affirm from the Principles of sound Philosophy, that when once out of the Reach of the magnetick Power of the Earth, we shall no longer gravitate, for what we call Gravity, is no other than Attraction, consequently we may repose our selves in the Air, if there is Occasion, which I believe there will not; for as we shall then have no Weight to exhaust the Spirits, there can be no Need of refreshing them either with Meat or Sleep.”

The Minister rose up, and said he was fully satisfied with his Answers; the only Thing gave him Uneasiness, was the Length of Time I said was requisite to make this Journey.

“My Lord, replied the Projector, I can’t agree that such a Time is necessary; for being above the Attraction of the Earth, which is the only laborious Part of our Passage, we may go with an inconceivable Swiftness, especially when we come within the Attraction of the Moon, which will certainly be encreas’d by the Weight of Provisions, which we shall by way of Precaution carry with us, and which will be no Burthen after we have pass’d the Atmosphere; so that what Weight a Thousand Cacklogallinians can hardly raise to that Heighth, one might support, the rest of the Journey.”

His Excellency perceiv’d by my Countenance I was not satisfied, and therefore bid me take Heart, he wou’d send a Number of Palanquins with us, and if we found the second Region impervious by Reason of the Cold, we shou’d have the Liberty to return.

The only Talk now in Town was our designed Journey to the Moon, for which a great many of the swiftest Flyers were 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.