inlifted with Promises of
great Reward. _Palanquins_ were made sharp at each End, to cut the Air;
the warmest Mantles and Hoods were made for the Bearers, and the
Projector's and my _Palanquin_ were close, and lined with
Down.

A Company was erected, Shares sold of the Treasure we were to bring
back; and happy was he who could first subscribe. These Subscriptions
were sold at 2000 _per Cent._ Advantage, and in less than two Months,
the Time spent in preparing for our Journey, I saw at least Five Hundred
Lacqueys, who had fallen into the Trade of buying and selling these
Subscriptions in their gilt _Palanquins_, and Train of Servants after
them. The _Squabbaws_, the _Vultuaquilians_, the Minister, and some of
the Grand Council, shared amongst them Fifty Millions of _Spasma_'s,
ready Money, for what they sold of this chimerical Treasure.

This open'd my Eyes, and I found I had been very short-sighted, in
condemning the Minister for giving Ear to a Project so contrary to
Reason: But when I saw the noblest Families, and such whose Ruine was
necessary to his own Support, sell their Estates to buy Shares, I look'd
upon him as the wisest Minister in the known World; and was lost in
Wonder, when I confider'd the Depth of his Designs.

I took the Liberty, once to mention my Astonishment to him, with all the
Deference due to his exalted Quality, and with the Praises he justly
deserved. He answer'd me, that he fear'd I saw farther than was either
convenient, or safe for me, if my Taciturnity did not equal my
Penetration. This he spoke in a Tone which gave me Apprehension of
Danger; I threw my self at his Feet, and begg'd he would rather kill me,
than suspect my Zeal for his Service; that what I had taken the Liberty
of saying to his Excellency, I had never the Imprudence to mention to
any other; and that I hop'd the Experience he had of me would assure him
of my Secrecy. _Learn_, said he, _that Ministers work like Moles, and
it's as dangerous to shew them you can enter into their Views, as to
attempt their Lives: I have a Confidence in you; but had any other held
me the same Discourse, I would have put it out of his Power to have
repeated it to a third Person._

The Author begins his Journey to the MOON.

All things necessary being provided, and the _Palanquins_ of Provisions
being sent before to join us at the Mountain _Tenera_, I had an Audience
of Leave of his Imperial Majesty and his _Squabbaws_; after which, I