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 went to receive my last Instructions from his Excellency.  He gave me a Paper, with Orders not to open it, till I was arrived at the Mountain, which was about a Thousand Miles from the City.  He having wish’d me a good Journey, said he had given Orders to six lusty Cacklogallimans to obey those I should give them; that he depended on my Fidelity and Prudence, and therefore, as I would find, had reposed a great Trust in me.  I made him a suitable Answer, and retired to my Apartment in the Palace, where I found the Projector, who told me we were to set out the next Morning before Day.  I asked him, in Case we succeeded in our Journey, and found the Riches we coveted, how we should bring away any Quantity?

“If, said he, that happens, we shall, in a second Journey, be provided with Vehicles, if there is Occasion; but I propose to extract such a Quantity of the Soul of Gold, which I can infuse into Lead at our Return, that we may be rich enough to pave the Streets with that valuable Metal; for a Grain will, infused into Lead, make an Ounce of pure Gold.  Now, if a Penny-weight of the Soul will make Twenty four Ounces, or Two Pound of Gold, consider what immense Treasure we may bring back with us, since the Palanquineers can fly with Five Hundred Weight in a Palanquin.”

The next Morning we set forward at about Three o’ Clock, and reach’d the Mountain in about Forty six Hours.  We first refresh’d our selves, and when I was alone, I open’d my Instructions, which ran thus: