GENERAL INTRODUCTION 



TO 



THE SECOND VOYAGE. 



Whether the unexplored part of the Southern 

 Hemisphere be only an immense mass of water, or 

 contain another continent, as speculative geography 

 seemed to suggest, was a question which had long 

 engaged the attention, not only of learned men, but 

 of most of the maritime powers of Europe. 



To put an end to all diversity of opinion about 

 a matter so curious and important, was his Majesty's 

 principal motive in directing this voyage to be 

 undertaken, the history of which is now submitted 

 to the public. 



But, in order to give the reader a clear idea of 

 what has been done in it, and to enable him to 

 judge more accurately how far the great object that 

 was proposed has been obtained, it will be neces- 

 sary to prefix a short account of the several voyages 

 which have been made on discoveries to the Southern 

 Hemisphere prior to that which I had lately the 

 honour to conduct, and which I am now going to 

 relate. 



The first who crossed the vast Pacific Ocean was 

 Ferdinand Magalhaens, a Portuguese, who, in the 

 service of Spain, sailed from Seville, with five 

 ships, on the 10th of April, 1519. He discovered 

 the Straits which bear his name ; and having passed 



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