t, that my ministers, and even myself, were universally
pasquinadoed; lampoons, satires, ridicule, and insult, were showered
upon the name of Munchausen wherever it was mentioned; and in fine,
there never was a government so much detested, or with such little
reason.

In this dilemma I had recourse to the advice of my noble friend Hilaro
Frosticos. In his good sense I now expected some resource, for the rest
of the council, who had advised me to the former method, had given but
a poor specimen of their abilities and discernment, or I should have
succeeded more happily. In short, he addressed himself to me and to the
council as follows:--

"It is in vain, most noble Munchausen, that your Excellency endeavours
to compel or force these people to a life to which they have never been
accustomed. In vain do you tell them that apple-pies, pudding, roast
beef, minced pies, or tarts, are delicious, that sugar is sweet, that
wine is exquisite. Alas! they cannot, they will not comprehend what
deliciousness is, what sweetness, or what the flavour of the grape. And
even if they were convinced of the superior excellence of your way of
life, never, never would they be persuaded; and that if for no other
reason, but because force or persuasion is employed to induce them to
it. Abandon that idea for the present, and let us try another method. My
opinion, therefore, is, that we should at once cease all endeavours to
compel or persuade them. But let us, if possible, procure a quantity of
_fudge_ from England, and carelessly scatter it over all the country;
and from this disposal of matters I presume--nay, I have a moral
certainty, that we shall reclaim this people from horror and barbarity."

Had this been proposed at any other time, it would have been violently
opposed in the council; but now, when every other attempt had failed,
when there seemed no other resource, the majority willingly submitted to
they knew not what, for they absolutely had no idea of the manner,
the possibilities of success, or how they could bring matters to bear.
However, 'twas a scheme, and as such they submitted. For my part, I
listened with ecstasy to the words of Hilaro Frosticos, for I knew that
he had a most singular knowledge of human kind, and could humour and
persuade them on to their own happiness and universal good. Therefore,
according to the advice of Hilaro, I despatched a balloon with four men
over the desert to the Cape of Good Hope, with letters