[As given in the original edition.]
The author of these Travels, Mr. Lemuel Gulliver,
is my ancient and intimate friend; there is likewise
some relation between us on the mother’s side.
About three years ago, Mr. Gulliver growing weary
of the concourse of curious people coming to him at
his house in Redriff, made a small purchase of land,
with a convenient house, near Newark, in Nottinghamshire,
his native country; where he now lives retired, yet
in good esteem among his neighbours.
Although Mr. Gulliver was born in Nottinghamshire,
where his father dwelt, yet I have heard him say his
family came from Oxfordshire; to confirm which, I
have observed in the churchyard at Banbury in that
county, several tombs and monuments of the Gullivers.
Before he quitted Redriff, he left the custody of
the following papers in my hands, with the liberty
to dispose of them as I should think fit. I
have carefully perused them three times. The
style is very plain and simple; and the only fault
I find is, that the author, after the manner of travellers,
is a little too circumstantial. There is an
air of truth apparent through the whole; and indeed
the author was so distinguished for his veracity,
that it became a sort of proverb among his neighbours
at Redriff, when any one affirmed a thing, to say,
it was as true as if Mr. Gulliver had spoken it.
By the advice of several worthy persons, to whom,
with the author’s permission, I communicated
these papers, I now venture to send them into the
world, hoping they may be, at least for some time,
a better entertainment to our young noblemen, than
the common scribbles of politics and party.
This volume would have been at least twice as large,
if I had not made bold to strike out innumerable passages
relating to the winds and tides, as well as to the
variations and bearings in the several voyages, together
with the minute descriptions of the management of
the ship in storms, in the style of sailors; likewise
the account of longitudes and latitudes; wherein I
have reason to apprehend, that Mr. Gulliver may be
a little dissatisfied. But I was resolved to
fit the work as much as possible to the general capacity
of readers. However, if my own ignorance in
sea affairs shall have led me to commit some mistakes,
I alone am answerable for them. And if any traveller
hath a curiosity to see the whole work at large, as
it came from the hands of the author, I will be ready
to gratify him.
As for any further particulars relating to the author,
the reader will receive satisfaction from the first
pages of the book.
Richard Sympson.
WRITTEN IN THE YEAR 1727.
