第6章

Andhowfewofthemachinesaretherewhichhavenotbeenproducedsystematicallybyothermachines？Butitismanthatmakesthemdoso。Yes；butisitnotinsectsthatmakemanyoftheplantsreproductive，andwouldnotwholefamiliesofplantsdieoutiftheirfertilisationwasnoteffectedbyaclassofagentsutterlyforeigntothemselves？Doesanyonesaythattheredcloverhasnoreproductivesystembecausethehumblebee(andthehumblebeeonly)mustaidandabetitbeforeitcanreproduce？Noone。Thehumblebeeisapartofthereproductivesystemoftheclover。

Eachoneofourselveshassprungfromminuteanimalculeswhoseentitywasentirelydistinctfromourown，andwhichactedaftertheirkindwithnothoughtorheedofwhatwemightthinkaboutit。

Theselittlecreaturesarepartofourownreproductivesystem；

thenwhynotwepartofthatofthemachines？

“Butthemachineswhichreproducemachinerydonotreproducemachinesaftertheirownkind。Athimblemaybemadebymachinery，butitwasnotmadeby，neitherwillitevermake，athimble。

Here，again，ifweturntonatureweshallfindabundanceofanalogieswhichwillteachusthatareproductivesystemmaybeinfullforcewithoutthethingproducedbeingofthesamekindasthatwhichproducedit。Veryfewcreaturesreproduceaftertheirownkind；theyreproducesomethingwhichhasthepotentialityofbecomingthatwhichtheirparentswere。Thusthebutterflylaysanegg，whicheggcanbecomeacaterpillar，whichcaterpillarcanbecomeachrysalis，whichchrysaliscanbecomeabutterfly；andthoughIfreelygrantthatthemachinescannotbesaidtohavemorethanthegermofatruereproductivesystematpresent，havewenotjustseenthattheyhaveonlyrecentlyobtainedthegermsofamouthandstomach？Andmaynotsomestridebemadeinthedirectionoftruereproductionwhichshallbeasgreatasthatwhichhasbeenrecentlytakeninthedirectionoftruefeeding？

“Itispossiblethatthesystemwhendevelopedmaybeinmanycasesavicariousthing。Certainclassesofmachinesmaybealonefertile，whiletherestdischargeotherfunctionsinthemechanicalsystem，justasthegreatmajorityofantsandbeeshavenothingtodowiththecontinuationoftheirspecies，butgetfoodandstoreit，withoutthoughtofbreeding。Onecannotexpecttheparalleltobecompleteornearlyso；certainlynotnow，andprobablynever；

butistherenotenoughanalogyexistingatthepresentmoment，tomakeusfeelseriouslyuneasyaboutthefuture，andtorenderitourdutytochecktheevilwhilewecanstilldoso？Machinescanwithincertainlimitsbegetmachinesofanyclass，nomatterhowdifferenttothemselves。Everyclassofmachineswillprobablyhaveitsspecialmechanicalbreeders，andallthehigheroneswillowetheirexistencetoalargenumberofparentsandnottotwoonly。

“Wearemisledbyconsideringanycomplicatedmachineasasinglething；intruthitisacityorsociety，eachmemberofwhichwasbredtrulyafteritskind。Weseeamachineasawhole，wecallitbyanameandindividualiseit；welookatourownlimbs，andknowthatthecombinationformsanindividualwhichspringsfromasinglecentreofreproductiveaction；wethereforeassumethattherecanbenoreproductiveactionwhichdoesnotarisefromasinglecentre；butthisassumptionisunscientific，andthebarefactthatnovapour-enginewasevermadeentirelybyanother，ortwoothers，ofitsownkind，isnotsufficienttowarrantusinsayingthatvapour-engineshavenoreproductivesystem。Thetruthisthateachpartofeveryvapour-engineisbredbyitsownspecialbreeders，whosefunctionitistobreedthatpart，andthatonly，whilethecombinationofthepartsintoawholeformsanotherdepartmentofthemechanicalreproductivesystem，whichisatpresentexceedinglycomplexanddifficulttoseeinitsentirety。

“Complexnow，buthowmuchsimplerandmoreintelligiblyorganisedmayitnotbecomeinanotherhundredthousandyears？orintwentythousand？Formanatpresentbelievesthathisinterestliesinthatdirection；hespendsanincalculableamountoflabourandtimeandthoughtinmakingmachinesbreedalwaysbetterandbetter；hehasalreadysucceededineffectingmuchthatatonetimeappearedimpossible，andthereseemnolimitstotheresultsofaccumulatedimprovementsiftheyareallowedtodescendwithmodificationfromgenerationtogeneration。Itmustalwaysberememberedthatman’sbodyiswhatitisthroughhavingbeenmouldedintoitspresentshapebythechancesandchangesofmanymillionsofyears，butthathisorganisationneveradvancedwithanythingliketherapiditywithwhichthatofthemachinesisadvancing。Thisisthemostalarmingfeatureinthecase，andImustbepardonedforinsistingonitsofrequently。”

CHAPTERXXV：THEMACHINES——concludedHerefollowedaverylonganduntranslatabledigressionaboutthedifferentracesandfamiliesofthethenexistingmachines。Thewriterattemptedtosupporthistheorybypointingoutthesimilaritiesexistingbetweenmanymachinesofawidelydifferentcharacter，whichservedtoshowdescentfromacommonancestor。Hedividedmachinesintotheirgenera，subgenera，species，varieties，subvarieties，andsoforth。Heprovedtheexistenceofconnectinglinksbetweenmachinesthatseemedtohaveverylittleincommon，andshowedthatmanymoresuchlinkshadexisted，buthadnowperished。Hepointedouttendenciestoreversion，andthepresenceofrudimentaryorganswhichexistedinmanymachinesfeeblydevelopedandperfectlyuseless，yetservingtomarkdescentfromanancestortowhomthefunctionwasactuallyuseful。

Ileftthetranslationofthispartofthetreatise，which，bytheway，wasfarlongerthanallthatIhavegivenhere，foralateropportunity。Unfortunately，IleftErewhonbeforeIcouldreturntothesubject；andthoughIsavedmytranslationandotherpapersatthehazardofmylife，Iwasaobligedtosacrificetheoriginalwork。Itwenttomyhearttodoso；butIthusgainedtenminutesofinvaluabletime，withoutwhichbothArowhenaandmyselfmusthavecertainlyperished。

Irememberoneincidentwhichbearsuponthispartofthetreatise。

Thegentlemanwhogaveittomehadaskedtoseemytobacco-pipe；

heexamineditcarefully，andwhenhecametothelittleprotuberanceatthebottomofthebowlheseemedmuchdelighted，andexclaimedthatitmustberudimentary。Iaskedhimwhathemeant。

“Sir。”heanswered，“thisorganisidenticalwiththerimatthebottomofacup；itisbutanotherformofthesamefunction。Itspurposemusthavebeentokeeptheheatofthepipefrommarkingthetableuponwhichitrested。Youwouldfind，ifyouweretolookupthehistoryoftobacco-pipes，thatinearlyspecimensthisprotuberancewasofadifferentshapetowhatitisnow。Itwillhavebeenbroadatthebottom，andflat，sothatwhilethepipewasbeingsmokedthebowlmightrestuponthetablewithoutmarkingit。

Useanddisusemusthavecomeintoplayandreducedthefunctiontoitspresentrudimentarycondition。Ishouldnotbesurprised，sir。”hecontinued，“if，inthecourseoftime，itweretobecomemodifiedstillfarther，andtoassumetheformofanornamentalleaforscroll，orevenabutterfly，while，insomecases，itwillbecomeextinct。”

OnmyreturntoEngland，Ilookedupthepoint，andfoundthatmyfriendwasright。

Returning，however，tothetreatise，mytranslationrecommencesasfollows：-

“Maywenotfancythatif，intheremotestgeologicalperiod，someearlyformofvegetablelifehadbeenendowedwiththepowerofreflectinguponthedawninglifeofanimalswhichwascomingintoexistencealongsideofitsown，itwouldhavethoughtitselfexceedinglyacuteifithadsurmisedthatanimalswouldonedaybecomerealvegetables？Yetwouldthisbemoremistakenthanitwouldbeonourparttoimaginethatbecausethelifeofmachinesisaverydifferentonetoourown，thereisthereforenohigherpossibledevelopmentoflifethanours；orthatbecausemechanicallifeisaverydifferentthingfromours，thereforethatitisnotlifeatall？

“ButIhavehearditsaid，’grantedthatthisisso，andthatthevapour-enginehasastrengthofitsown，surelynoonewillsaythatithasawillofitsown？’Alas！ifwelookmoreclosely，weshallfindthatthisdoesnotmakeagainstthesuppositionthatthevapour-engineisoneofthegermsofanewphaseoflife。Whatisthereinthiswholeworld，orintheworldsbeyondit，whichhasawillofitsown？TheUnknownandUnknowableonly！

“Amanistheresultantandexponentofalltheforcesthathavebeenbroughttobearuponhim，whetherbeforehisbirthorafterwards。Hisactionatanymomentdependssolelyuponhisconstitution，andontheintensityanddirectionofthevariousagenciestowhichheis，andhasbeen，subjected。Someofthesewillcounteracteachother；butasheisbynature，andashehasbeenactedon，andisnowactedonfromwithout，sowillhedo，ascertainlyandregularlyasthoughhewereamachine。

“Wedonotgenerallyadmitthis，becausewedonotknowthewholenatureofanyone，northewholeoftheforcesthatactuponhim。

Weseebutapart，andbeingthusunabletogeneralisehumanconduct，exceptveryroughly，wedenythatitissubjecttoanyfixedlawsatall，andascribemuchbothofaman’scharacterandactionstochance，orluck，orfortune；buttheseareonlywordswherebyweescapetheadmissionofourownignorance；andalittlereflectionwillteachusthatthemostdaringflightoftheimaginationorthemostsubtleexerciseofthereasonisasmuchthethingthatmustarise，andtheonlythingthatcanbyanypossibilityarise，atthemomentofitsarising，asthefallingofadeadleafwhenthewindshakesitfromthetree。

“Forthefuturedependsuponthepresent，andthepresent(whoseexistenceisonlyoneofthoseminorcompromisesofwhichhumanlifeisfull——foritlivesonlyonsufferanceofthepastandfuture)dependsuponthepast，andthepastisunalterable。Theonlyreasonwhywecannotseethefutureasplainlyasthepast，isbecauseweknowtoolittleoftheactualpastandactualpresent；

thesethingsaretoogreatforus，otherwisethefuture，initsminutestdetails，wouldliespreadoutbeforeoureyes，andweshouldloseoursenseoftimepresentbyreasonoftheclearnesswithwhichweshouldseethepastandfuture；perhapsweshouldnotbeevenabletodistinguishtimeatall；butthatisforeign。Whatwedoknowis，thatthemorethepastandpresentareknown，themorethefuturecanbepredicted；andthatnoonedreamsofdoubtingthefixityofthefutureincaseswhereheisfullycognisantofbothpastandpresent，andhashadexperienceoftheconsequencesthatfollowedfromsuchapastandsuchapresentonpreviousoccasions。Heperfectlywellknowswhatwillhappen，andwillstakehiswholefortunethereon。

“Andthisisagreatblessing；foritisthefoundationonwhichmoralityandsciencearebuilt。Theassurancethatthefutureisnoarbitraryandchangeablething，butthatlikefutureswillinvariablyfollowlikepresents，isthegroundworkonwhichwelayallourplans——thefaithonwhichwedoeveryconsciousactionofourlives。Ifthiswerenotsoweshouldbewithoutaguide；weshouldhavenoconfidenceinacting，andhenceweshouldneveract，fortherewouldbenoknowingthattheresultswhichwillfollownowwillbethesameasthosewhichfollowedbefore。

“Whowouldploughorsowifhedisbelievedinthefixityofthefuture？Whowouldthrowwateronablazinghouseiftheactionofwateruponfirewereuncertain？Menwillonlydotheirutmostwhentheyfeelcertainthatthefuturewilldiscoveritselfagainstthemiftheirutmosthasnotbeendone。Thefeelingofsuchacertaintyisaconstituentpartofthesumoftheforcesatworkuponthem，andwillactmostpowerfullyonthebestandmostmoralmen。Thosewhoaremostfirmlypersuadedthatthefutureisimmutablyboundupwiththepresentinwhichtheirworkislying，willbesthusbandtheirpresent，andtillitwiththegreatestcare。Thefuturemustbealotterytothosewhothinkthatthesamecombinationscansometimesprecedeonesetofresults，andsometimesanother。Iftheirbeliefissinceretheywillspeculateinsteadofworking：

theseoughttobetheimmoralmen；theothershavethestrongestspurtoexertionandmorality，iftheirbeliefisalivingone。

