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Page 32
On the seventh Day, the Messenger return'd with Credentials for
_Volatilio_ and my self, to the Potentate in whose Dominions we might
happen, and Orders to proceed on our Journey. This Messenger told me,
that on the Contents of my Letter being publish'd, the Town was
illuminated throughout, and such a Number of Coaches and _Palanquins_
bespoke, that he believed, at our Return, we should find none out of
them but the Ostriches. Our Credentials ran thus.
"HIPPOMENE-CONNUFERENTO, Emperor and absolute Monarch of the greatest
Empire in the Terrestrial Globe, Disposer of Kingdoms, Judge of
Kings, Dispenser of Justice, Light of the World, Joy of the Sun,
Darling of Mortals, Scourge of Tyrants, and Refuge of the Distress'd,
to the Puissant Monarch of that Kingdom in the Moon, to which our
Ambassadors shall arrive: Or, To the Mighty and Sole Lord of that
beautiful Planet, sends Greeting.
"Dearly Beloved Brother, and most Mighty Prince, as it has been long
doubted by our Ancestors, as well as by those of our Time, whether
the Moon were, or were not inhabited, We, who have ever encouraged
those who seek the universal Good of Mortals, supposing it possible,
if that Planet were possess'd by such, that an Intercourse between
the two Worlds might be of mutual Advantage to both, have sent our
two Ambassadors, _Volatilio_ and _Probusomo_, to attempt a Passage
to your World, and to assure you, if they succeed, of the great
Desire we have of entertaining with you a reciprocal Friendship, of
giving all possible Demonstrations of our Affection, and to invite
you to send to our World your Ambassadors, with whom we may consult
our common Interest. So recommending ours to your Protection, we
heartily bid you farewell.
"Given at our Court, _&c._"
According to the Orders we receiv'd, _Volatilio_ took his Flight in an
oblique Ascent, without a _Palanquin_, but wrapt up as warm as possible,
accompanied by two Servants. He parted with great Alacrity, and we soon
lost Sight of him. Some Half a Score, in Complaisance, took a Flight of
three Hours to see him part of his Way towards his Discovery.
He went off at break of Day, to avoid those Vapours which the Heat of
the Sun exhales, and which by Night would have rendered his Passage, he
thought, impossible; for he hoped, in a small Space to gain beyond the
Heighth they rise to. At the Return of those who convoy'd him, I sent
away an Express, to acquaint the Emperor with their Report, which was,
That they found no sensible Alteration as to the Rarefaction of the Air,
and that the Cold was rather less intense. This News at Court made every
one run mad after Shares, which the Proprietors sold at what Rate they
pleas'd.
The next Day in the Even, we saw _Volatilio_ on his Return: His first
Salutation was,
Courage my Friend, I have pas'd the Atmosphere, and, by Experience,
have found my Conjecture true; for being out of the magnetick Power
of the Earth, we rested in the Air, as on the solid Earth, and in an
Air extreamly temperate, and less subtle than what we breathe.
I sent again this Account to Court, but the Courtiers having no more
Shares to sell, gave out, that _Volatilio_ did not return as he
promis'd, and it was expected, that I despair'd of the Undertaking,
and believ'd him lost.
This was such a Damp to the Town; that Shares fell to Half Value, and
none of the Courtiers would buy, sell they cou'd not, having (I mean
those let into the Secret) already dispos'd of all by their Agents, tho'
they pretended the contrary.
The Express return'd, with private Orders for me to confirm this Report,
which I was oblig'd to do, and stay eight Days longer, as the publick
Instructions to us both commanded.
This was a great Mortification to _Volatilio_, and, I own, the Report he
made had rais'd my Curiosity so much, that I was uneasy at this Delay;
but we were to obey, and not to enquire into the Reasons of
it.
The Messenger returning, told me, that my last Letter had fallen the
Shares to five _per Cent._ under _Par_, nothing but Lamentations eccho'd
thro' the Streets, and it was impossible to give an Idea of the Change
it had occasion'd. The Letter the Minister sent me order'd me to write
him Word, that _Volatilio_ was returned, had found no Obstacles, and
that I was preparing to depart. That the Court had bought up a vast
Number of Shares, and that he took Care of my Interest in particular;
that I need stay for no farther Instructions, but make the best of my
Way.
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