LIFE AND ADVENTURES
OF
PETER WILKINS.
A Cornish Man:
Relating particularly,
His Shipwreck near the South Pole; his wonderful Passage thro' asubterraneous Cavern into a kind of new World; his there meeting with aGawry or flying woman, whose Life he preserv'd, and afterwards marriedher; his extraordinary Conveyance to the Country of Glums and Gawrys, orMen and Women that fly. Likewise a Description of this strange Country,with the Laws, Customs, and Manners of its Inhabitants, and the Author'sremarkable Transactions among them.
Taken from his own Mouth, in his Passage to England from off Cape Hornin America, in the ship Hector,
With an INTRODUCTION, giving an Account of the surprizing Manner of hiscoming on board that Vessel, and his Death on his landing at Plymouth inthe Year 1739.
Illustrated with several Cuts, clearly and distinctly representing theStructure and Mechanism of the Wings of the Glums and Gawrys, and theManner in which they use them either to swim or fly.
To the Right Honourable
ELIZABETH,
Countess of Northumberland, Madam,
Few Authors, I believe, who write in my Way (whatever View they may setout with) can, in the Prosecution of their Works, forbear to dress theirfictitious Characters in the real Ornaments themselves have been mostdelighted with.
THIS, I confess, hath been my Case, in the Person of _Youwarkee_, inthe following Sheets; for having formed her Body, I found myself at aninexpressible Loss how to adorn her Mind in the masterly SentimentsI coveted to endue her with; 'till I recollected the most aim[i]ablePattern in your Ladyship; a single View of which, at a Time of theutmost fatigue to his Lordship, hath charmed my Imagination ever since.
If a Participater of the Cares of Life in general, alleviates theConcerns of Man; what an invaluable Blessing must that Lady prove, tothe Softness of whose Sex Nature hath conjoined an Aptitude for Council,an Application, Zeal, and Dispatch but too rarely found in his own!
Had my Situation in Life been so happy as to have presented me withOpportunities of more frequent and minuter Remarks upon your Ladyship'sConduct, I might have defy'd the whole _British_ Fair to have outshonemy southern Gawry: For if, to a majestic Form and extensive Capacity, Ihad been qualified to have copied that natural Sweetness of Disposition,that maternal Tenderness, that Cheerfulness, that Complacency,Condescension, Affability, and unaffected Benevolence, which soapparently distinguish the Countess of _Northumberland_; I had exhibitedin my _Youwarkee_ a Standard for future Generations.
Madam, I am the more sensible of my Speaking but the Truth from thelate Instance of your Benignity, which entitles me to the Honour ofsubscribing myself,
Madam, Your Ladyship's
most obliged and
most obedient Servant,
R. P.
Life And Adventures Of Peter Wilkins, Vol. I. (of II.) Page 2