“Thebearingofallthisuponthemachinesisnotimmediatelyapparent，butwillbecomesopresently。InthemeantimeImustdealwithfriendswhotellmethat，thoughthefutureisfixedasregardsinorganicmatter，andinsomerespectswithregardtoman，yetthattherearemanywaysinwhichitcannotbeconsideredasfixed。Thus，theysaythatfireappliedtodryshavings，andwellfedwithoxygengas，willalwaysproduceablaze，butthatacowardbroughtintocontactwithaterrifyingobjectwillnotalwaysresultinamanrunningaway。Nevertheless，iftherebetwocowardsperfectlysimilarineveryrespect，andiftheybesubjectedinaperfectlysimilarwaytotwoterrifyingagents，whicharethemselvesperfectlysimilar，therearefewwhowillnotexpectaperfectsimilarityintherunningaway，eventhoughathousandyearsintervenebetweentheoriginalcombinationanditsbeingrepeated。

“Theapparentlygreaterregularityintheresultsofchemicalthanofhumancombinationsarisesfromourinabilitytoperceivethesubtledifferencesinhumancombinations——combinationswhichareneveridenticallyrepeated。Fireweknow，andshavingsweknow，butnotwomeneverwereoreverwillbeexactlyalike；andthesmallestdifferencemaychangethewholeconditionsoftheproblem。

Ourregistryofresultsmustbeinfinitebeforewecouldarriveatafullforecastoffuturecombinations；thewonderisthatthereisasmuchcertaintyconcerninghumanactionasthereis；andassuredlytheolderwegrowthemorecertainwefeelastowhatsuchandsuchakindofpersonwilldoingivencircumstances；butthiscouldneverbethecaseunlesshumanconductwereundertheinfluenceoflaws，withtheworkingofwhichwebecomemoreandmorefamiliarthroughexperience。

“Iftheaboveissound，itfollowsthattheregularitywithwhichmachineryactsisnoproofoftheabsenceofvitality，oratleastofgermswhichmaybedevelopedintoanewphaseoflife。Atfirstsightitwouldindeedappearthatavapour-enginecannothelpgoingwhensetuponalineofrailswiththesteamupandthemachineryinfullplay；whereasthemanwhosebusinessitistodriveitcanhelpdoingsoatanymomentthathepleases；sothatthefirsthasnospontaneity，andisnotpossessedofanysortoffreewill，whilethesecondhasandis。

“Thisistrueuptoacertainpoint；thedrivercanstoptheengineatanymomentthathepleases，buthecanonlypleasetodosoatcertainpointswhichhavebeenfixedforhimbyothers，orinthecaseofunexpectedobstructionswhichforcehimtopleasetodoso。

Hispleasureisnotspontaneous；thereisanunseenchoirofinfluencesaroundhim，whichmakeitimpossibleforhimtoactinanyotherwaythanone。Itisknownbeforehandhowmuchstrengthmustbegiventotheseinfluences，justasitisknownbeforehandhowmuchcoalandwaterarenecessaryforthevapour-engineitself；

andcuriouslyenoughitwillbefoundthattheinfluencesbroughttobearuponthedriverareofthesamekindasthosebroughttobearupontheengine——thatistosay，foodandwarmth。Thedriverisobedienttohismasters，becausehegetsfoodandwarmthfromthem，andifthesearewithheldorgivenininsufficientquantitieshewillceasetodrive；inlikemannertheenginewillceasetoworkifitisinsufficientlyfed。Theonlydifferenceis，thatthemanisconsciousabouthiswants，andtheengine(beyondrefusingtowork)doesnotseemtobeso；butthisistemporary，andhasbeendealtwithabove。

“Accordingly，therequisitestrengthbeinggiventothemotivesthataretodrivethedriver，therehasnever，orhardlyever，beenaninstanceofamanstoppinghisenginethroughwantonness。Butsuchacasemightoccur；yes，anditmightoccurthattheengineshouldbreakdown：butifthetrainisstoppedfromsometrivialmotiveitwillbefoundeitherthatthestrengthofthenecessaryinfluenceshasbeenmiscalculated，orthatthemanhasbeenmiscalculated，inthesamewayasanenginemaybreakdownfromanunsuspectedflaw；buteveninsuchacasetherewillhavebeennospontaneity；theactionwillhavehaditstrueparentalcauses：

spontaneityisonlyatermforman’signoranceofthegods。

“Isthere，then，nospontaneityonthepartofthosewhodrivethedriver？“

Herefollowedanobscureargumentuponthissubject，whichIhavethoughtitbesttoomit。Thewriterresumes：-“Afterallthenitcomestothis，thatthedifferencebetweenthelifeofamanandthatofamachineisoneratherofdegreethanofkind，thoughdifferencesinkindarenotwanting。Ananimalhasmoreprovisionforemergencythanamachine。Themachineislessversatile；itsrangeofactionisnarrow；itsstrengthandaccuracyinitsownspherearesuperhuman，butitshowsbadlyinadilemma；sometimeswhenitsnormalactionisdisturbed，itwillloseitshead，andgofrombadtoworselikealunaticinaragingfrenzy：buthere，again，wearemetbythesameconsiderationasbefore，namely，thatthemachinesarestillintheirinfancy；theyaremereskeletonswithoutmusclesandflesh。

“Forhowmanyemergenciesisanoysteradapted？Forasmanyasarelikelytohappentoit，andnomore。Soarethemachines；andsoismanhimself。Thelistofcasualtiesthatdailyoccurtomanthroughhiswantofadaptabilityisprobablyasgreatasthatoccurringtothemachines；andeverydaygivesthemsomegreaterprovisionfortheunforeseen。Letanyoneexaminethewonderfulself-regulatingandself-adjustingcontrivanceswhicharenowincorporatedwiththevapour-engine，lethimwatchthewayinwhichitsuppliesitselfwithoil；inwhichitindicatesitswantstothosewhotendit；inwhich，bythegovernor，itregulatesitsapplicationofitsownstrength；lethimlookatthatstore-houseofinertiaandmomentumthefly-wheel，oratthebuffersonarailwaycarriage；lethimseehowthoseimprovementsarebeingselectedforperpetuitywhichcontainprovisionagainsttheemergenciesthatmayarisetoharassthemachines，andthenlethimthinkofahundredthousandyears，andtheaccumulatedprogresswhichtheywillbringunlessmancanbeawakenedtoasenseofhissituation，andofthedoomwhichheispreparingforhimself。{6}

“Themiseryisthatmanhasbeenblindsolongalready。Inhisrelianceupontheuseofsteamhehasbeenbetrayedintoincreasingandmultiplying。Towithdrawsteampowersuddenlywillnothavetheeffectofreducingustothestateinwhichwewerebeforeitsintroduction；therewillbeageneralbreak-upandtimeofanarchysuchashasneverbeenknown；itwillbeasthoughourpopulationweresuddenlydoubled，withnoadditionalmeansoffeedingtheincreasednumber。Theairwebreatheishardlymorenecessaryforouranimallifethantheuseofanymachine，onthestrengthofwhichwehaveincreasedournumbers，istoourcivilisation；itisthemachineswhichactuponmanandmakehimman，asmuchasmanwhohasacteduponandmadethemachines；butwemustchoosebetweenthealternativeofundergoingmuchpresentsuffering，orseeingourselvesgraduallysupersededbyourowncreatures，tillweranknohigherincomparisonwiththem，thanthebeastsofthefieldwithourselves。

“Hereinliesourdanger。Formanyseeminclinedtoacquiesceinsodishonourableafuture。Theysaythatalthoughmanshouldbecometothemachineswhatthehorseanddogaretous，yetthathewillcontinuetoexist，andwillprobablybebetteroffinastateofdomesticationunderthebeneficentruleofthemachinesthaninhispresentwildcondition。Wetreatourdomesticanimalswithmuchkindness。Wegivethemwhateverwebelievetobethebestforthem；andtherecanbenodoubtthatouruseofmeathasincreasedtheirhappinessratherthandetractedfromit。Inlikemannerthereisreasontohopethatthemachineswilluseuskindly，fortheirexistencewillbeinagreatmeasuredependentuponours；

theywillruleuswitharodofiron，buttheywillnoteatus；

theywillnotonlyrequireourservicesinthereproductionandeducationoftheiryoung，butalsoinwaitinguponthemasservants；ingatheringfoodforthem，andfeedingthem；inrestoringthemtohealthwhentheyaresick；andineitherburyingtheirdeadorworkinguptheirdeceasedmembersintonewformsofmechanicalexistence。

“Theverynatureofthemotivepowerwhichworkstheadvancementofthemachinesprecludesthepossibilityofman’slifebeingrenderedmiserableaswellasenslaved。Slavesaretolerablyhappyiftheyhavegoodmasters，andtherevolutionwillnotoccurinourtime，norhardlyintenthousandyears，ortentimesthat。Isitwisetobeuneasyaboutacontingencywhichissoremote？Manisnotasentimentalanimalwherehismaterialinterestsareconcerned，andthoughhereandtheresomeardentsoulmaylookuponhimselfandcursehisfatethathewasnotbornavapour-engine，yetthemassofmankindwillacquiesceinanyarrangementwhichgivesthembetterfoodandclothingatacheaperrate，andwillrefrainfromyieldingtounreasonablejealousymerelybecausethereareotherdestiniesmoregloriousthantheirown。

“Thepowerofcustomisenormous，andsogradualwillbethechange，thatman’ssenseofwhatisduetohimselfwillbeatnotimerudelyshocked；ourbondagewillstealuponusnoiselesslyandbyimperceptibleapproaches；norwillthereeverbesuchaclashingofdesiresbetweenmanandthemachinesaswillleadtoanencounterbetweenthem。Amongthemselvesthemachineswillwareternally，buttheywillstillrequiremanasthebeingthroughwhoseagencythestrugglewillbeprincipallyconducted。Inpointoffactthereisnooccasionforanxietyaboutthefuturehappinessofmansolongashecontinuestobeinanywayprofitabletothemachines；hemaybecometheinferiorrace，buthewillbeinfinitelybetteroffthanheisnow。Isitnotthenbothabsurdandunreasonabletobeenviousofourbenefactors？Andshouldwenotbeguiltyofconsummatefollyifweweretorejectadvantageswhichwecannotobtainotherwise，merelybecausetheyinvolveagreatergaintoothersthantoourselves？

“WiththosewhocanargueinthiswayIhavenothingincommon。I

shrinkwithasmuchhorrorfrombelievingthatmyracecaneverbesupersededorsurpassed，asIshoulddofrombelievingthatevenattheremotestperiodmyancestorswereotherthanhumanbeings。

CouldIbelievethattenhundredthousandyearsagoasingleoneofmyancestorswasanotherkindofbeingtomyself，Ishouldloseallself-respect，andtakenofurtherpleasureorinterestinlife。I

havethesamefeelingwithregardtomydescendants，andbelieveittobeonethatwillbefeltsogenerallythatthecountrywillresolveuponputtinganimmediatestoptoallfurthermechanicalprogress，andupondestroyingallimprovementsthathavebeenmadeforthelastthreehundredyears。Iwouldnoturgemorethanthis。

Wemaytrustourselvestodealwiththosethatremain，andthoughI

shouldprefertohaveseenthedestructionincludeanothertwohundredyears，Iamawareofthenecessityforcompromising，andwouldsofarsacrificemyownindividualconvictionsastobecontentwiththreehundred。Lessthanthiswillbeinsufficient。”

ThiswastheconclusionoftheattackwhichledtothedestructionofmachinerythroughoutErewhon。Therewasonlyoneseriousattempttoanswerit。Itsauthorsaidthatmachinesweretoberegardedasapartofman’sownphysicalnature，beingreallynothingbutextra-corporeallimbs。Man，hesaid，wasamachinatemammal。Theloweranimalskeepalltheirlimbsathomeintheirownbodies，butmanyofman’sareloose，andlieaboutdetached，nowhereandnowthere，invariouspartsoftheworld——somebeingkeptalwayshandyforcontingentuse，andothersbeingoccasionallyhundredsofmilesaway。Amachineismerelyasupplementarylimb；

thisisthebeallandendallofmachinery。Wedonotuseourownlimbsotherthanasmachines；andalegisonlyamuchbetterwoodenlegthananyonecanmanufacture。

“Observeamandiggingwithaspade；hisrightfore-armhasbecomeartificiallylengthened，andhishandhasbecomeajoint。Thehandleofthespadeisliketheknobattheendofthehumerus；theshaftistheadditionalbone，andtheoblongironplateisthenewformofthehandwhichenablesitspossessortodisturbtheearthinawaytowhichhisoriginalhandwasunequal。Havingthusmodifiedhimself，notasotheranimalsaremodified，bycircumstancesoverwhichtheyhavehadnoteventheappearanceofcontrol，buthaving，asitwere，takenforethoughtandaddedacubittohisstature，civilisationbegantodawnupontherace，thesocialgoodoffices，thegenialcompanionshipoffriends，theartofunreason，andallthosehabitsofmindwhichmostelevatemanabovetheloweranimals，inthecourseoftimeensued。

