Transactions which happened in the Great Island,
called, _Atalantis Major_, a famous well known Island, tho' much
farther North, lying in the _Ducaledonian_ Ocean, which Island it was
my good Fortune to winter at, the last time I returned North about from
_China_, by the Streights of _Nassau_ and _Wygates_, and the Eastern
Coast of _Grand Tartary_.

I have nothing to do to enquire, whether our late Authors mistook or
not, in placing the Island _Atalantis_ in the _Mediterranean_ Sea, or,
whether they might find some small Island of that Name among the
infinite Crowd of Islands of the _Egean_ Sea: But as the mighty
Transactions of which my History shall be the faithful Relator, are of
too great Consequence in the World to be brought forth on so mean a
Stage; so the Place, and the mighty People, and by whom this Revolution
of Affairs have been mannaged, are all suitable to the Greatness and
Glory of the Actions themselves.

As Geographers have no doubt given a full Description of this famous
Island, and allowed it due Place in the Globes, where it stands noted
for the biggest of the Kind in the Northern World, I need spend none of
your Time in the Description of the Place, excepting such as shall fall
naturally in my Way, as I come to treat of the People, and historically
of their Behaviour.

The Island is possest by a brave, generous, powerful and wealthy
Nation, truly Great in their natural Gallantry of Spirit, terrible in
the Field, rich in the Product of their Lands, more in their general
Commerce, most of all in their Manufactures, Industry and Application:
They have some few Errors in their Conduct, which seems owing to the
Climate, which is cold and moist, or to their Diet, which is strong and
luxurious, and particularly to their way of Living, which in Eating and
Drinking, is high, to an Excess.

This makes them Cholerick, Envious, and above all Contentious, so that
the Nation is ever divided into Parties and Factions: They pursue their
Feuds with the most eagerness imaginable in their Turns, commit all
Kinds of Errors even on both Sides alternately, as they get uppermost.

This occasions much Heat, tho' the Country is Cold, little Charity, and
above all, (which the Climate has the blame off) they are by their own
Confession, of short Memories, partly as to Injuries, but especially as
to Kindnesses, Services and inherent Merit. Hence, Gratitude is not the
national Virtue, nor is encouraging Virtue any Branch o