Life and Adventures of Peter Wilkins, Vol. I | Page 5

of his coming on board that Vessel, and his Death on his
landing at Plymouth in the Year 1739.
Illustrated with several Cuts, clearly and distinctly representing the

Structure and Mechanism of the Wings of the Glums and Gawrys, and
the Manner in which they use them either to swim or fly.
To the Right Honourable
ELIZABETH,
Countess of Northumberland, Madam,
Few Authors, I believe, who write in my Way (whatever View they
may set out with) can, in the Prosecution of their Works, forbear to
dress their fictitious Characters in the real Ornaments themselves have
been most delighted with.
THIS, I confess, hath been my Case, in the Person of Youwarkee, in the
following Sheets; for having formed her Body, I found myself at an
inexpressible Loss how to adorn her Mind in the masterly Sentiments I
coveted to endue her with; 'till I recollected the most aim[i]able Pattern
in your Ladyship; a single View of which, at a Time of the utmost
fatigue to his Lordship, hath charmed my Imagination ever since.
If a Participater of the Cares of Life in general, alleviates the Concerns
of Man; what an invaluable Blessing must that Lady prove, to the
Softness of whose Sex Nature hath conjoined an Aptitude for Council,
an Application, Zeal, and Dispatch but too rarely found in his own!
Had my Situation in Life been so happy as to have presented me with
Opportunities of more frequent and minuter Remarks upon your
Ladyship's Conduct, I might have defy'd the whole British Fair to have
outshone my southern Gawry: For if, to a majestic Form and extensive
Capacity, I had been qualified to have copied that natural Sweetness of
Disposition, that maternal Tenderness, that Cheerfulness, that
Complacency, Condescension, Affability, and unaffected Benevolence,
which so apparently distinguish the Countess of Northumberland; I had
exhibited in my Youwarkee a Standard for future Generations.
Madam, I am the more sensible of my Speaking but the Truth from the
late Instance of your Benignity, which entitles me to the Honour of

subscribing myself,
Madam, Your Ladyship's
most obliged and
most obedient Servant,
R. P.

CONTENTS OF VOL. I.
CHAPTER I.
Giving an account of the authors birth and family--The fondness of his
mother--His being put to an academy at sixteen by the advice of his
friend--His thoughts of his own literature
CHAPTER II.
How he spent his time at the academy--An intrigue with a servant maid
there--She declares herself with child by him--Her expostulations with
him--He is put to it for money--Refused it from home by his friend,
who had married his mother--Is drawn in to marry the maid--She lies in
at her aunts--Returns to her service--He has another child by her
CHAPTER III.
Minds his studies--Informs his master of his mother's marriage and
usage of him--Hears of her death--Makes his master his guardian--Goes
with him to take possession of his estate--Is informed all is given to his
father-in-law--Moral reflections on his condition and on his father's
crimes
CHAPTER IV.

Departs secretly from his master--Travels to Bristol--Religious
thoughts by the way--Enters on shipboard, and is made captain's
steward
CHAPTER V.
His first entertainment en board--Sets sail--His sickness--Engagement
with a French privateer--Is taken and laid in irons--Twenty-one
prisoners turned adrift in a small boat with only two days' provisions
CHAPTER VI.
The boat, two hundred leagues from land, makes no way, but drives
more to sea by the wind--The people live nine days at quarter
allowance--Four die with hunger the twelfth day--Five more the
fourteenth day--On the fifteenth they eat one just dead--Want of water
excessive--They spy a sail--Are taken up--Work their passage to the
African shore--One sent on a secret expedition--Are way-laid, taken,
made slaves, and sent up the country
CHAPTER VII.
The author escapes with Glanlepze, a native--His hardships in
travel--Plunder of a cottage--His fears--Adventure with a
crocodile--Passage of a river--Adventure with a lioness and
whelps--Arrives at Glanlepze's house--The trial of Glanlepze s wife's
constancy--The tender meeting of her and her husband--The author's
reflections thereupon
CHAPTER VIII.
How the author passed his time with Glanlepze--His acquaintance with
some English prisoners--They project an escape--He joins them--They
seize a Portuguese ship and get off--Make a long run from land--Want
water--They anchor at a desert island--The boat goes on shore for
water--They lose their anchor in a storm--The author and one Adams
drove to sea--A miraculous passage to a rock--Adams drowned

there--The authors miserable condition
CHAPTER IX.
He thinks of destroying himself--His soliloquy--Strange accident in the
hold--His surprise--Can't climb the rock--His method to sweeten his
water--Lives many months on board--Ventures to sea in his boat
several times and takes many fish--Almost overcome by an eel
CHAPTER X.
Lays in great store of provisions--Resolves to traverse the rock--Sails
for three weeks, still seeing it only--Is sucked under the rock, and
hurried down a cataract--Continues there five weeks--His description