“Thuscivilisationandmechanicalprogressadvancedhandinhand，eachdevelopingandbeingdevelopedbytheother，theearliestaccidentaluseofthestickhavingsettheballrolling，andtheprospectofadvantagekeepingitinmotion。Infact，machinesaretoberegardedasthemodeofdevelopmentbywhichhumanorganismisnowespeciallyadvancing，everypastinventionbeinganadditiontotheresourcesofthehumanbody。Evencommunityoflimbsisthusrenderedpossibletothosewhohavesomuchcommunityofsoulastoownmoneyenoughtopayarailwayfare；foratrainisonlyaseven-leaguedfootthatfivehundredmayownatonce。”

Theoneseriousdangerwhichthiswriterapprehendedwasthatthemachineswouldsoequalisemen’spowers，andsolessentheseverityofcompetition，thatmanypersonsofinferiorphysiquewouldescapedetectionandtransmittheirinferioritytotheirdescendants。Hefearedthattheremovalofthepresentpressuremightcauseadegeneracyofthehumanrace，andindeedthatthewholebodymightbecomepurelyrudimentary，themanhimselfbeingnothingbutsoulandmechanism，anintelligentbutpassionlessprincipleofmechanicalaction。

“Howgreatly。”hewrote，“dowenotnowlivewithourexternallimbs？Wevaryourphysiquewiththeseasons，withage，withadvancingordecreasingwealth。Ifitiswetwearefurnishedwithanorgancommonlycalledanumbrella，andwhichisdesignedforthepurposeofprotectingourclothesorourskinsfromtheinjuriouseffectsofrain。Manhasnowmanyextra-corporealmembers，whichareofmoreimportancetohimthanagooddealofhishair，oratanyratethanhiswhiskers。Hismemorygoesinhispocket-book。

Hebecomesmoreandmorecomplexashegrowsolder；hewillthenbeseenwithsee-engines，orperhapswithartificialteethandhair：

ifhebeareallywell-developedspecimenofhisrace，hewillbefurnishedwithalargeboxuponwheels，twohorses，andacoachman。”

Itwasthiswriterwhooriginatedthecustomofclassifyingmenbytheirhorse-power，andwhodividedthemintogenera，species，varieties，andsubvarieties，givingthemnamesfromthehypotheticallanguagewhichexpressedthenumberoflimbswhichtheycouldcommandatanymoment。Heshowedthatmenbecamemorehighlyanddelicatelyorganisedthemorenearlytheyapproachedthesummitofopulence，andthatnonebutmillionairespossessedthefullcomplementoflimbswithwhichmankindcouldbecomeincorporate。

“Thosemightyorganisms。”hecontinued，“ourleadingbankersandmerchants，speaktotheircongenersthroughthelengthandbreadthofthelandinasecondoftime；theirrichandsubtlesoulscandefyallmaterialimpediment，whereasthesoulsofthepoorarecloggedandhamperedbymatter，whichsticksfastaboutthemastreacletothewingsofafly，orasonestrugglinginaquicksand：

theirdullearsmusttakedaysorweekstohearwhatanotherwouldtellthemfromadistance，insteadofhearingitinasecondasisdonebythemorehighlyorganisedclasses。Whoshalldenythatonewhocantackonaspecialtraintohisidentity，andgowheresoeverhewillwhensoeverhepleases，ismorehighlyorganisedthanhewho，shouldhewishforthesamepower，mightwishforthewingsofabirdwithanequalchanceofgettingthem；andwhoselegsarehisonlymeansoflocomotion？Thatoldphilosophicenemy，matter，theinherentlyandessentiallyevil，stillhangsabouttheneckofthepoorandstrangleshim：buttotherich，matterisimmaterial；theelaborateorganisationofhisextra-corporealsystemhasfreedhissoul。

“Thisisthesecretofthehomagewhichweseerichmenreceivefromthosewhoarepoorerthanthemselves：itwouldbeagraveerrortosupposethatthisdeferenceproceedsfrommotiveswhichweneedbeashamedof：itisthenaturalrespectwhichalllivingcreaturespaytothosewhomtheyrecogniseashigherthanthemselvesinthescaleofanimallife，andisanalogoustothevenerationwhichadogfeelsforman。Amongsavageracesitisdeemedhighlyhonourabletobethepossessorofagun，andthroughoutallknowntimetherehasbeenafeelingthatthosewhoareworthmostaretheworthiest。”

Andsohewentonatconsiderablelength，attemptingtoshowwhatchangesinthedistributionofanimalandvegetablelifethroughoutthekingdomhadbeencausedbythisandthatofman’sinventions，andinwhatwayeachwasconnectedwiththemoralandintellectualdevelopmentofthehumanspecies：heevenallottedtosomethesharewhichtheyhadhadinthecreationandmodificationofman’sbody，andthatwhichtheywouldhereafterhaveinitsdestruction；

buttheotherwriterwasconsideredtohavethebestofit，andintheendsucceededindestroyingalltheinventionsthathadbeendiscoveredforthepreceding271years，aperiodwhichwasagreeduponbyallpartiesafterseveralyearsofwranglingastowhetheracertainkindofmanglewhichwasmuchinuseamongwasherwomenshouldbesavedorno。Itwasatlastruledtobedangerous，andwasjustexcludedbythelimitof271years。Thencamethereactionarycivilwarswhichnearlyruinedthecountry，butwhichitwouldbebeyondmypresentscopetodescribe。

CHAPTERXXVI：THEVIEWSOFANEREWHONIANPROPHETCONCERNINGTHE

RIGHTSOFANIMALS

ItwillbeseenfromtheforegoingchaptersthattheErewhoniansareameekandlong-sufferingpeople，easilyledbythenose，andquicktoofferupcommonsenseattheshrineoflogic，whenaphilosopherarisesamongthem，whocarriesthemawaythroughhisreputationforespeciallearning，orbyconvincingthemthattheirexistinginstitutionsarenotbasedonthestrictestprinciplesofmorality。

TheseriesofrevolutionsonwhichIshallnowbrieflytouchshowsthisevenmoreplainlythantheway(alreadydealtwith)inwhichatalaterdatetheycuttheirthroatsinthematterofmachinery；

forifthesecondofthetworeformersofwhomIamabouttospeakhadhadhisway——orratherthewaythatheprofessedtohave——thewholeracewouldhavediedofstarvationwithinatwelve-month。

Happilycommonsense，thoughsheisbynaturethegentlestcreatureliving，whenshefeelstheknifeatherthroat，isapttodevelopunexpectedpowersofresistance，andtosenddoctrinairesflying，evenwhentheyhaveboundherdownandthinktheyhaveherattheirmercy。Whathappened，sofarasIcouldcollectitfromthebestauthorities，wasasfollows：-

SometwothousandfivehundredyearsagotheErewhonianswerestilluncivilised，andlivedbyhunting，fishing，arudesystemofagriculture，andplunderingsuchfewothernationsastheyhadnotyetcompletelyconquered。Theyhadnoschoolsorsystemsofphilosophy，butbyakindofdog-knowledgedidthatwhichwasrightintheirowneyesandinthoseoftheirneighbours；thecommonsense，therefore，ofthepublicbeingasyetunvitiated，crimeanddiseasewerelookeduponmuchastheyareinothercountries。

Butwiththegradualadvanceofcivilisationandincreaseinmaterialprosperity，peoplebegantoaskquestionsaboutthingsthattheyhadhithertotakenasmattersofcourse，andoneoldgentleman，whohadgreatinfluenceoverthembyreasonofthesanctityofhislife，andhissupposedinspirationbyanunseenpower，whoseexistencewasnowbeginningtobefelt，tookitintohisheadtodisquiethimselfabouttherightsofanimals——aquestionthatsofarhaddisturbednobody。

Allprophetsaremoreorlessfussy，andthisoldgentlemanseemstohavebeenoneofthemorefussyones。Beingmaintainedatthepublicexpense，hehadampleleisure，andnotcontentwithlimitinghisattentiontotherightsofanimals，hewantedtoreducerightandwrongtorules，toconsiderthefoundationsofdutyandofgoodandevil，andotherwisetoputallsortsofmattersonalogicalbasis，whichpeoplewhosetimeismoneyarecontenttoacceptonnobasisatall。

Asamatterofcourse，thebasisonwhichhedecidedthatdutycouldalonerestwasonethataffordednostanding-roomformanyoftheold-establishedhabitsofthepeople。These，heassuredthem，wereallwrong，andwheneveranyoneventuredtodifferfromhim，hereferredthemattertotheunseenpowerwithwhichhealonewasindirectcommunication，andtheunseenpowerinvariablyassuredhimthathewasright。Asregardstherightsofanimalshetaughtasfollows：-

“Youknow，hesaid，“howwickeditisofyoutokilloneanother。

Onceuponatimeyourfore-fathersmadenoscrupleaboutnotonlykilling，butalsoeatingtheirrelations。Noonewouldnowgobacktosuchdetestablepractices，foritisnotoriousthatwehavelivedmuchmorehappilysincetheywereabandoned。Fromthisincreasedprosperitywemayconfidentlydeducethemaximthatweshouldnotkillandeatourfellow-creatures。IhaveconsultedthehigherpowerbywhomyouknowthatIaminspired，andhehasassuredmethatthisconclusionisirrefragable。

“Nowitcannotbedeniedthatsheep，cattle，deer，birds，andfishesareourfellow-creatures。Theydifferfromusinsomerespects，butthoseinwhichtheydifferarefewandsecondary，whilethosethattheyhaveincommonwithusaremanyandessential。Myfriends，ifitwaswrongofyoutokillandeatyourfellow-men，itiswrongalsotokillandeatfish，flesh，andfowl。

Birds，beasts，andfishes，haveasfullarighttoliveaslongastheycanunmolestedbyman，asmanhastoliveunmolestedbyhisneighbours。Thesewords，letmeagainassureyou，arenotmine，butthoseofthehigherpowerwhichinspiresme。

“Igrant。”hecontinued，“thatanimalsmolestoneanother，andthatsomeofthemgosofarastomolestman，butIhaveyettolearnthatweshouldmodelourconductonthatoftheloweranimals。Weshouldendeavour，rather，toinstructthem，andbringthemtoabettermind。Tokillatiger，forexample，whohaslivedonthefleshofmenandwomenwhomhehaskilled，istoreduceourselvestothelevelofthetiger，andisunworthyofpeoplewhoseektobeguidedbythehighestprinciplesinall，boththeirthoughtsandactions。

“Theunseenpowerwhohasrevealedhimselftomealoneamongyou，hastoldmetotellyouthatyououghtbythistimetohaveoutgrownthebarbaroushabitsofyourancestors。If，asyoubelieve，youknowbetterthanthey，youshoulddobetter。Hecommandsyou，therefore，torefrainfromkillinganylivingbeingforthesakeofeatingit。Theonlyanimalfoodthatyoumayeat，isthefleshofanybirds，beasts，orfishesthatyoumaycomeuponashavingdiedanaturaldeath，oranythatmayhavebeenbornprematurely，orsodeformedthatitisamercytoputthemoutoftheirpain；youmayalsoeatallsuchanimalsashavecommittedsuicide。Asregardsvegetablesyoumayeatallthosethatwillletyoueatthemwithimpunity。”

Sowiselyandsowelldidtheoldprophetargue，andsoterriblewerethethreatshehurledatthosewhoshoulddisobeyhim，thatintheendhecarriedthemorehighlyeducatedpartofthepeoplewithhim，andpresentlythepoorerclassesfollowedsuit，orprofessedtodoso。Havingseenthetriumphofhisprinciples，hewasgatheredtohisfathers，andnodoubtenteredatonceintofullcommunionwiththatunseenpowerwhosefavourhehadalreadysopre-eminentlyenjoyed。

Hehadnot，however，beendeadverylong，beforesomeofhismoreardentdisciplestookituponthemtobettertheinstructionoftheirmaster。Theoldprophethadallowedtheuseofeggsandmilk，buthisdisciplesdecidedthattoeatafresheggwastodestroyapotentialchicken，andthatthiscametomuchthesameasmurderingaliveone。Staleeggs，ifitwasquitecertainthattheyweretoofargonetobeabletobehatched，weregrudginglypermitted，butalleggsofferedforsalehadtobesubmittedtoaninspector，who，onbeingsatisfiedthattheywereaddled，wouldlabelthem“Laidnotlessthanthreemonths“fromthedate，whateveritmighthappentobe。Theseeggs，Ineedhardlysay，wereonlyusedinpuddings，andasamedicineincertaincaseswhereanemeticwasurgentlyrequired。Milkwasforbiddeninasmuchasitcouldnotbeobtainedwithoutrobbingsomecalfofitsnaturalsustenance，andthusendangeringitslife。

Itwillbeeasilybelievedthatatfirstthereweremanywhogavethenewrulesoutwardobservance，butembracedeveryopportunityofindulgingsecretlyinthoseflesh-potstowhichtheyhadbeenaccustomed。Itwasfoundthatanimalswerecontinuallydyingnaturaldeathsundermoreorlesssuspiciouscircumstances。

