58 INTRODUCTION TO THE 



will partake of the benefit ; but Great Britain herself, 

 whose commerce is boundless, must take the lead in 

 reaping the full advantage of her own discoveries. 



In consequence of all these various improvements 

 lessening the apprehensions of engaging in long 

 voyages, may we not reasonably indulge the pleasing 

 hope that fresh branches of commerce may, even in 

 our time, be attempted, and successively carried on? 

 Our hardy adventurers in the whale-fishery have 

 already found their way, within these few years, into 

 the South Atlantic ; and who knows what fresh 

 sources of commerce may still be opened, if the pros- 

 pect of gain can be added, to keep alive the spirit of 

 enterprise ? If the situation of Great Britain be too 

 remote, other trading nations will assuredly avail 

 themselves of our discoveries. We may soon expect 

 to hear that the Russians, now instructed by us 

 where to find the American continent, have extended 

 their voyages from the Fox Islands to Cook's River, 

 and Prince William's Sound. And if Spain itself 

 should not be tempted to trade from its most nor- 

 thern Mexican ports, by the fresh mine of wealth 

 discovered in the furs of King George's Sound, 

 which they may transport in their Manilla ships, as a 

 favourite commodity for the Chinese market, that 

 market may probably be supplied by a direct trade 

 to America, from Canton itself, with those valuable 

 articles which the inhabitants of China have hitherto 

 received only by the tedious and expensive circuit 

 of Kamtschatka and Kiachta. 



These and many other commercial improvements 

 may reasonably be expected to result from the British 

 discoveries, even in our own times. But if we look 

 forward to future ages, and to future changes in the 

 history of commerce, by recollecting its various past 

 revolutions and migrations, we may be allowed to 

 please ourselves with the idea of its finding its way, 

 at last, throughout the extent of the regions with 

 which our voyages have opened an intercourse; and 



