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A Project for the Universal Benefit of Mankind
The author, having laboured so long and done so much to serve and
instruct the public, without any advantage to himself, has at last
thought of a project which will tend to the great benefit of all
mankind, and produce a handsome revenue to the author. He intends
to print by subscription, in ninety-six large volumes in folio, an
exact description of Terra Australis incognita, collected with great
care, and prints from 999 learned and pious authors of undoubted
veracity. The whole work, illustrated with maps and cuts agreeable
to the subject, and done by the best masters, will cost but one
guinea each volume to subscribers, one guinea to be paid in advance,
and afterwards a guinea on receiving each volume, except the last.
This work will be of great use for all men, and necessary for all
families, because it contains exact accounts of all the provinces,
colonies, and mansions of that spacious country, where, by a general
doom, all transgressors of the law are to be transported; and every
one having this work may choose out the fittest and best place for
himself, there being enough for all, so as every one shall be fully
satisfied.
The author supposes that one copy of this work will be bought at the
public charge, or out of the parish rates, for every parish church
in the three kingdoms, and in all the dominions thereunto belonging.
And that every family that can command 10 pounds per annum, even
though retrenched from less necessary expenses, will subscribe for
one. He does not think of giving out above nine volumes nearly; and
considering the number requisite, he intends to print at least
100,000 for the first edition. He is to print proposals against
next term, with a specimen, and a curious map of the capital city
with its twelve gates, from a known author, who took an exact survey
of it in a dream. Considering the great care and pains of the
author, and the usefulness of the work, he hopes every one will be
ready, for their own good as well as his, to contribute cheerfully
to it, and not grudge him the profit he may have by it, especially
if he comes to a third or fourth edition, as he expects it will very
soon.
He doubts not but it will be translated into foreign languages by
most nations of Europe, as well as Asia and Africa, being of as
great use to all those nations as to his own; for this reason he
designs to procure patents and privileges for securing the whole
benefit to himself from all those different princes and states, and
hopes to see many millions of this great work printed in those
different countries and languages before his death.
After this business is pretty well established, he has promised to
put a friend on another project almost as good as this, by
establishing insurance offices everywhere for securing people from
shipwreck and several other accidents in their voyage to this
country; and these officers shall furnish, at a certain rate, pilots
well versed in the route, and that know all the rocks, shelves,
quicksands, &c., that such pilgrims and travellers may be exposed
to. Of these he knows a great number ready instructed in most
countries; but the whole scheme of this matter he is to draw up at
large and communicate to his friend.
Content of A Project for the Universal Benefit of Mankind [Jonathan Swift's ebook: A Tale of a Tub]
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