Suicidalmania，again，whichhadhithertobeenconfinedexclusivelytodonkeys，becamealarminglyprevalentevenamongsuchforthemostpartself-respectingcreaturesassheepandcattle。Itwasastonishinghowsomeoftheseunfortunateanimalswouldscentoutabutcher’sknifeiftherewasonewithinamileofthem，andrunrightupagainstitifthebutcherdidnotgetitoutoftheirwayintime。

Dogs，again，thathadbeenquitelaw-abidingasregardsdomesticpoultry，tamerabbits，suckingpigs，orsheepandlambs，suddenlytooktobreakingbeyondthecontroloftheirmasters，andkillinganythingthattheyweretoldnottotouch。Itwasheldthatanyanimalkilledbyadoghaddiedanaturaldeath，foritwasthedog’snaturetokillthings，andhehadonlyrefrainedfrommolestingfarmyardcreatureshithertobecausehisnaturehadbeentamperedwith。Unfortunatelythemoretheseunrulytendenciesbecamedeveloped，themorethecommonpeopleseemedtodelightinbreedingtheveryanimalsthatwouldputtemptationinthedog’sway。Thereislittledoubt，infact，thattheyweredeliberatelyevadingthelaw；butwhetherthiswassoornotheysoldorateeverythingtheirdogshadkilled。

Evasionwasmoredifficultinthecaseofthelargeranimals，forthemagistratescouldnotwinkatallthepretendedsuicidesofpigs，sheep，andcattlethatwerebroughtbeforethem。Sometimestheyhadtoconvict，andafewconvictionshadaveryterrorisingeffect——whereasinthecaseofanimalskilledbyadog，themarksofthedog’steethcouldbeseen，anditwaspracticallyimpossibletoprovemaliceonthepartoftheownerofthedog。

Anotherfertilesourceofdisobediencetothelawwasfurnishedbyadecisionofoneofthejudgesthatraisedagreatoutcryamongthemoreferventdisciplesoftheoldprophet。Thejudgeheldthatitwaslawfultokillanyanimalinself-defence，andthatsuchconductwassonaturalonthepartofamanwhofoundhimselfattacked，thattheattackingcreatureshouldbeheldtohavediedanaturaldeath。TheHighVegetarianshadindeedgoodreasontobealarmed，forhardlyhadthisdecisionbecomegenerallyknownbeforeanumberofanimals，hithertoharmless，tooktoattackingtheirownerswithsuchferocity，thatitbecamenecessarytoputthemtoanaturaldeath。Again，itwasquitecommonatthattimetoseethecarcaseofacalf，lamb，orkidexposedforsalewithalabelfromtheinspectorcertifyingthatithadbeenkilledinself-

defence。Sometimeseventhecarcaseofalamborcalfwasexposedas“warrantedstill-born。”whenitpresentedeveryappearanceofhavingenjoyedatleastamonthoflife。

Asforthefleshofanimalsthathadbonafidediedanaturaldeath，thepermissiontoeatitwasnugatory，foritwasgenerallyeatenbysomeotheranimalbeforemangotholdofit；orfailingthisitwasoftenpoisonous，sothatpracticallypeoplewereforcedtoevadethelawbysomeofthemeansabovespokenof，ortobecomevegetarians。ThislastalternativewassolittletothetasteoftheErewhonians，thatthelawsagainstkillinganimalswerefallingintodesuetude，andwouldverylikelyhavebeenrepealed，butforthebreakingoutofapestilence，whichwasascribedbythepriestsandprophetsofthedaytothelawlessnessofthepeopleinthematterofeatingforbiddenflesh。Onthis，therewasareaction；

stringentlawswerepassed，forbiddingtheuseofmeatinanyformorshape，andpermittingnofoodbutgrain，fruits，andvegetablestobesoldinshopsandmarkets。Theselawswereenactedabouttwohundredyearsafterthedeathoftheoldprophetwhohadfirstunsettledpeople’smindsabouttherightsofanimals；buttheyhadhardlybeenpassedbeforepeopleagainbegantobreakthem。

Iwastoldthatthemostpainfulconsequenceofallthisfollydidnotlieinthefactthatlaw-abidingpeoplehadtogowithoutanimalfood——manynationsdothisandseemnonetheworse，andeveninflesh-eatingcountriessuchasItaly，Spain，andGreece，thepoorseldomseemeatfromyear’sendtoyear’send。Themischieflayinthejarwhichundueprohibitiongavetotheconsciencesofallbutthosewhowerestrongenoughtoknowthatthoughconscienceasaruleboons，itcanalsobane。Theawakenedconscienceofanindividualwilloftenleadhimtodothingsinhastethathehadbetterhaveleftundone，buttheconscienceofanationawakenedbyarespectableoldgentlemanwhohasanunseenpoweruphissleevewillpavehellwithavengeance。

Youngpeopleweretoldthatitwasasintodowhattheirfathershaddoneunhurtforcenturies；those，moreover，whopreachedtothemabouttheenormityofeatingmeat，wereanunattractiveacademicfolk，andthoughtheyover-awedallbutthebolderyouths，therewerefewwhodidnotintheirheartsdislikethem。Howevermuchtheyoungpersonmightbeshielded，hesoongottoknowthatmenandwomenoftheworld——oftenfarnicerpeoplethantheprophetswhopreachedabstention——continuallyspokesneeringlyofthenewdoctrinairelaws，andwerebelievedtosetthemasideinsecret，thoughtheydarednotdosoopenly。Smallwonder，then，thatthemorehumanamongthestudentclasseswereprovokedbythetouch-not，taste-not，handle-notpreceptsoftheirrulers，intoquestioningmuchthattheywouldotherwisehaveunhesitatinglyaccepted。

Onesadstoryisonrecordaboutayoungmanofpromisingamiabledisposition，butcursedwithmoreconsciencethanbrains，whohadbeentoldbyhisdoctor(forasIhaveabovesaiddiseasewasnotyetheldtobecriminal)thatheoughttoeatmeat，lawornolaw。

Hewasmuchshockedandforsometimerefusedtocomplywithwhathedeemedtheunrighteousadvicegivenhimbyhisdoctor；atlast，however，findingthathegrewweakerandweaker，hestolesecretlyonadarknightintooneofthosedensinwhichmeatwassurreptitiouslysold，andboughtapoundofprimesteak。Hetookithome，cookeditinhisbedroomwheneveryoneinthehousehadgonetorest，ateit，andthoughhecouldhardlysleepforremorseandshame，feltsomuchbetternextmorningthathehardlyknewhimself。

Threeorfourdayslater，heagainfoundhimselfirresistiblydrawntothissameden。Againheboughtapoundofsteak，againhecookedandateit，andagain，inspiteofmuchmentaltorture，onthefollowingmorningfelthimselfadifferentman。Tocutthestoryshort，thoughheneverwentbeyondtheboundsofmoderation，itpreyeduponhismindthatheshouldbedrifting，ashecertainlywas，intotheranksofthehabituallaw-breakers。

Allthetimehishealthkeptonimproving，andthoughhefeltsurethatheowedthistothebeefsteaks，thebetterhebecameinbody，themorehisconsciencegavehimnorest；twovoiceswereforeverringinginhisears——theonesaying，“IamCommonSenseandNature；

heedme，andIwillrewardyouasIrewardedyourfathersbeforeyou。”Buttheothervoicesaid：“Letnotthatplausiblespiritlureyoutoyourruin。IamDuty；heedme，andIwillrewardyouasIrewardedyourfathersbeforeyou。”

Sometimesheevenseemedtoseethefacesofthespeakers。CommonSenselookedsoeasy，genial，andserene，sofrankandfearless，thatdowhathemighthecouldnotmistrusther；butashewasonthepointoffollowingher，hewouldbecheckedbytheausterefaceofDuty，sograve，butyetsokindly；anditcuthimtotheheartthatfromtimetotimeheshouldseeherturnpityingawayfromhimashefollowedafterherrival。

Thepoorboycontinuallythoughtofthebetterclassofhisfellow-

students，andtriedtomodelhisconductonwhathethoughtwastheirs。“They。”hesaidtohimself，“eatabeefsteak？Never。”

Buttheymostofthemateonenowandagain，unlessitwasamuttonchopthattemptedthem。Andtheyusedhimforamodelmuchashedidthem。“He。”theywouldsaytothemselves，“eatamuttonchop？

Never。”Onenight，however，hewasfollowedbyoneoftheauthorities，whowasalwaysprowlingaboutinsearchoflaw-

breakers，andwascaughtcomingoutofthedenwithhalfashoulderofmuttonconcealedabouthisperson。Onthis，eventhoughhehadnotbeenputinprison，hewouldhavebeensentawaywithhisprospectsinlifeirretrievablyruined；hethereforehangedhimselfassoonashegothome。

CHAPTERXXVII：THEVIEWSOFANEREWHONIANPHILOSOPHERCONCERNING

THERIGHTSOFVEGETABLES

Letmeleavethisunhappystory，andreturntothecourseofeventsamongtheErewhoniansatlarge。Nomatterhowmanylawstheypassedincreasingtheseverityofthepunishmentsinflictedonthosewhoatemeatinsecret，thepeoplefoundmeansofsettingthemasideasfastastheyweremade。Attimes，indeed，theywouldbecomealmostobsolete，butwhentheywereonthepointofbeingrepealed，somenationaldisasterorthepreachingofsomefanaticwouldreawakentheconscienceofthenation，andpeoplewereimprisonedbythethousandforillicitlysellingandbuyinganimalfood。

Aboutsixorsevenhundredyears，however，afterthedeathoftheoldprophet，aphilosopherappeared，who，thoughhedidnotclaimtohaveanycommunicationwithanunseenpower，laiddownthelawwithasmuchconfidenceasifsuchapowerhadinspiredhim。Manythinkthatthisphilosopherdidnotbelievehisownteaching，and，beinginsecretagreatmeat-eater，hadnootherendinviewthanreducingtheprohibitionagainsteatinganimalfoodtoanabsurdity，greatereventhananErewhonianPuritanwouldbeabletostand。

Thosewhotakethisviewholdthatheknewhowimpossibleitwouldbetogetthenationtoacceptlegislationthatitheldtobesinful；heknewalsohowhopelessitwouldbetoconvincepeoplethatitwasnotwickedtokillasheepandeatit，unlesshecouldshowthemthattheymusteithersintoacertainextent，ordie。

He，therefore，itisbelieved，madethemonstrousproposalsofwhichIwillnowspeak。

Hebeganbypayingatributeofprofoundrespecttotheoldprophet，whoseadvocacyoftherightsofanimals，headmitted，haddonemuchtosoftenthenationalcharacter，andenlargeitsviewsaboutthesanctityoflifeingeneral。Butheurgedthattimeshadnowchanged；thelessonofwhichthecountryhadstoodinneedhadbeensufficientlylearnt，whileasregardsvegetablesmuchhadbecomeknownthatwasnotevensuspectedformerly，andwhich，ifthenationwastopersevereinthatstrictadherencetothehighestmoralprincipleswhichhadbeenthesecretofitsprosperityhitherto，mustnecessitatearadicalchangeinitsattitudetowardsthem。

Itwasindeedtruethatmuchwasnowknownthathadnotbeensuspectedformerly，forthepeoplehadhadnoforeignenemies，and，beingbothquick-wittedandinquisitiveintothemysteriesofnature，hadmadeextraordinaryprogressinallthemanybranchesofartandscience。InthechiefErewhonianmuseumIwasshownamicroscopeofconsiderablepower，thatwasascribedbytheauthoritiestoadatemuchaboutthatofthephilosopherofwhomI

amnowspeaking，andwasevensupposedbysometohavebeentheinstrumentwithwhichhehadactuallyworked。

ThisphilosopherwasProfessorofbotanyinthechiefseatoflearningtheninErewhon，andwhetherwiththehelpofthemicroscopestillpreserved，orwithanother，hadarrivedataconclusionnowuniversallyacceptedamongourselves——Imean，thatall，bothanimalsandplants，havehadacommonancestry，andthathencethesecondshouldbedeemedasmuchaliveasthefirst。Hecontended，therefore，thatanimalsandplantswerecousins，andwouldhavebeenseentobeso，allalong，ifpeoplehadnotmadeanarbitraryandunreasonabledivisionbetweenwhattheychosetocalltheanimalandvegetablekingdoms。

Hedeclared，anddemonstratedtothesatisfactionofallthosewhowereabletoformanopinionuponthesubject，thatthereisnodifferenceappreciableeitherbytheeye，orbyanyothertest，betweenagermthatwilldevelopintoanoak，avine，arose，andonethat(givenitsaccustomedsurroundings)willbecomeamouse，anelephant，oraman。

