Yet, whatever I have said of my Brother is nothing in short to what his Family did. I thought my Sister his Wife, and my Nephews and Nieces his Children would have eaten me up alive for Joy. I had a very fine Apartment for my Lodging, and a domestic Servant always to attend me.
_Le Grand_ one of my Fellow Travellers having heard of my Arrival, did me the Favour to come and see me. He told me how, after having left _Goa_, he went to the Isle of _Java_, where he had the Happiness to be introduc'd into the Family of M. _de St. Martin_, and by him to M. _Van Reden_, Governor of Batavia, that by M. _Martin_'s Means he had, an Opportunity to improve in the Mathematical Lectures I had given him, by acting in the Post of Engineer, which had enabled him to live genteelly the rest of his Days. He told me also that _La Foret_ died in those Parts in very good Circumstances, but he knew not what was become of the others.
To do Justice to this Gentleman, I frankly own, that the frequent Conversation I enjoy'd with him contributed not a little towards refreshing my Memory with a great many Circumstances which I had almost utterly forgot, and that tho' this Narrative wants very much of being so perfect as it would have been, if I had preserv'd my Journals, or had the Conveniency every where of putting down what occurr'd, yet without him it would not have been near so compleat as it is.
If I have omitted some Things, I have on the other hand advanc'd nothing but what I was either a Witness of, or came to me from the first hand. And I would have publish'd this Account of my Travels some Years ago, had not substantial Reasons prevented me, and especially these two. 1. My Brother being concern'd in the great Farms of _France_, had such ill Success in them that he was forc'd to leave all, and come and settle in _England_, where he lives as private as possible, for fear the Court should hear of him, and give him Trouble. The other Reason is of no less Weight, and affects myself in particular. I was afraid lest my Book would excite the Ambition of some insatiable Monarch to conquer the Kingdom I describe and that he would compel me to serve as a Guide to those who should be employed in so difficult an Expedition. But alas! I am weary of travelling, and too old to bear the Fatigues which I have endur'd heretofore. My Nephews are intrusted with the Care of this Manuscript, after my Brother and I are dead, so that when it comes out in print the World may be assur'd that we are not in Being.