Polyphilus

The Oriental Rambler, Or, the Papers of Polyphilus

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated.1844 Excerpt: ... A PAPER OF CONSOLATION. I can easily imagine some reader of my book, exclaiming; " I expected the Oriental Rambler would be a traveller's guide, and not a map of pedantic essays, which have all been written before." If it should be so, I would answer him thus " The Interpretation of the title is the Oriental Rambler, from one subject to another; to prevent disappointment, which might arise to one supposing my book a book of travels, I have drawn up the following Essay of THE OVERLAND JOURNEY. "Man fell with apples, and with apples rose, If this be true; for we must deem the mode' In which Sir Isaac Newton could disclose Through the then unpaved stars the turnpike road. A thing to counterbalance human woes: For ever since immortal man hath glow'd With all kinds of mechanics, and full soon Steam engines wilt conduct him to the moon. Don Juan. Can. It. If I were asked "What are the three things which constitute the welfare and happiness of a nation?" I should answer, Liberty, the advancement of Science,and the cultivation of Literature." No country since the creation of the world can have possessed these three in such an eminent degree as England, and the love for them is increasing every day among us. Railway Coaches running 30 or 40 miles an hour: Steam to America from London in 12 days. Sailing vessels, from Portsmouth to Madras in less than 80 days, The Steam Flying Machine which is to be, (though at present on the wing of invention;) Daguerrotype Portraits; Electric Telegraphs, &c, truly the spirit of invention is intense, and the march of intellect intolerable. As Lord Byron says in the above motto, we need not be astonished if we are conducted to the moon ere long; but this is rather too much of a lunar observation. The above wonders, I have narrated, ar...