Ixxxviii author's preface. 



Providence that conducted me safely thro' so many Dangers, 

 and has happily transported me from my Desart Isles, to 

 this vast Powerful and Glorious Island of Great Britain, 

 where the charity of the Generous Inhabitants has held out 

 its Hand to me, and fix'd my Pepose as much as it can be 

 fix'd in this lower World.^ 



1 This preface, according to Jacqiirs Bernard, the successor of Bayle, 

 was not written by Leguat, but by JNIaximilien Misson. See Intro- 

 duction and Notice by M. Th. Sauzier therein quoted. 



Frederic Augusta Gabillon, to whom President Bouhier (quoted by 

 M. Eyries) attributes this volume, was born at Paris in the 17th 

 century. After completing his studies, he joined the religious order of 

 the Theatins, but soon repenting of the sacrifice of his liberty, he left 

 their convent and fled to Holland, where he shortly after openly 

 abjured his vows and professed the reformed religion. Being without 

 resources, he worked at compilations for booksellers, but getting into 

 debt, he went over to England, and took the name of Jean Leclerc, a 

 well-known publicist of Holland, thereby imposing on various persons 

 of distinction. The end of the adventurer's career is not very certain 

 according to Moreri's Dictionary. It is, therefore, possible that this 

 refugee was employed by Leguat as an amanuensis or copyist, but 

 there is little doubt that M. Bernard was right, and the President 

 Bouhier wrong in his surmise. Let the reader only comi^are Leguat's 

 preface with that of Misson's Neiv Voyage to Italy (fourth edition), 

 and he cannot fail to be convinced of the identity of the original 

 author. Take, for instance, the first paragraph as to the uses of 

 Prefaces in general. Misson begins: — " Joseph Pamelius, an Ingenious 

 Man, has composed some Dialogues, in one of which he declaims 

 mightily against* Prefaces in general ; but particularly against those 



who make 'em " This opening, the tirade against false 



Voyages, and his excuses for publishing his book, have a most won- 

 derful similarity of language and reasoning with the earlier portions of 

 the preface to Leguat's book. 



* That is to say : Prefaces are useless to those only tuho never read 

 'em ; and are resolv'd to stand fast in their Reproaches and Prejudices. 

 It is in vain to speak to the Deaf or write to the Blind. 



