4 INTRODUCTION TO THE 



were now employed in opening friendly commu- 

 nications with its hitherto unexplored recesses. 



In the prosecution of an object so worthy of the 

 Monarch of a great commercial people, one voyage 

 followed another in close succession ; and we may 

 add, in regular gradation. What Byron* had begun, 

 Wallis t and Carteret J soon improved. Their suc- 

 cess gave birth to a far more extensive plan of dis- 

 covery, carried into execution, in two subsequent 

 voyages, conducted by Cook. And that nothing 

 might be left unattempted, though much had been 

 already done, the same commander, whose profes- 

 sional skill could only be equalled by the persevering 

 diligence with which he had exerted it, in the course 

 of his former researches, was called upon, once more, 

 to resume, or rather to complete, the survey of the 

 globe. Accordingly, another voyage was under- 

 taken in 1776 j which, though last in the order of 

 time, was far from being the least considerable, with 

 respect to the extent and importance of its objects ; 

 yet, still, far less fortunate than any of the former, 

 as those objects were not accomplished, but at the 

 expence of the valuable life of its conductor. 



When plans, calculated to be of general utility, are 

 carried into execution with partial views, and upon 



* Captain, now Admiral, Byron had under his command the 

 Dolphin and Tamer. He sailed in June, 1764, and returned in 

 May, 1766. 



f- Captain Wallis had under his command the Dolphin and 

 Swallow. He sailed in August, 1766, and returned, with the 

 Dolphin, in May, 1768. 



J The Swallow, commanded by Captain Carteret, having been 

 separated from Wallis, and, by keeping a different route, having 

 made different discoveries, this may be considered as a distinct 

 voyage. The Swallow returned to England in March 1769. 



Captain Cook, in the Endeavour, sailed in August 1768, and 

 returned in July, 1771. 



In his second voyage, he had the Resolution and Adventure 

 under his command. They sailed from England in July, 1772,, 

 and returned on the 30th of July, 1775. 



