Note: New Atlantis is an incomplete text.
European explorers happen upon a mythic island called Bensalem, which is Hebrew meaning "Son of Peace" or "Son of Wholeness." The island is part of the New World, west of Peru. The plot shifts to a utopian narrative, as the explorers found a new colony and institute a new kind of government where science is held in the highest esteem, above religion and political philosophy.
The colony starts at Salomon's House, an island university for those pursuing enlightenment. They conduct scientific experiments and are constantly attempting to acquire and synthesize new knowledge. The island was already Christian when the explorers arrived; natives have a letter from Saint Bartholomew, an apostle and disciple of Jesus Christ, as well as a Bible. The island seems to be commissioned by Jesus himself.
The people on the island are generally welcoming, kind, and of strong moral character. Officials on the island refuse to accept payments from individuals, and the inhabitants are often described as "chaste," emphasizing their pious and congenial culture. The Governor of the House of Strangers (where the crew is housed) explains how the island has remained relatively isolated for centuries, and how the ancient King Solamona implemented a series of laws that would keep people on the island while also allowing them to seek knowledge of the world beyond.
On the island, the narrator meets Joabin, a Jewish merchant who tells him about the strong moral character of the people of Bensalem. One day, the Father of Salomon's House comes to meet the crew and the narrator is granted special access to him.
The Head of Salomon's House gives a lengthy explanation of the island's geography, culture, work, and moral philosophy. He tells the visitor that the ultimate aim of Salomon's house and the island is to "[enlarge] the bounds of human empire" through rigorous interrogation. Before departing, he gives the narrator money for his crew and grants him permission to publish all he has heard when he returns to Europe.
