Explanation:

Here commences a new dominion acquired with a title by divine right … the earth reeking with the blood of its inhabitants.

Answer: This quotation comes from Chapter 12, Part 4 of Swift’s Gulliver’s Travels. This extract refers to British colonisation worldwide.

In the quoted extract, Gulliver criticises the practice of colonisation. During his time, British colonization expanded throughout the whole world. Even, they came to our land and made it their colony. Though they outwardly showed that their mission was nothing but to spread the light of civilisation to the dark lands, their attention was to establish their rule and to make it their colony. His picture of colonisation is one that looks familiar to modern eyes but was radical for Swift’s time. Swift employs his satirical technique here, first describing something without naming then creating an image in our minds and thus giving it the name of something different, provoking us to rethink old assumptions.

Thus, Swift presents the British colonial invasion throughout the whole world. He satirises it and expresses his regret for such an evil thing.