IV PREFACE. 



du6llons, which for a time were applauded and admired; 

 and which, notwithftanding, have ferved rather to mii- 

 leac}^ than to inftrudi: men's minds, by a djfplay of fpe- 

 cious falfhoods, highly acceptable to fuch as read 

 merely for amufement. But thefe authors of marvel- 

 . lous, and very often incredible relations ; of ftrange 

 and fiirprizing adventures ^ thefe pompous defcribers 

 of wonderful curiolities, which men of more penetra- 

 tion, but of founder judgements, could never after- 

 wards, though purfuing the fame routes with their ut- 

 mofl: diligence^ difcover; cjuickly loft that credit, 

 which novelty alone gave them ; and, being once ex- 

 ploded by fenfibie judges, gradually funk, firft into the 

 contempt, and then into the oblivion, they deferved. 



These books, however, are thus far ufeful, that they 

 ferve to give us a clearer idea of our wants, and a more 

 juft notion, than perhaps we could otherwife obtain, of 

 the qualities requifite to render voyages and travels 

 truly worthy of efteem. They demonftrate very ful- 

 ly, that, in the firft place, it is of great confequence, to 

 know the charafters of the authors we perufe, that we 

 rnay judge of the credit that is due to their reports ^ 

 and this as v/ell in point of abilities, as of veracity ; 

 for many writers impofe on the world, not through any 

 evil intention of deceiving others, but becaufe they 

 have been deceived themfelves. They relate falfhoods^ 

 but they believe them : we cannot therefore juftly ac- 

 cufe them of want of candour; the fault properly to 

 be laid to their charge, is credulity. We are moft in 

 danger of fiifFering by thofe authors, who have either 

 lived in, or pafTed through countries, that are rarely 

 vifited, and into which few are permitted to come. 

 This protedls their miftakes for a great length of time ; 

 and we know that prefcription is a fortrefs in which 

 error often holds out a long fiege. There cannot 

 therefore be a more acceptable tribute, offered to the 

 republic of letters^ than voyages or travels, compofed 



I 