Hecontendedthatthecourseofanygerm’sdevelopmentwasdictatedbythehabitsofthegermsfromwhichitwasdescendedandofwhoseidentityithadonceformedpart。Ifagermfounditselfplacedasthegermsinthelineofitsancestrywereplaced，itwoulddoasitsancestorshaddone，andgrowupintothesamekindoforganismastheirs。Ifitfoundthecircumstancesonlyalittledifferent，itwouldmakeshift(successfullyorunsuccessfully)tomodifyitsdevelopmentaccordingly；ifthecircumstanceswerewidelydifferent，itwoulddie，probablywithoutaneffortatself-

adaptation。This，heargued，appliedequallytothegermsofplantsandofanimals。

Hethereforeconnectedall，bothanimalandvegetabledevelopment，withintelligence，eitherspentandnowunconscious，orstillunspentandconscious；andinsupportofhisviewasregardsvegetablelife，hepointedtothewayinwhichallplantshaveadaptedthemselvestotheirhabitualenvironment。Grantingthatvegetableintelligenceatfirstsightappearstodiffermateriallyfromanimal，yet，heurged，itislikeitintheoneessentialfactthatthoughithasevidentlybusieditselfaboutmattersthatarevitaltothewell-beingoftheorganismthatpossessesit，ithasnevershowntheslightesttendencytooccupyitselfwithanythingelse。This，heinsisted，isasgreataproofofintelligenceasanylivingbeingcangive。

“Plants。”saidhe，“shownosignofinterestingthemselvesinhumanaffairs。Weshallnevergetarosetounderstandthatfivetimessevenarethirty-five，andthereisnouseintalkingtoanoakaboutfluctuationsinthepriceofstocks。Hencewesaythattheoakandtheroseareunintelligent，andonfindingthattheydonotunderstandourbusinessconcludethattheydonotunderstandtheirown。Butwhatcanacreaturewhotalksinthiswayknowaboutintelligence？Whichshowsgreatersignsofintelligence？He，ortheroseandoak？

“Andwhenwecallplantsstupidfornotunderstandingourbusiness，howcapabledoweshowourselvesofunderstandingtheirs？Canweformeventhefaintestconceptionofthewayinwhichaseedfromarose-treeturnsearth，air，warmthandwaterintoarosefull-

blown？Wheredoesitgetitscolourfrom？Fromtheearth，air，&c。？Yes——buthow？Thosepetalsofsuchineffabletexture——thathuethatoutviesthecheekofachild——thatscentagain？Lookatearth，air，andwater——thesearealltherawmaterialthattherosehasgottoworkwith；doesitshowanysignofwantofintelligenceinthealchemywithwhichitturnsmudintorose-leaves？Whatchemistcandoanythingcomparable？Whydoesnoonetry？Simplybecauseeveryoneknowsthatnohumanintelligenceisequaltothetask。Wegiveitup。Itistherose’sdepartment；lettheroseattendtoit——andbedubbedunintelligentbecauseitbafflesusbythemiraclesitworks，andtheunconcernedbusiness-likewayinwhichitworksthem。

“Seewhatpains，again，plantstaketoprotectthemselvesagainsttheirenemies。Theyscratch，cut，sting，makebadsmells，secretethemostdreadfulpoisons(whichHeavenonlyknowshowtheycontrivetomake)，covertheirpreciousseedswithspineslikethoseofahedgehog，frighteninsectswithdelicatenervoussystemsbyassumingportentousshapes，hidethemselves，growininaccessibleplaces，andtellliessoplausiblyastodeceiveeventheirsubtlestfoes。

“Theylaytrapssmearedwithbird-lime，tocatchinsects，andpersuadethemtodrownthemselvesinpitcherswhichtheyhavemadeoftheirleaves，andfillwithwater；othersmakethemselves，asitwere，intolivingrat-traps，whichclosewithaspringonanyinsectthatsettlesuponthem；othersmaketheirflowersintotheshapeofacertainflythatisagreatpillagerofhoney，sothatwhentherealflycomesitthinksthattheflowersarebespoke，andgoesonelsewhere。Somearesocleveraseventooverreachthemselves，likethehorse-radish，whichgetspulledupandeatenforthesakeofthatpungencywithwhichitprotectsitselfagainstundergroundenemies。If，ontheotherhand，theythinkthatanyinsectcanbeofservicetothem，seehowprettytheymakethemselves。

“Whatistobeintelligentiftoknowhowtodowhatonewantstodo，andtodoitrepeatedly，isnottobeintelligent？Somesaythattherose-seeddoesnotwanttogrowintoarose-bush。Why，then，inthenameofallthatisreasonable，doesitgrow？Likelyenoughitisunawareofthewantthatisspurringitontoaction。

Wehavenoreasontosupposethatahumanembryoknowsthatitwantstogrowintoababy，orababyintoaman。Nothingevershowssignsofknowingwhatitiseitherwantingordoing，whenitsconvictionsbothastowhatitwants，andhowtogetit，havebeensettledbeyondfurtherpowerofquestion。Thelesssignslivingcreaturesgiveofknowingwhattheydo，providedtheydoit，anddoitrepeatedlyandwell，thegreaterprooftheygivethatinrealitytheyknowhowtodoit，andhavedoneitalreadyonaninfinitenumberofpastoccasions。

“Someonemaysay。”hecontinued，“’Whatdoyoumeanbytalkingaboutaninfinitenumberofpastoccasions？Whendidarose-seedmakeitselfintoarose-bushonanypastoccasion？’

“Ianswerthisquestionwithanother。’Didtherose-seedeverformpartoftheidentityoftherose-bushonwhichitgrew？’Whocansaythatitdidnot？AgainIask：’Wasthisrose-busheverlinkedbyallthoselinksthatwecommonlyconsiderasconstitutingpersonalidentity，withtheseedfromwhichitinitsturngrew？’

Whocansaythatitwasnot？

“Then，ifrose-seednumbertwoisacontinuationofthepersonalityofitsparentrose-bush，andifthatrose-bushisacontinuationofthepersonalityoftherose-seedfromwhichitsprang，rose-seednumbertwomustalsobeacontinuationofthepersonalityoftheearlierrose-seed。Andthisrose-seedmustbeacontinuationofthepersonalityoftheprecedingrose-seed——andsobackandbackadinfinitum。Henceitisimpossibletodenycontinuedpersonalitybetweenanyexistingrose-seedandtheearliestseedthatcanbecalledarose-seedatall。

“Theanswer，then，toourobjectorisnotfartoseek。Therose-

seeddidwhatitnowdoesinthepersonsofitsancestors——towhomithasbeensolinkedastobeabletorememberwhatthoseancestorsdidwhentheywereplacedastherose-seednowis。Eachstageofdevelopmentbringsbacktherecollectionofthecoursetakenintheprecedingstage，andthedevelopmenthasbeensooftenrepeated，thatalldoubt——andwithalldoubt，allconsciousnessofaction——issuspended。

“Butanobjectormaystillsay，’Grantedthatthelinkingbetweenallsuccessivegenerationshasbeensocloseandunbroken，thateachoneofthemmaybeconceivedasabletorememberwhatitdidinthepersonsofitsancestors——howdoyoushowthatitactuallydidremember？’

“Theansweris：’Bytheactionwhicheachgenerationtakes——anactionwhichrepeatsallthephenomenathatwecommonlyassociatewithmemory——whichisexplicableonthesuppositionthatithasbeenguidedbymemory——andwhichhasneitherbeenexplained，norseemseverlikelytobeexplainedonanyothertheorythanthesuppositionthatthereisanabidingmemorybetweensuccessivegenerations。’

“Willanyonebringanexampleofanylivingcreaturewhoseactionwecanunderstand，performinganineffablydifficultandintricateaction，timeaftertime，withinvariablesuccess，andyetnotknowinghowtodoit，andneverhavingdoneitbefore？ShowmetheexampleandIwillsaynomore，butuntilitisshownme，IshallcreditactionwhereIcannotwatchit，withbeingcontrolledbythesamelawsaswhenitiswithinourken。Itwillbecomeunconsciousassoonastheskillthatdirectsithasbecomeperfected。Neitherrose-seed，therefore，norembryoshouldbeexpectedtoshowsignsofknowingthattheyknowwhattheyknow——iftheyshowedsuchsignsthefactoftheirknowingwhattheywant，andhowtogetit，mightmorereasonablybedoubted。”

SomeofthepassagesalreadygiveninChapterXXIIIwereobviouslyinspiredbytheonejustquoted。AsIreadit，inareprintshownmebyaProfessorwhohadeditedmuchoftheearlyliteratureonthesubject，IcouldnotbutremembertheoneinwhichourLordtellsHisdisciplestoconsidertheliliesofthefield，whoneithertoilnorspin，butwhoseraimentsurpasseseventhatofSolomoninallhisglory。

“Theytoilnot，neitherdotheyspin？“Isthatso？“Toilnot？“

Perhapsnot，nowthatthemethodofprocedureissowellknownastoadmitofnofurtherquestion——butitisnotlikelythatliliescametomakethemselvessobeautifullywithouthavingevertakenanypainsaboutthematter。“Neitherdotheyspin？“Notwithaspinning-wheel；butistherenotextilefabricinaleaf？

Whatwouldtheliliesofthefieldsayiftheyheardoneofusdeclaringthattheyneithertoilnorspin？Theywouldsay，Itakeit，muchwhatweshouldifweweretohearoftheirpreachinghumilityonthetextofSolomons，andsaying，“ConsidertheSolomonsinalltheirglory，theytoilnotneitherdotheyspin。”

Weshouldsaythattheliliesweretalkingaboutthingsthattheydidnotunderstand，andthatthoughtheSolomonsdonottoilnorspin，yettherehadbeennolackofeithertoilingorspinningbeforetheycametobearrayedsogorgeously。

LetmenowreturntotheProfessor。Ihavesaidenoughtoshowthegeneraldriftoftheargumentsonwhichhereliedinordertoshowthatvegetablesareonlyanimalsunderanothername，buthavenotstatedhiscaseinanythinglikethefullnesswithwhichhelaiditbeforethepublic。Theconclusionhedrew，orpretendedtodraw，wasthatifitwassinfultokillandeatanimals，itwasnotlesssinfultodothelikebyvegetables，ortheirseeds。Nonesuch，hesaid，shouldbeeaten，savewhathaddiedanaturaldeath，suchasfruitthatwaslyingonthegroundandabouttorot，orcabbage-

leavesthathadturnedyellowinlateautumn。Theseandotherlikegarbagehedeclaredtobetheonlyfoodthatmightbeeatenwithaclearconscience。Evensotheeatermustplantthepipsofanyapplesorpearsthathemayhaveeaten，oranyplum-stones，cherry-

stones，andthelike，orhewouldcomeneartoincurringtheguiltofinfanticide。Thegrainofcereals，accordingtohim，wasoutofthequestion，foreverysuchgrainhadalivingsoulasmuchasmanhad，andhadasgoodarightasmantopossessthatsoulinpeace。

Havingthusdrivenhisfellowcountrymenintoacorneratthepointofalogicalbayonetfromwhichtheyfeltthattherewasnoescape，heproposedthatthequestionwhatwastobedoneshouldbereferredtoanoracleinwhichthewholecountryhadthegreatestconfidence，andtowhichrecoursewasalwayshadintimesofspecialperplexity。Itwaswhisperedthatanearrelationofthephilosopher’swaslady’s-maidtothepriestesswhodeliveredtheoracle，andthePuritanpartydeclaredthatthestrangelyunequivocalansweroftheoraclewasobtainedbybackstairsinfluence；butwhetherthiswassoorno，theresponseasnearlyasIcantranslateitwasasfollows：-

“HewhosinsaughtSinsmorethanheought；

ButhewhosinsnoughtHasmuchtobetaught。

Beatorbebeaten，Eatorbeeaten，Bekilledorkill；

Choosewhichyouwill。”

Itwasclearthatthisresponsesanctionedatanyratethedestructionofvegetablelifewhenwantedasfoodbyman；andsoforciblyhadthephilosophershownthatwhatwassauceforvegetableswassoalsoforanimals，that，thoughthePuritanpartymadeafuriousoutcry，theactsforbiddingtheuseofmeatwererepealedbyaconsiderablemajority。Thus，afterseveralhundredyearsofwanderinginthewildernessofphilosophy，thecountryreachedtheconclusionsthatcommonsensehadlongsincearrivedat。EventhePuritansafteravainattempttosubsistonakindofjammadeofapplesandyellowcabbageleaves，succumbedtotheinevitable，andresignedthemselvestoadietofroastbeefandmutton，withalltheusualadjunctsofamoderndinner-table。

Onewouldhavethoughtthatthedancetheyhadbeenledbytheoldprophet，andthatstillmadderdancewhichtheProfessorofbotanyhadgravely，butasIbelieveinsidiously，proposedtoleadthem，wouldhavemadetheErewhoniansforalongtimesuspiciousofprophetswhethertheyprofessedtohavecommunicationswithanunseenpowerorno；butsoengrainedinthehumanheartisthedesiretobelievethatsomepeoplereallydoknowwhattheysaytheyknow，andcanthussavethemfromthetroubleofthinkingforthemselves，thatinashorttimewould-bephilosophersandfaddistsbecamemorepowerfulthanever，andgraduallyledtheircountrymentoacceptallthoseabsurdviewsoflife，someaccountofwhichI

havegiveninmyearlierchapters。IndeedIcanseenohopefortheErewhonianstilltheyhavegottounderstandthatreasonuncorrectedbyinstinctisasbadasinstinctuncorrectedbyreason。

