_These are the_ TRAVELS _you heard so much talk of, and was so
desirous to see. By what Chance the Manuscript fell into my
Hands, I will let you know another time: As soon as I had dipp'd
into it, I could not help reading it from the Beginning to the
End, and found so many curious and important Passages in it, and
so many instructive Dissertations on several Points of
Philosophy, as gave me abundant Satisfaction. Many of my Friends,
Men of excellent Sense and Learning, have express'd equal
Approbation of it, so that I dare say, Sir, you will read it with
the same Pleasure._
_I own to you that at the first Reading I suspected the Author
had taken a Traveller's Privilege of mixing a little Romance in
his Relation; but when I perus'd it again, and consider'd it a
little more particularly, I found nothing in it but what was very
natural, and highly probable. And that Air of Candour and
Simplicity we meet with every where in the honest old Gentleman
the Author, has fully convinc'd me._
_There are Passages indeed, in certain Conversations upon Points
of Religion, which, at first, a little shock'd me, but upon a
closer Examination, and finding that the Author, who always was a
great Champion for his own Religion, has generally expos'd their
Weakness or Falshood, I thought there was nothing in it that
could startle a Man well instructed in the Christian Faith,
which, God be prais'd, is too well establish'd to fear any thing
from the Attacks of Libertines or Infidels: Consequently, we have
no need to have recourse to mean Artifices for concealing the
force of the Arguments made use of against us, as if we had a bad
Cause to defend._
_I am, &._