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that his book was not dictated until twelve years after the events narrated。
Apart from Bruce； however； the sequel； like the previous continuation； contains a great variety of political； literary； and other allusions of the most purely topical characterDr。 Johnson's Tour in the Hebrides； Mr。 Pitt； Burke's famous pamphlet upon the French Revolution； Captain Cook； Tippoo Sahib （who had been brought to bay by Lord Cornwallis between 1790 and 1792）。 The revolutionary pandemonium in Paris； and the royal flight to Varennes in June 1791； and the loss of the 〃Royal George〃 in 1782； all form the subjects of quizzical comments； and there are many other allusions the interest of which is quite as ephemeral as those of a Drury Lane pantomime or a Gaiety Burlesque。
Nevertheless the accretions have proved powerless to spoil 〃Munchausen。〃 The nucleus supplied by Raspe was instinct with so much energy that it has succeeded in vitalising the whole mass of extraneous extravagance。
Although； like 〃Gulliver's Travels；〃 〃Munchausen〃 might at first sight appear to be ill…suited； in more than one respect； for the nursery； yet it has proved the delight of children of all ages； and there are probably few； in the background of whose childish imagination the astonishing Munchausen has not at one time or another； together with Robinson Crusoe； Jack…the…Giant…Killer； and the Pied Piper of Hamelyn； assumed proportions at once gigantic and seductively picturesque。
The work； as has been shown； assumed its final form before the close of the eighteenth century； with the nineteenth it commenced its triumphant progress over the civilised world。 Some of the subsequent transformations and migrations of the book are worthy of brief record。
A voluminous German continuation was published at Stendhal in three volumes between 1794 and 1800。 There was also a continuation comprising exploits at Walcheren； the Dardanelles； Talavera； Cintra； and elsewhere； published in London in 1811。 An elaborate French translation； with embellishments in the French manner； appeared at Paris in 1862。 Immerman's celebrated novel entitled 〃Munchausen〃 was published in four volumes at Dusseldorf in 1841； and a very free rendering of the Baron's exploits； styled 〃Munchausen's Lugenabenteuer；〃 at Leipsic in 1846。 The work has also been translated into Dutch； Danish； Magyar （/Bard de Mánx/）； Russian； Portuguese； Spanish （/El Conde de las Maravillas/）； and many other tongues； and an estimate that over one hundred editions have appeared in England； Germany； and America alone； is probably rather under than above the mark。
The book has； moreover； at the same time provided illustrations to writers and orators； and the richest and most ample material for illustrations to artists。 The original rough woodcuts are anonymous； but the possibilities of the work were discovered as early as 1809； by Thomas Rowlandson； who illustrated the edition published in that year。 The edition of 1859 owed embellishments to Crowquill； while Cruikshank supplied some characteristic woodcuts to that of 1869。 Coloured designs for the travels were executed by a French artist Richard in 1878； and illustrations were undertaken independently for the German editions by Riepenhausen and Hosemann respectively。 The German artist Adolph Schr？dter has also painted a celebrated picture representing the Baron surrounded by his listeners。 But of all the illustrations yet invented； the general verdict has hitherto declared in favour of those supplied to Théophile Gautier's French edition of 1862 by Gustave Doré； who fully maintained by them the reputation he had gained for work of a similar /genre/ in his drawings for Balzac's /Contes Dr？latiques/。 When； however； the public has had an opportunity of appreciating the admirably fantastic drawings made by Mr。 William Strang and Mr。 J。 B。 Clark for the present edition； they will probably admit that Baron Munchausen's indebtedness to his illustrations； already very great； has been more than doubled。
PREFACE
TO
THE FIRST EDITION
Baron Munnikhouson or Munchausen； of Bodenweder； near Hamelyn on the Weser； belongs to the noble family of that name； which gave to the King's German dominions the late prime minister and several other public characters equally bright and illustrious。 He is a man of great original humour； and having found that prejudiced minds cannot be reasoned into common sense； and that bold assertors are very apt to bully and speak their audience out of it； he never argues with either of them； but adroitly turns the conversation upon indifferent topics and then tells a story of his travels； campaigns； and sporting adventures； in a manner peculiar to himself； and well calculated to awaken and shame the common sense of those who have lost sight of it by prejudice or habit。
As this method has been often attended with good success； we beg leave to lay some of his stories before the public； and humbly request those who shall find them rather extravagant and bordering upon the marvellous； which will require but a very moderate share of common sense； to exercise the same upon every occurrence of life； and chiefly upon our English politics； in which /old habits/ and /bold assertions/； set off by eloquent speeches and supported by constitutional mobs； associations； volunteers； and foreign influence； have of late； we apprehend； but too successfully turned our brains； and made us the laughing…stock of Europe； and of France and Holland in particular。
TO THE PUBLIC
Having heard； for the first time； that my adventures have been doubted； and looked upon as jokes； I feel bound to come forward and vindicate my character /for veracity/； by paying three shillings at the Mansion House of this great city for the affidavits hereto appended。
This I have been forced into in regard of my own honour； although I have retired for many years from public and private life； and I hope that this； my last edition； will place me in a proper light with my readers。
AT THE CITY OF LONDON； ENGLAND。
/We/； the undersigned； as true believers in the /profit/； do most solemnly affirm； that all the adventures of our friend Baron Munchausen； in whatever country they may /lie/； are positive and simple facts。 /And/； as we have been believed； whose adventures are tenfold more wonderful； /so/ do we hope all true believers will give him their full faith and credence。 GULLIVER。 x SINBAD。 x ALADDIN。 x /Sworn at the Mansion House 9th Nov。 last； in the absence of the Lord Mayor。/ JOHN （/the Porter/）。
TRAVELS OF
BARON MUNCHAUSEN
CHAPTER I
＇THE BARON IS SUPPOSED TO RELATE THESE ADVENTURES TO HIS FRIENDS OVER A BOTTLE。＇
/The Baron relates an account of his first travelsThe astonishing effects of a stormArrives at Ceylon； combats and conque