CHAPTERXXVIII：ESCAPE

Thoughbusilyengagedintranslatingtheextractsgiveninthelastfivechapters，IwasalsolayingmattersintrainformyescapewithArowhena。Andindeeditwashightime，forIreceivedanintimationfromoneofthecashiersoftheMusicalBanks，thatI

wastobeprosecutedinacriminalcourtostensiblyformeasles，butreallyforhavingownedawatch，andattemptedthereintroductionofmachinery。

Iaskedwhymeasles？andwastoldthattherewasafearlestextenuatingcircumstancesshouldpreventajuryfromconvictingme，ifIwereindictedfortyphusorsmall-pox，butthataverdictwouldprobablybeobtainedformeasles，adiseasewhichcouldbesufficientlypunishedinapersonofmyage。IwasgiventounderstandthatunlesssomeunexpectedchangeshouldcomeoverthemindofhisMajesty，Imightexpecttheblowtobestruckwithinaveryfewdays。

Myplanwasthis——thatArowhenaandIshouldescapeinaballoontogether。Ifearthatthereaderwilldisbelievethispartofmystory，yetinnootherhaveIendeavouredtoadheremoreconscientiouslytofacts，andcanonlythrowmyselfuponhischarity。

IhadalreadygainedtheearoftheQueen，andhadsoworkeduponhercuriositythatshepromisedtogetleaveformetohaveaballoonmadeandinflated；Ipointedouttoherthatnocomplicatedmachinerywouldbewanted——nothing，infact，butalargequantityofoiledsilk，acar，afewropes，&c。，&c。，andsomelightkindofgas，suchastheantiquarianswhowereacquaintedwiththemeansemployedbytheancientsfortheproductionofthelightergasescouldeasilyinstructherworkmenhowtoprovide。Hereagernesstoseesostrangeasightastheascentofahumanbeingintotheskyovercameanyscruplesofconsciencethatshemighthaveotherwisefelt，andshesettheantiquariansaboutshowingherworkmenhowtomakethegas，andsenthermaidstobuy，andoil，averylargequantityofsilk(forIwasdeterminedthattheballoonshouldbeabigone)evenbeforeshebegantotryandgaintheKing’spermission；this，however，shenowsetherselftodo，forIhadsentherwordthatmyprosecutionwasimminent。

Asformyself，IneedhardlysaythatIknewnothingaboutballoons；nordidIseemywaytosmugglingArowhenaintothecar；

nevertheless，knowingthatwehadnootherchanceofgettingawayfromErewhon，Idrewinspirationfromtheextremityinwhichwewereplaced，andmadeapatternfromwhichtheQueen’sworkmenwereabletoworksuccessfully。MeanwhiletheQueen’scarriage-builderssetaboutmakingthecar，anditwaswiththeattachmentsofthistotheballoonthatIhadthegreatestdifficulty；Idoubt，indeed，whetherIshouldhavesucceededhere，butforthegreatintelligenceofaforeman，whothrewhimselfheartandsoulintothematter，andoftenbothforesawrequirements，thenecessityforwhichhadescapedme，andsuggestedthemeansofprovidingforthem。

Ithappenedthattherehadbeenalongdrought，duringthelatterpartofwhichprayershadbeenvainlyofferedupinallthetemplesoftheairgod。WhenIfirsttoldherMajestythatIwantedaballoon，Isaidmyintentionwastogoupintotheskyandprevailupontheairgodbymeansofapersonalinterview。Iownthatthispropositionborderedontheidolatrous，butIhavelongsincerepentedofit，andamlittlelikelyevertorepeattheoffence。

Moreoverthedeceit，seriousthoughitwas，willprobablyleadtotheconversionofthewholecountry。

WhentheQueentoldhisMajestyofmyproposal，heatfirstnotonlyridiculedit，butwasinclinedtovetoit。Being，however，averyuxorioushusband，heatlengthconsented——asheeventuallyalwaysdidtoeverythingonwhichtheQueenhadsetherheart。Heyieldedallthemorereadilynow，becausehedidnotbelieveinthepossibilityofmyascent；hewasconvincedthateventhoughtheballoonshouldmountafewfeetintotheair，itwouldcollapseimmediately，whereonIshouldfallandbreakmyneck，andheshouldberidofme。Hedemonstratedthistohersoconvincingly，thatshewasalarmed，andtriedtotalkmeintogivinguptheidea，butonfindingthatIpersistedinmywishtohavetheballoonmade，sheproducedanorderfromtheKingtotheeffectthatallfacilitiesImightrequireshouldbeaffordedme。

AtthesametimeherMajestytoldmethatmyattemptedascentwouldbemadeanarticleofimpeachmentagainstmeincaseIdidnotsucceedinprevailingontheairgodtostopthedrought。NeitherKingnorQueenhadanyideathatImeantgoingrightawayifI

couldgetthewindtotakeme，norhadheanyconceptionoftheexistenceofacertainsteadyuppercurrentofairwhichwasalwayssettinginonedirection，ascouldbeseenbytheshapeofthehigherclouds，whichpointedinvariablyfromsouth-easttonorth-

west。Ihadmyselflongnoticedthispeculiarityintheclimate，andattributedit，Ibelievejustly，toatrade-windwhichwasconstantatafewthousandfeetabovetheearth，butwasdisturbedbylocalinfluencesatlowerelevations。

MynextbusinesswastobreaktheplantoArowhena，andtodevisethemeansforgettingherintothecar。Ifeltsurethatshewouldcomewithme，buthadmadeupmymindthatifhercouragefailedher，thewholethingshouldcometonothing。ArowhenaandIhadbeeninconstantcommunicationthroughhermaid，butIhadthoughtitbestnottotellherthedetailsofmyschemetilleverythingwassettled。Thetimehadnowarrived，andIarrangedwiththemaidthatIshouldbeadmittedbyaprivatedoorintoMr。

Nosnibor’sgardenataboutduskonthefollowingevening。

Icameattheappointedtime；thegirlletmeintothegardenandbademewaitinasecludedalleyuntilArowhenashouldcome。Itwasnowearlysummer，andtheleavesweresothickuponthetreesthateventhoughsomeoneelsehadenteredthegardenIcouldhaveeasilyhiddenmyself。Thenightwasoneofextremebeauty；thesunhadlongset，buttherewasstillarosygleamintheskyovertheruinsoftherailwaystation；belowmewasthecityalreadytwinklingwithlights，whilebeyonditstretchedtheplainsformanyaleagueuntiltheyblendedwiththesky。Ijustnotedthesethings，butIcouldnotheedthem。Icouldheednothing，till，asIpeeredintothedarknessofthealley，Iperceivedawhitefigureglidingswiftlytowardsme。Iboundedtowardsit，anderethoughtcouldeitherpromptorcheck，IhadcaughtArowhenatomyheartandcoveredherunresistingcheekwithkisses。

Sooverjoyedwerewethatweknewnothowtospeak；indeedIdonotknowwhenweshouldhavefoundwordsandcometooursenses，ifthemaidhadnotgoneoffintoafitofhysterics，andawakenedustothenecessityofself-control；then，brieflyandplainly，I

unfoldedwhatIproposed；Ishowedherthedarkestside，forIfeltsurethatthedarkertheprospectthemorelikelyshewastocome。

Itoldherthatmyplanwouldprobablyendindeathforbothofus，andthatIdarednotpressit——thatatawordfromheritshouldbeabandoned；stillthattherewasjustapossibilityofourescapingtogethertosomepartoftheworldwheretherewouldbenobartoourgettingmarried，andthatIcouldseenootherhope。

Shemadenoresistance，notasignorhintofdoubtorhesitation。

ShewoulddoallItoldher，andcomewheneverIwasready；soI

badehersendhermaidtomeetmenightly——toldherthatshemustputagoodfaceon，lookasbrightandhappyasshecould，soastomakeherfatherandmotherandZulorathinkthatshewasforgettingme——andbereadyatamoment’snoticetocometotheQueen’sworkshops，andbeconcealedamongtheballastandunderrugsinthecaroftheballoon；andsoweparted。

Ihurriedmypreparationsforward，forIfearedrain，andalsothattheKingmightchangehismind；buttheweathercontinueddry，andinanotherweektheQueen’sworkmenhadfinishedtheballoonandcar，whilethegaswasreadytobeturnedonintotheballoonatanymoment。AllbeingnowpreparedIwastoascendonthefollowingmorning。Ihadstipulatedforbeingallowedtotakeabundanceofrugsandwrappingsasprotectionfromthecoldoftheupperatmosphere，andalsotenoradozengood-sizedbagsofballast。

Ihadnearlyaquarter’spensioninhand，andwiththisIfee’dArowhena’smaid，andbribedtheQueen’sforeman——whowould，I

believe，havegivenmeassistanceevenwithoutabribe。Hehelpedmetosecretefoodandwineinthebagsofballast，andonthemorningofmyascenthekepttheotherworkmenoutofthewaywhileIgotArowhenaintothecar。Shecamewithearlydawn，muffledup，andinhermaid’sdress。ShewassupposedtobegonetoanearlyperformanceatoneoftheMusicalBanks，andtoldmethatsheshouldnotbemissedtillbreakfast，butthatherabsencemustthenbediscovered。Iarrangedtheballastabouthersothatitshouldconcealherasshelayatthebottomofthecar，andcoveredherwithwrappings。Althoughitstillwantedsomehoursofthetimefixedformyascent，Icouldnottrustmyselfonemomentfromthecar，soIgotintoitatonce，andwatchedthegradualinflationoftheballoon。LuggageIhadnone，savetheprovisionshiddenintheballastbags，thebooksofmythology，andthetreatisesonthemachines，withmyownmanuscriptdiariesandtranslations。

Isatquietly，andawaitedthehourfixedformydeparture——quietoutwardly，butinwardlyIwasinanagonyofsuspenselestArowhena’sabsenceshouldbediscoveredbeforethearrivaloftheKingandQueen，whoweretowitnessmyascent。Theywerenotdueyetforanothertwohours，andduringthistimeahundredthingsmighthappen，anyoneofwhichwouldundome。

Atlasttheballoonwasfull；thepipewhichhadfilleditwasremoved，theescapeofthegashavingbeenfirstcarefullyprecluded。Nothingremainedtohindertheballoonfromascendingbutthehandsandweightofthosewhowereholdingontoitwithropes。IstrainedmyeyesforthecomingoftheKingandQueen，butcouldseenosignoftheirapproach。IlookedinthedirectionofMr。Nosnibor’shouse——therewasnothingtoindicatedisturbance，butitwasnotyetbreakfasttime。Thecrowdbegantogather；theywereawarethatIwasunderthedispleasureofthecourt，butI

coulddetectnosignsofmybeingunpopular。Onthecontrary，I

receivedmanykindlyexpressionsofregardandencouragement，withgoodwishesastotheresultofmyjourney。

Iwasspeakingtoonegentlemanofmyacquaintance，andtellinghimthesubstanceofwhatIintendedtodowhenIhadgotintothepresenceoftheairgod(whathethoughtofmeIcannotguess，forIamsurethathedidnotbelieveintheobjectiveexistenceoftheairgod，northatImyselfbelievedinit)，whenIbecameawareofasmallcrowdofpeoplerunningasfastastheycouldfromMr。

Nosnibor’shousetowardstheQueen’sworkshops。Forthemomentmypulseceasedbeating，andthen，knowingthatthetimehadcomewhenImusteitherdoordie，Icalledvehementlytothosewhowereholdingtheropes(somethirtymen)toletgoatonce，andmadegesturessignifyingdanger，andthattherewouldbemischiefiftheyheldonlonger。Manyobeyed；therestweretooweaktoholdontotheropes，andwereforcedtoletthemgo。Onthistheballoonboundedsuddenlyupwards，butmyownfeelingwasthattheearthhaddroppedofffromme，andwassinkingfastintotheopenspacebeneath。

Thishappenedattheverymomentthattheattentionofthecrowdwasdivided，theonehalfpayingheedtotheeagergesturesofthosecomingfromMr。Nosnibor’shouse，andtheothertotheexclamationsfrommyself。AminutemoreandArowhenawoulddoubtlesshavebeendiscovered，butbeforethatminutewasover，I

wasatsuchaheightabovethecitythatnothingcouldharmme，andeverysecondboththetownandthecrowdbecamesmallerandmoreconfused。Inanincrediblyshorttime，Icouldseelittlebutavastwallofblueplainsrisingupagainstme，towardswhicheversideIlooked。

