 despised him for managing his Affairs no better, and
for setting so ill an Example to the Kingdom; which however was followed by very
few, such as were old and wilful, and weak like himself.
    We came at length to the House, which was indeed a noble Structure, built
according to the best Rules of ancient Architecture. The Fountains, Gardens,
Walks, Avenues, and Groves were all disposed with exact Judgment and Taste. I
gave due Praises to every Thing I saw, whereof his Excellency took not the least
Notice till after Supper; when, there being no third Companion, he told me with
a very melancholy Air, that he doubted he must throw down his Houses in Town and
Country, to rebuild them after the present Mode; destroy all his Plantations,
and cast others into such a Form as modern Usage required; and give the same
Directions to all his Tenants, unless he would submit to incur the Censure of
Pride, Singularity, Affectation, Ignorance, Caprice; and perhaps encrease his
Majesty's Displeasure.
    That the Admiration I appeared to be under, would cease or diminish when he
had informed me of some Particulars, which probably I never heard of at Court,
the People there being too much taken up in their own Speculations, to have
Regard to what passed here below.
    The Sum of his Discourse was to this Effect. That about Forty Years ago,
certain Persons went up to Laputa, either upon Business or Diversion; and after
five Months Continuance, came back with a very little Smattering in
Mathematicks, but full of Volatile Spirits acquired in that Airy Region. That
these Persons upon their Return, began to dislike the Management of every Thing
below; and fell into Schemes of putting all Arts, Sciences, Languages, and
Mechanicks upon a new Foot. To this End they procured a Royal Patent for
erecting an Academy of PROJECTORS in Lagado: And the Humour prevailed so
strongly among the People, that there is not a Town of any Consequence in the
Kingdom without such an Academy. In these Colleges, the Professors contrive new
Rules and Methods of Agriculture and Building, and new Instruments and Tools for
all Trades and Manufactures, whereby, as they undertake, one Man shall do the
Work of Ten; a Palace may be built in a Week, of Materials so durable as to last
for ever without repairing. All the Fruits of the Earth shall come to Maturity
at whatever Season we think fit to chuse, and increase an Hundred Fold more than
they do at present; with innumerable other happy Proposals. The only
Inconvenience is, that none of these
