The life of John Buncle: Esq; containing various observations and reflections, made in several parts of the world; and many extraordinary relations.

A PREFACE By WAY of DEDICATION.

GENTLEMEN,

THIS book is not addressed to you, in order to ask your protection for its faults; or in hopes, that such valuable names at the head of it, may pre∣serve it. Things in print must stand by their own worth. But it is offered to you, to let the world see I had that confidence in the goodness of my design in writing it, as to sub∣mit it to such great and impartial judges; and that I believe you will report your opinion in such a manner, as to procure me the esteem of the virtuous; when you find that my principal intention in this piece, is to serve the interests of truth, liberty, and religion, and to advance useful learning, to the best of my abilities: — that I have the happiness of mankind at heart, and attempt, in a hi∣storical manner, to encrease their know∣ledge in general; and in particular, to lead them to a pious contemplation and acknow∣ledgment of God's unspeakable wisdom and goodness manifested in the works of the crea∣tion; — shew them the truth of the testi∣mony

of Jesus Christ concerning a divine providence, immortality, and a future state; and that as virtue advances and improves, human felicity augments, and becomes a sure prognostick of that fulness of bliss, which men of goodness and integrity are to enjoy, without interruption, frailty, and infirmity, in an unchangeable and everlasting life. This was my scheme. These things I had princi∣pally in view, when, to vindicate my cha∣racter from misrepresentation and idle stories, and to illustrate my memoirs of several ladies of Great-Britain, I sat down to write a true history of my life and notions. You will see at once, gentlemen, that this is the la∣bored part of my work. Were I able to write so as to persuade even a few to alter their way of living, and employ their time for the future, in forming and training up their moral powers to perfection, I should think myself more fortunate and glorious than the greatest genius in the temple of Fame. Indeed, gentlemen, fame or name, in this world, is not the thing I think of. Non est mortale quod opto, I can say with Lactantius: and were it within my power to choose, sure I am, that I would be for ever unknown. But that was impossible. In justice to myself, as before observed, and that tradition might not hand me down, when I

am gone, in that variety of bad and foolish characters, which a malice, that knows no∣thing of me, whispers while I am living; it was necessary I should tell my own story. The relation was likewise requisite, to ren∣der the memoirs before mentioned intelligi∣ble. The volumes of that work, which are to be published, would be quite dark, and not so grateful as intended, without a pre∣vious account of the author's life.

This, gentlemen, is the truth of the case, and as I say as little of myself, in my rela∣tion, as I can; and as much for true religion and useful learning, as I was able, I hope, from your rectitude and judgment, that you will get me a fair hearing; and I call upon you as my patrons, and the friends to learn∣ing and truth, for your approbation of my good and pious intentions, tho' you should not be able to say one word of any excel∣lencies in my writings. This is all I ask. As I wish well to your cause, the cause of virtue and letters, and have chiefly endeavoured, according to my abilities, to make my readers acquainted with the majesty of the Deity, and his kingdom, and the great∣ness of his excellency, before whom all the in∣habitants of the earth, all powers and prin∣cipalities, are as nothing; I hope you will, in return, favour me with your best wishes.

As to some strange things you will find in the following journal; and a life, in various

particulars, quite contrary to the common course of action, I can assure you, gentle∣men, in respect of the strange things, that however wonderful they may appear to you, yet they are; exclusive of a few decorations and figures, (necessary in all works), strictly true: and as to the difference of my life, from that of the generality of men, let it only be considered, that I was born in Lon∣don, and carried an infant to Ireland, where I learned the Irish language, and became inti∣mately acquainted with its original inhabitants: — that I was not only a lover of books from the time I could spell them to this hour; but read with an extraordinary pleasure, before I was twenty, the works of several of the fathers, and all the old romances; which tinged my ideas with a certain piety and extravagance, that rendered my virtues as well as my im∣perfections particularly mine: — that by hard measure, I was compelled to be an ad∣venturer, when very young, and had not a friend in the universe but what I could make by good fortune, and my own address: — that my wandering life, wrong conduct, and the iniquity of my kind, with a passion for extraordinary things and places, brought me into several great distresses; and that I had quicker and more wonderful deliverances from them than people in tribulation gene∣rally receive: — that the dull, the formal, and the visionary, the hard-honest man, and

the poor-liver, are a people I have had no connexion with; but have always kept com∣pany with the polite, the generous, the live∣ly, the rational, and the brightest freethinkers of this age: — that beside all this, I was in the days of my youth, one of the most ac∣tive men in the world, at every exercise; and to a degree of rashness, often venturous, when there was no necessity for running any hazards: in diebus illis, I have descended head-foremost from a high cliff into the ocean, to swim, when I could, and ought, to have gone off a rock not a yard from the surface of the deep. — I have swam near a mile and a half out in the sea, to a ship that lay off, went on board, got clothes from the mate of the vessel, and proceeded with them to the next port; while my companion I left on the beach concluded me drowned, and related my sad fate in the town.—I have taken a cool thrust over a bottle, without the least animosity on either side; but both of us depending on our skill in the small sword, for preservation from mischief. — Such things as these I now call wrong, and mention them only as samples of a rashness I was once subject to, as an opportunity happened to come in the way. Let all these things be taken into the account, and I imagine, gentlemen, that what may at first sight seem strange, and next to incredible, will, on considering these particulars, not

long remain so, in your opinion; though you may think the relator an odd man. As to that, I have nothing to say. And if oddness consists in spirit, free∣dom of thought, and a zeal for the di∣vine unity; in a taste for what is natural, antique, romantic, and wild; in honouring women, who are admirable for goodness, letters, and arts; and in thinking, after all the scenes I have gone through, that every thing here is vanity; except that virtue and charity, which gives us a right to expect beyond the grave; and procures us, in this world, the direction of infinite wisdom, the protection of infinite power, and the friend∣ship of infinite goodness; — then, may it be written on my stone,—Here lies an odd man.

Thus much, gentlemen, I thought proper to say to you, that by being acquainted with the particulars relative to the com∣plexion, and design of the author, you might the easier and the better compre∣hend the various things you will find in the work he dedicates to you.

I have only to add, that I wish you all happiness; that your heads may lack no ointment, and your garments be always white and odoriferous: but especially, may you press on, like true critics, towards perfection; and may bliss, glory, and ho∣nour, be your reward and your Por∣tion.

Barbican, Aug. 1. 1756.