Atfirst，theballoonmountedverticallyupwards，butafteraboutfiveminutes，whenwehadalreadyattainedaverygreatelevation，Ifanciedthattheobjectsontheplainbeneathbegantomovefromunderme。Ididnotfeelsomuchasabreathofwind，andcouldnotsupposethattheballoonitselfwastravelling。Iwas，therefore，wonderingwhatthisstrangemovementoffixedobjectscouldmean，whenitstruckmethatpeopleinaballoondonotfeelthewindinasmuchastheytravelwithitandofferitnoresistance。ThenIwashappyinthinkingthatImustnowhavereachedtheinvariabletradewindoftheupperair，andthatI

shouldbeverypossiblywaftedforhundredsoreventhousandsofmiles，farfromErewhonandtheErewhonians。

AlreadyIhadremovedthewrappingsandfreedArowhena；butIsooncoveredherupwiththemagain，foritwasalreadyverycold，andshewashalfstupefiedwiththestrangenessofherposition。

Andnowbeganatime，dream-likeanddelirious，ofwhichIdonotsupposethatIshalleverrecoveradistinctrecollection。SomethingsIcanrecall——asthatwewereerelongenvelopedinvapourwhichfrozeuponmymoustacheandwhiskers；thencomesamemoryofsittingforhoursandhoursinathickfog，hearingnosoundbutmyownbreathingandArowhena’s(forwehardlyspoke)andseeingnosightbutthecarbeneathusandbesideus，andthedarkballoonabove。

Perhapsthemostpainfulfeelingwhentheearthwashiddenwasthattheballoonwasmotionless，thoughouronlyhopelayinourgoingforwardwithanextremeofspeed。FromtimetotimethroughariftinthecloudsIcaughtaglimpseofearth，andwasthankfultoperceivethatwemustbeflyingforwardfasterthaninanexpresstrain；butnosoonerwastheriftclosedthantheoldconvictionofourbeingstationaryreturnedinfullforce，andwasnottobereasonedwith：therewasanotherfeelingalsowhichwasnearlyasbad；forasachildthatfearsithasgoneblindinalongtunnelifthereisnolight，soeretheearthhadbeenmanyminuteshidden，Ibecamehalffrightenedlestwemightnothavebrokenawayfromitcleanandforever。Nowandagain，IateandgavefoodtoArowhena，butbyguess-workasregardstime。Thencamedarkness，adreadfuldrearytime，withouteventhemoontocheerus。

Withdawnthescenewaschanged：thecloudsweregoneandmorningstarswereshining；therisingofthesplendidsunremainsstillimpresseduponmeasthemostgloriousthatIhaveeverseen；

beneathustherewasanembossedchainofmountainswithsnowfreshfallenuponthem；butwewerefarabovethem；webothofusfeltourbreathingseriouslyaffected，butIwouldnotallowtheballoontodescendasingleinch，notknowingforhowlongwemightnotneedallthebuoyancywhichwecouldcommand；indeedIwasthankfultofindthat，afternearlyfour-and-twentyhours，wewerestillatsogreataheightabovetheearth。

Inacoupleofhourswehadpassedtheranges，whichmusthavebeensomehundredandfiftymilesacross，andagainIsawatractoflevelplainextendingfarawaytothehorizon。Iknewnotwherewewere，anddarednotdescend，lestIshouldwastethepoweroftheballoon，butIwashalfhopefulthatwemightbeabovethecountryfromwhichIhadoriginallystarted。IlookedanxiouslyforanysignbywhichIcouldrecogniseit，butcouldseenothing，andfearedthatwemightbeabovesomedistantpartofErewhon，oracountryinhabitedbysavages。WhileIwasstillindoubt，theballoonwasagainwrappedinclouds，andwewerelefttoblankspaceandtoconjectures。

Thewearytimedraggedon。HowIlongedformyunhappywatch！I

feltasthoughnoteventimewasmoving，sodumbandspell-boundwereoursurroundings。SometimesIwouldfeelmypulse，andcountitsbeatsforhalf-an-hourtogether；anythingtomarkthetime——toprovethatitwasthere，andtoassuremyselfthatwewerewithintheblessedrangeofitsinfluence，andnotgoneadriftintothetimelessnessofeternity。

Ihadbeendoingthisforthetwentiethorthirtiethtime，andhadfallenintoalightsleep：Idreamedwildlyofajourneyinanexpresstrain，andofarrivingatarailwaystationwheretheairwasfullofthesoundoflocomotiveenginesblowingoffsteamwithahorribleandtremendoushissing；Iwokefrightenedanduneasy，butthehissingandcrashingnoisespursuedmenowthatIwasawake，andforcedmetoownthattheywerereal。WhattheywereI

knewnot，buttheygrewgraduallyfainterandfainter，andafteratimewerelost。Inafewhoursthecloudsbroke，andIsawbeneathmethatwhichmadethechilledbloodruncolderinmyveins。Isawthesea，andnothingbutthesea；inthemainblack，butfleckedwithwhiteheadsofstorm-tossed，angrywaves。

Arowhenawassleepingquietlyatthebottomofthecar，andasI

lookedathersweetandsaintlybeauty，Igroaned，andcursedmyselfforthemiseryintowhichIhadbroughther；buttherewasnothingforitnow。

Isatandwaitedfortheworst，andpresentlyIsawsignsasthoughthatworstweresoontobeathand，fortheballoonhadbeguntosink。OnfirstseeingtheseaIhadbeenimpressedwiththeideathatwemusthavebeenfalling，butnowtherecouldbenomistake，weweresinking，andthatfast。Ithrewoutabagofballast，andforatimeweroseagain，butinthecourseofafewhoursthesinkingrecommenced，andIthrewoutanotherbag。

Thenthebattlecommencedinearnest。Itlastedallthatafternoonandthroughthenightuntilthefollowingevening。Ihadseenneverasailnorasignofasail，thoughIhadhalfblindedmyselfwithstrainingmyeyesincessantlyineverydirection；wehadpartedwitheverythingbuttheclotheswhichwehaduponourbacks；

foodandwaterweregone，allthrownouttothewheelingalbatrosses，inordertosaveusafewhoursorevenminutesfromthesea。Ididnotthrowawaythebookstillwewerewithinafewfeetofthewater，andclungtomymanuscriptstotheverylast。

Hopethereseemednonewhatever——yet，strangelyenoughwewereneitherofusutterlyhopeless，andevenwhentheevilthatwedreadedwasuponus，andthatwhichwegreatlyfearedhadcome，wesatinthecaroftheballoonwiththewatersuptoourmiddle，andstillsmiledwithaghastlyhopefulnesstooneanother。

***

HewhohascrossedtheSt。GothardwillrememberthatbelowAndermattthereisoneofthoseAlpinegorgeswhichreachtheveryutmostlimitsofthesublimeandterrible。Thefeelingsofthetravellerhavebecomemoreandmorehighlywroughtateverystep，untilatlastthenakedandoverhangingprecipicesseemtocloseabovehishead，ashecrossesabridgehunginmid-airoveraroaringwaterfall，andentersonthedarknessofatunnel，hewnoutoftherock。

Whatcanbeinstoreforhimonemerging？Surelysomethingevenwilderandmoredesolatethanthatwhichhehasseenalready；yethisimaginationisparalysed，andcansuggestnofancyorvisionofanythingtosurpasstherealitywhichhehadjustwitnessed。Awedandbreathlessheadvances；whenlo！thelightoftheafternoonsunwelcomeshimasheleavesthetunnel，andbeholdasmilingvalley——

ababblingbrook，avillagewithtallbelfries，andmeadowsofbrilliantgreen——thesearethethingswhichgreethim，andhesmilestohimselfastheterrorpassesawayandinanothermomentisforgotten。

Sofareditnowwithourselves。Wehadbeeninthewatersometwoorthreehours，andthenighthadcomeuponus。Wehadsaidfarewellforthehundredthtime，andhadresignedourselvestomeettheend；indeedIwasmyselfbattlingwithadrowsinessfromwhichitwasonlytooprobablethatIshouldneverwake；whensuddenly，Arowhenatouchedmeontheshoulder，andpointedtoalightandtoadarkmasswhichwasbearingrightuponus。Acryforhelp——loudandclearandshrill——brokeforthfrombothofusatonce；andinanotherfiveminuteswewerecarriedbykindandtenderhandsontothedeckofanItalianvessel。

CHAPTERXXIX：CONCLUSION

TheshipwasthePrincipeUmberto，boundfromCallaotoGenoa；shehadcarriedanumberofemigrantstoRio，hadgonethencetoCallao，whereshehadtakeninacargoofguano，andwasnowonherwayhome。ThecaptainwasacertainGiovanniGianni，anativeofSestri；hehaskindlyallowedmetorefertohimincasethetruthofmystoryshouldbedisputed；butIgrievetosaythatIsufferedhimtomisleadhimselfinsomeimportantparticulars。Ishouldaddthatwhenwewerepickedupwewereathousandmilesfromland。

Assoonaswewereonboard，thecaptainbeganquestioningusaboutthesiegeofParis，fromwhichcityhehadassumedthatwemusthavecome，notwithstandingourimmensedistancefromEurope。Asmaybesupposed，IhadnotheardasyllableaboutthewarbetweenFranceandGermany，andwastooilltodomorethanassenttoallthathechosetoputintomymouth。MyknowledgeofItalianisveryimperfect，andIgatheredlittlefromanythingthathesaid；

butIwasgladtoconcealthetruepointofourdeparture，andresolvedtotakeanycuethathechosetogiveme。

Thelinethatthussuggesteditselfwasthattherehadbeentenortwelveothersintheballoon，thatIwasanEnglishMilord，andArowhenaaRussianCountess；thatalltheothershadbeendrowned，andthatthedespatcheswhichwehadcarriedwerelost。Icameafterwardstolearnthatthisstorywouldnothavebeencredible，hadnotthecaptainbeenforsomeweeksatsea，forIfoundthatwhenwewerepickedup，theGermanshadalreadylongbeenmastersofParis。Asitwas，thecaptainsettledthewholestoryforme，andIwaswellcontent。

InafewdayswesightedanEnglishvesselboundfromMelbournetoLondonwithwool。Atmyearnestrequest，inspiteofstormyweatherwhichrendereditdangerousforaboattotakeusfromoneshiptotheother，thecaptainconsentedtosignaltheEnglishvessel，andwewerereceivedonboard，butweweretransferredwithsuchdifficultythatnocommunicationtookplaceastothemannerofourbeingfound。IdidindeedheartheItalianmatewhowasinchargeoftheboatshoutoutsomethinginFrenchtotheeffectthatwehadbeenpickedupfromaballoon，butthenoiseofthewindwassogreat，andthecaptainunderstoodsolittleFrenchthathecaughtnothingofthetruth，anditwasassumedthatweweretwopersonswhohadbeensavedfromshipwreck。WhenthecaptainaskedmeinwhatshipIhadbeenwrecked，Isaidthatapartyofushadbeencarriedouttoseainapleasure-boatbyastrongcurrent，andthatArowhena(whomIdescribedasaPeruvianlady)andIwerealonesaved。

Therewereseveralpassengers，whosegoodnesstowardsuswecanneverrepay。Igrievetothinkthattheycannotfailtodiscoverthatwedidnottakethemfullyintoourconfidence；buthadwetoldthemall，theywouldnothavebelievedus，andIwasdeterminedthatnooneshouldhearofErewhon，orhavethechanceofgettingtherebeforeme，aslongasIcouldpreventit。Indeed，therecollectionofthemanyfalsehoodswhichIwasthenobligedtotell，wouldrendermylifemiserablewereInotsustainedbytheconsolationsofmyreligion。Amongthepassengerstherewasamostestimableclergyman，bywhomArowhenaandIweremarriedwithinaveryfewdaysofourcomingonboard。

Afteraprosperousvoyageofabouttwomonths，wesightedtheLand’sEnd，andinanotherweekwewerelandedatLondon。A

liberalsubscriptionwasmadeforusonboardtheship，sothatwefoundourselvesinnoimmediatedifficultyaboutmoney。I

accordinglytookArowhenadownintoSomersetshire，wheremymotherandsistershadresidedwhenIlastheardofthem。TomygreatsorrowIfoundthatmymotherwasdead，andthatherdeathhadbeenacceleratedbythereportofmyhavingbeenkilled，whichhadbeenbroughttomyemployer’sstationbyChowbok。ItappearedthathemusthavewaitedforafewdaystoseewhetherIreturned，thathethenconsidereditsafetoassumethatIshouldneverdoso，andhadaccordinglymadeupastoryaboutmyhavingfallenintoawhirlpoolofseethingwaterswhilecomingdownthegorgehomeward。

Searchwasmadeformybody，buttherascalhadchosentodrownmeinaplacewheretherewouldbenochanceofitseverbeingrecovered。

Mysisterswerebothmarried，butneitheroftheirhusbandswasrich。Nooneseemedoverjoyedonmyreturn；andIsoondiscoveredthatwhenaman’srelationshaveoncemournedforhimasdead，theyseldomliketheprospectofhavingtomournforhimasecondtime。

