (judging of others by himself) 

 that Mr. Leguat was pleased to play upon the Ahhot de 

 Choisy, in quoting some Words out of one of his Books. But 

 he ought not to give such a traducing Tarn to Mr. Leguat's 

 Conduct, which has been very innocent. I know upon his 

 secret and sincere Protestation, that he never had the least 

 Intention, in his mentioning the deserving Gentleman I just 

 now nam'd, to say any Thing that cou'd be taken in a disad- 

 vantageous Sense, and might derogate from the great Esteem 

 he has for him." 



Now, it is noticeable that Maximilien Misson does 

 not, in the above quoted extract, deny the author- 

 ship of Leguat's preface attributed to liim ; whereas 

 in a few pages afterwards he takes the trouble to 

 disclaim the authorship of another work fathered 

 upon him, although he acknowledges to some share 

 in its production : — 



" The Authors of the Journal of Trcvoux, have been mis- 



