 destroyed, their Princes tortured to discover their Gold; a free
Licence given to all Acts of Inhumanity and Lust; the Earth reeking with the
Blood of its Inhabitants: And this execrable Crew of Butchers employed in so
pious an Expedition, is a modern Colony sent to convert and civilize an
idolatrous and barbarous People.
    But this Description, I confess, doth by no means affect the British Nation,
who may be an Example to the whole World for their Wisdom, Care, and Justice in
planting Colonies; their liberal Endowments for the Advancement of Religion and
Learning; their Choice of devout and able Pastors to propagate Christianity;
their Caution in stocking their Provinces with People of sober Lives and
Conversations from this the Mother Kingdom; their strict Regard to the
Distribution of Justice, in supplying the Civil Administration through all their
Colonies with Officers of the greatest Abilities, utter Strangers to Corruption:
And to crown all, by sending the most vigilant and virtuous Governors, who have
no other Views than the Happiness of the People over whom they preside, and the
Honour of the King their Master.
    But, as those Countries which I have described do not appear to have a
Desire of being conquered, and enslaved, murdered or driven out by Colonies; nor
abound either in Gold, Silver, Sugar or Tobacco; I did humbly conceive they were
by no Means proper Objects of our Zeal, our Valour, or our Interest. However, if
those whom it more concerns, think fit to be of another Opinion, I am ready to
depose, when I shall be lawfully called, That no European did ever visit these
Countries before me. I mean, if the Inhabitants ought to be believed.
    But, as to the Formality of taking Possession in my Sovereign's Name, it
never came once into my Thoughts; and if it had, yet as my Affairs then stood, I
should perhaps in point of Prudence and Self-Preservation, have put it off to a
better Opportunity.
    Having thus answered the only Objection that can be raised against me as a
Traveller; I here take a final Leave of my Courteous Readers, and return to
enjoy my own Speculations in my little Garden at Redriff; to apply those
excellent Lessons of Virtue which I learned among the Houyhnhnms; to instruct
the Yahoos of my own Family as far as I shall find them docible Animals; to
behold my Figure often in a Glass, and thus if possible habituate my self by
Time to tolerate the Sight of a human Creature: To lament the Brutality of
Houyhnhnms in my own Country, but always treat their Persons with Respect, for
