monstrous fictions, which some
authors obtrude upon us in their descriptions of remote countries.

"_The Narrative of Niels Klim_," though written so many years ago,
contains many satirical hits, exceedingly applicable to the present
time; thus showing that what appears to one age to be a whim altogether
new, may be, in fact, only some old notion newly promulgated. Greater
liberties were allowed at that period in literature than would now be
permitted. Holberg's humorous productions are not wholly free from a
fault, whose existence the taste of any age may explain, but does not
excuse.

After living in competency for many years in Copenhagen, he was, in
1747, created a baron by the king of Denmark. He died in 1754.

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APOLOGETIC PREFACE.

PETER KLIM AND ANDREAS KLIM, THE SONS OF THOMAS KLIM, AND GRANDSONS OF
KLIM THE GREAT, TO THE KIND READER.

Since it has come to our ears that some persons have doubted the truth
of this story, and that, consequently, the publisher of the subterranean
voyage has gotten, here and there, a bad reputation, we have, to prevent
all false accusations, held it advisable to prefix to this new edition
certificates from men whose honesty and sincerity are raised above all
distrust, and whose evidence will secure the publisher against all
opposition. The first two of these witnesses we know to have been
contemporary with our hero; the rest flourished at a period immediately
subsequent; and all are generally known as people venerable in virtue
and honesty, whose cool and sound judgments effectually preclude the
blandishments of cajolery, while their noble candor and undeviating
uprightness forbid the sanction of their names to whatever is, in its
nature, deceitful or fictitious. With the testimony of such respectable
persons, we shall bind the tongues of all false, prejudiced and sneering
critics, and, before these signatures, oblige them to acknowledge their
folly and take back their heedless accusations. The certificate sent to
my brother and myself reads thus:

"At the desire of the estimable and much respected young
men, PETER KLIM and ANDREAS KLIM, we, the undersigned, do
certify, that among the books and papers left by the
celebrated NIELS KLIM, we have seen a manuscript, with the
title, 'Subterranean Voyage.' To the same 'Voyage' were
added a subterranean Grammar and Dictionary, in two
languages, namely, Da