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Chapter I

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 September 2021

David Womersley
Affiliation:
University of Oxford
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Summary

The Author giveth some Account of himself and Family; his first Inducements to travel. He is shipwrecked, and swims for his Life; gets safe on shoar in the Country of Lilliput; is made a Prisoner, and carried up the Country .

My Father had a small Estate in Nottinghamshire; I was the Third of five Sons. He sent me to Emanuel-College in Cambridge, at Fourteen Years old, where I resided three Years, and applied my self close to my Studies: But the Charge ofmaintaining me (although I had a very scanty Allowance) being too great for a narrow Fortune; I was bound Apprentice toMr. James Bates, an eminent Surgeon in London, with whom I continued four Years; and my Father now and then sending me small Sums of Money, I laid them out in learning Navigation, and other Parts of the Mathematicks, useful to those who intend to travel, as I always believed it would be some time or other my Fortune to do. When I left Mr. Bates, I went down to my Father; where, by the Assistance of him and my Uncle John, and some other Relations, I got Forty Pounds, and a Promise of Thirty Pounds a Year to maintain me at Leyden: There I studied Physick two Years and seven Months, knowing it would be useful in long Voyages.

Soon after my Return from Leyden, I was recommended by my good MasterMr. Bates, to be Surgeon to the Swallow, Captain Abraham Pannell Commander; with whom I continued three Years and a half, making a Voyage or two into the Levant, and some other Parts. When I came back, I resolved to settle in London, to which Mr. Bates, myMaster, encouraged me; and by him I was recommended to several Patients. I took Part of a small House in the Old Jury; and being advised to alter my Condition, I married Mrs. Mary Burton, second Daughter to Mr. Edmond Burton, Hosier, in Newgate-street, with whom I received fourHundred Pounds for a Portion.

But, my good Master Bates dying in two Years after, and I having few Friends, my Business began to fail; for my Conscience would not suffer me to imitate the bad Practice of too many among my Brethren. Having therefore consulted with my Wife, and some of my Acquaintance, I determined to go again to Sea.

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Gulliver's Travels , pp. 29 - 42
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2012

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  • Chapter I
  • Jonathan Swift
  • Edited by David Womersley, University of Oxford
  • Book: Gulliver's Travels
  • Online publication: 02 September 2021
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781139029087.008
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  • Chapter I
  • Jonathan Swift
  • Edited by David Womersley, University of Oxford
  • Book: Gulliver's Travels
  • Online publication: 02 September 2021
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781139029087.008
Available formats
×

Save book to Google Drive

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Google Drive.

  • Chapter I
  • Jonathan Swift
  • Edited by David Womersley, University of Oxford
  • Book: Gulliver's Travels
  • Online publication: 02 September 2021
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781139029087.008
Available formats
×