AccordinglyIreturnedtoLondonwithmywife，andthroughtheassistanceofanoldfriendsupportedmyselfbywritinggoodlittlestoriesforthemagazines，andforatractsociety。Iwaswellpaid；andItrustthatImaynotbeconsideredpresumptuousinsayingthatsomeofthemostpopularofthebrochureswhicharedistributedinthestreets，andwhicharetobefoundinthewaiting-roomsoftherailwaystations，haveproceededfrommypen。

DuringthetimethatIcouldspare，Iarrangedmynotesanddiarytilltheyassumedtheirpresentshape。Thereremainsnothingformetoadd，savetounfoldtheschemewhichIproposefortheconversionofErewhon。

Thatschemehasonlybeenquiterecentlydecideduponastheonewhichseemsmostlikelytobesuccessful。

ItwillbeseenatoncethatitwouldbemadnessformetogowithtenoradozensubordinatemissionariesbythesamewayasthatwhichledmetodiscoverErewhon。Ishouldbeimprisonedfortyphus，besidesbeinghandedovertothestraightenersforhavingrunawaywithArowhena：anevendarkerfate，towhichIdarehardlyagainallude，wouldbereservedformydevotedfellow-

labourers。Itisplain，therefore，thatsomeotherwaymustbefoundforgettingattheErewhonians，andIamthankfultosaythatsuchanotherwayisnotwanting。OneoftheriverswhichdescendsfromtheSnowyMountains，andpassesthroughErewhon，isknowntobenavigableforseveralhundredmilesfromitsmouth。Itsupperwatershaveneveryetbeenexplored，butIfeellittledoubtthatitwillbefoundpossibletotakealightgunboat(forwemustprotectourselves)totheoutskirtsoftheErewhoniancountry。

Ipropose，therefore，thatoneofthoseassociationsshouldbeformedinwhichtheriskofeachofthemembersisconfinedtotheamountofhisstakeintheconcern。Thefirststepwouldbetodrawupaprospectus。InthisIwouldadvisethatnomentionshouldbemadeofthefactthattheErewhoniansarethelosttribes。Thediscoveryisoneofabsorbinginteresttomyself，butitisofasentimentalratherthancommercialvalue，andbusinessisbusiness。Thecapitaltoberaisedshouldnotbelessthanfiftythousandpounds，andmightbeeitherinfiveortenpoundsharesashereafterdetermined。Thisshouldbeamplysufficientfortheexpensesofanexperimentalvoyage。

Whenthemoneyhadbeensubscribed，itwouldbeourdutytocharterasteamerofsometwelveorfourteenhundredtonsburden，andwithaccommodationforacargoofsteeragepassengers。Sheshouldcarrytwoorthreegunsincaseofherbeingattackedbysavagesatthemouthoftheriver。Boatsofconsiderablesizeshouldbealsoprovided，andIthinkitwouldbedesirablethatthesealsoshouldcarrytwoorthreesix-pounders。Theshipshouldbetakenuptheriverasfaraswasconsideredsafe，andapickedpartyshouldthenascendintheboats。ThepresencebothofArowhenaandmyselfwouldbenecessaryatthisstage，inasmuchasourknowledgeofthelanguagewoulddisarmsuspicion，andfacilitatenegotiations。

WeshouldbeginbyrepresentingtheadvantagesaffordedtolabourinthecolonyofQueensland，andpointouttotheErewhoniansthatbyemigratingthither，theywouldbeabletoamass，eachandallofthem，enormousfortunes——afactwhichwouldbeeasilyprovablebyareferencetostatistics。Ihavenodoubtthataverygreatnumbermightbethusinducedtocomebackwithusinthelargerboats，andthatwecouldfillourvesselwithemigrantsinthreeorfourjourneys。

Shouldwebeattacked，ourcoursewouldbeevensimpler，fortheErewhonianshavenogunpowder，andwouldbesosurprisedwithitseffectsthatweshouldbeabletocaptureasmanyaswechose；inthiscaseweshouldfeelabletoengagethemonmoreadvantageousterms，fortheywouldbeprisonersofwar。Buteventhoughweweretomeetwithnoviolence，IdoubtnotthatacargoofsevenoreighthundredErewhonianscouldbeinduced，whentheywereonceonboardthevessel，tosignanagreementwhichshouldbemutuallyadvantageousbothtousandthem。

WeshouldthenproceedtoQueensland，anddisposeofourengagementwiththeErewhonianstothesugar-growersofthatsettlement，whoareingreatwantoflabour；itisbelievedthatthemoneythusrealisedwouldenableustodeclareahandsomedividend，andleaveaconsiderablebalance，whichmightbespentinrepeatingouroperationsandbringingoverothercargoesofErewhonians，withfreshconsequentprofits。InfactwecouldgobackwardsandforwardsaslongastherewasademandforlabourinQueensland，orindeedinanyotherChristiancolony，forthesupplyofErewhonianswouldbeunlimited，andtheycouldbepackedcloselyandfedataveryreasonablecost。

ItwouldbemydutyandArowhena’stoseethatouremigrantsshouldbeboardedandlodgedinthehouseholdsofreligioussugar-growers；

thesepersonswouldgivethemthebenefitofthatinstructionwhereoftheystandsogreatlyinneed。Eachday，assoonastheycouldbesparedfromtheirworkintheplantations，theywouldbeassembledforpraise，andbethoroughlygroundedintheChurchCatechism，whilethewholeofeverySabbathshouldbedevotedtosingingpsalmsandchurch-going。

Thismustbeinsistedupon，bothinordertoputastoptoanyuneasyfeelingwhichmightshowitselfeitherinQueenslandorinthemothercountryastothemeanswherebytheErewhonianshadbeenobtained，andalsobecauseitwouldgiveourownshareholdersthecomfortofreflectingthattheyweresavingsoulsandfillingtheirownpocketsatoneandthesamemoment。Bythetimetheemigrantshadgottoooldforworktheywouldhavebecomethoroughlyinstructedinreligion；theycouldthenbeshippedbacktoErewhonandcarrythegoodseedwiththem。

Icanseenohitchnordifficultyaboutthematter，andtrustthatthisbookwillsufficientlyadvertisetheschemetoinsurethesubscriptionofthenecessarycapital；assoonasthisisforthcomingIwillguaranteethatIconverttheErewhoniansnotonlyintogoodChristiansbutintoasourceofconsiderableprofittotheshareholders。

IshouldaddthatIcannotclaimthecreditforhavingoriginatedtheabovescheme。Ihadbeenformonthsatmywit’send，formingplanafterplanfortheevangelisationofErewhon，whenbyoneofthosespecialinterpositionswhichshouldbeasufficientanswertothesceptic，andmakeeventhemostconfirmedrationalistirrational，myeyewasdirectedtothefollowingparagraphintheTimesnewspaper，ofoneofthefirstdaysinJanuary1872：-

“POLYNESIANSINQUEENSLAND——TheMarquisofNormanby，thenewGovernorofQueensland，hascompletedhisinspectionofthenortherndistrictsofthecolony。ItisstatedthatatMackay，oneofthebestsugar-growingdistricts，hisExcellencysawagooddealofthePolynesians。Inthecourseofaspeechtothosewhoentertainedhimthere，theMarquissaid：-’IhavebeentoldthatthemeansbywhichPolynesianswereobtainedwerenotlegitimate，butIhavefailedtoperceivethis，insofaratleastasQueenslandisconcerned；and，ifonecanjudgebythecountenancesandmannersofthePolynesians，theyexperiencenoregretattheirposition。’ButhisExcellencypointedouttheadvantageofgivingthemreligiousinstruction。ItwouldtendtosetatrestanuneasyfeelingwhichatpresentexistedinthecountrytoknowthattheywereinclinedtoretainthePolynesians，andteachthemreligion。”

Ifeelthatcommentisunnecessary，andwillthereforeconcludewithonewordofthankstothereaderwhomayhavehadthepatiencetofollowmethroughmyadventureswithoutlosinghistemper；butwithtwo，foranywhomaywriteatoncetotheSecretaryoftheErewhonEvangelisationCompany，limited(attheaddresswhichshallhereafterbeadvertised)，andrequesttohavehisnameputdownasashareholder。

P。S——Ihadjustreceivedandcorrectedthelastproofoftheforegoingvolume，andwaswalkingdowntheStrandfromTempleBartoCharingCross，whenonpassingExeterHallIsawanumberofdevout-lookingpeoplecrowdingintothebuildingwithfacesfullofinterestedandcomplacentanticipation。Istopped，andsawanannouncementthatamissionarymeetingwastobeheldforthwith，andthatthenativemissionary，theRev。WilliamHabakkuk，from——

(thecolonyfromwhichIhadstartedonmyadventures)，wouldbeintroduced，andmakeashortaddress。AftersomelittledifficultyIobtainedadmission，andheardtwoorthreespeeches，whichwereprefatorytotheintroductionofMr。Habakkuk。OneofthesestruckmeasperhapsthemostpresumptuousthatIhadeverheard。ThespeakersaidthattheracesofwhomMr。Habakkukwasaspecimen，wereinallprobabilitythelosttentribesofIsrael。Idarednotcontradicthimthen，butIfeltangryandinjuredathearingthespeakerjumptosopreposterousaconclusionuponsuchinsufficientgrounds。Thediscoveryofthetentribeswasmine，andmineonly。

Iwasstillintheveryheightofindignation，whentherewasamurmurofexpectationinthehall，andMr。Habakkukwasbroughtforward。ThereadermayjudgeofmysurpriseatfindingthathewasnoneotherthanmyoldfriendChowbok！

Myjawdropped，andmyeyesalmoststartedoutofmyheadwithastonishment。Thepoorfellowwasdreadfullyfrightened，andthestormofapplausewhichgreetedhisintroductionseemedonlytoaddtohisconfusion。Idarenottrustmyselftoreporthisspeech——

indeedIcouldhardlylistentoit，forIwasnearlychokedwithtryingtosuppressmyfeelings。IamsurethatIcaughtthewords“Adelaide，theQueenDowager。”andIthoughtthatIheard“MaryMagdalene“shortlyafterwards，butIhadthentoleavethehallforfearofbeingturnedout。Whileonthestaircase，Iheardanotherburstofprolongedandrapturousapplause，soIsupposetheaudienceweresatisfied。

Thefeelingsthatcameuppermostinmymindwerehardlyofaverysolemncharacter，butIthoughtofmyfirstacquaintancewithChowbok，ofthesceneinthewoodshed，oftheinnumerablelieshehadtoldme，ofhisrepeatedattemptsuponthebrandy，andofmanyanincidentwhichIhavenotthoughtitworthwhiletodwellupon；

andIcouldnotbutderivesomesatisfactionfromthehopethatmyowneffortsmighthavecontributedtothechangewhichhadbeendoubtlesswroughtuponhim，andthattheritewhichIhadperformed，howeverunprofessionally，onthatwilduplandriver-bed，hadnotbeenwhollywithouteffect。ItrustthatwhatIhavewrittenabouthimintheearlierpartofmybookmaynotbelibellous，andthatitmaydohimnoharmwithhisemployers。Hewasthenunregenerate。Imustcertainlyfindhimoutandhaveatalkwithhim；butbeforeIshallhavetimetodosothesepageswillbeinthehandsofthepublic。

AtthelastmomentIseeaprobabilityofacomplicationwhichcausesmemuchuneasiness。Pleasesubscribequickly。AddresstotheMansion-House，careoftheLordMayor，whomIwillinstructtoreceivenamesandsubscriptionsformeuntilIcanorganiseacommittee。

Footnotes：

{1}ThelastpartofChapterXXIIIinthisGutenbergeText——DP。

{2}SeeHandel’scompositionsfortheharpsichord，publishedbyLitolf，p。78。

{3}ThemythabovealludedtoexistsinErewhonwithchangednames，andconsiderablemodifications。Ihavetakenthelibertyofreferringtothestoryasfamiliartoourselves。

{4}WhataSAFEword“relation“is；howlittleitpredicates！yetithasovergrown“kinsman。”

{5}Therootalludedtoisnotthepotatoofourowngardens，butaplantsonearakintoitthatIhaveventuredtotranslateitthus。Aproposofitsintelligence，hadthewriterknownButlerhewouldprobablyhavesaid-

“Heknowswhat’swhat，andthat’sashigh，Asmetaphysicwitcanfly。”

{6}SincemyreturntoEngland，Ihavebeentoldthatthosewhoareconversantaboutmachinesusemanytermsconcerningthemwhichshowthattheirvitalityishererecognised，andthatacollectionofexpressionsinuseamongthosewhoattendonsteamengineswouldbenolessstartlingthaninstructive。Iamalsoinformed，thatalmostallmachineshavetheirowntricksandidiosyncrasies；thattheyknowtheirdriversandkeepers；andthattheywillplaypranksuponastranger。Itismyintention，onafutureoccasion，tobringtogetherexamplesbothoftheexpressionsincommonuseamongmechanicians，andofanyextraordinaryexhibitionsofmechanicalsagacityandeccentricitythatIcanmeetwith——notasbelievingintheErewhonianProfessor’stheory，butfromtheinterestofthesubject。

End