n the Rhine, where he died February 19th, 1887.

MULTATULI'S LAST WORDS TO THE READER

From 'Max Havelaar'

Yes, I, Multatuli, "who have suffered much,"--I take the pen. I do not
make any excuses for the form of my book,--that form was thought proper
to obtain my object.... _I will be read!_ Yes, I will be read. I will be
read by statesmen who are obliged to pay attention to the signs of the
times; by men of letters, who must also look into the book of which so
many bad things are said; by merchants, who have an interest in the
coffee auctions; by lady's-maids, who read me for a few farthings; by
governors-general in retirement; by ministers who have something to do;
by the lackeys of these Excellencies; by mutes, who, _more majorum_,
will say that I attack God Almighty, when I attack only the god which
they made according to their own image; by the members of the
representative chambers, who must know what happens in the extensive
possessions over the sea which belong to Holland....

Ay, I _shall_ be read!

When I obtain this I shall be content, for I did not intend to write
well.... I wished to write so as to be heard; and as one who cries "Stop
thief!" does not care about the style of his _impromptu_ address to the
public, I too am indifferent to criticism of the manner in which I cried
_my_ "Stop thief!"

"The book is a medley; there is no order, nothing but a desire to make a
sensation. The style is bad; the author is inexperienced; no talent, no
method."

Good! good! ... all very well! ... _but the Javanese are ill-treated_.
For the merit of my book is this: that _refutation_ of its main features
is _impossible_. And the greater the disapprobation of my book the
better I shall be pleased, for the chance of being _heard_ will be so
much the greater;--and that is what I desire.

But you whom I dare to interrupt in your business or in your
retirement,--ye ministers and governors-general,--do not calculate too
much upon the inexperience of my pen. I could exercise it, and perhaps
by dint of some exertion, attain to that skill which would make the
truth heard by the people. Then I should ask of that people a place in
the representative chambers, were it only to protest against the
certificates which are given _vice versa_ by Indian functionaries.

To protest against the endless expeditions sent, and heroic deeds
performed against poor miserable creatures, whose ill treatment has
driven them to revolt