on Voyages to China. t-gt 



from the moft diftant parts of the World. 

 That other nations may not run away with all 

 the advantages arifing from carrying merchan- 

 dize from place to place, we are obliged to 

 fetch foreign goods ourfelves by long voyages. 

 It is advantageous to trade to take time, and to 

 have a free uninterrupted courfe ; and there- 

 fore we prefer going by fea : to this the com- 

 pafs is not only ufeful, but abfolutely requi- 

 fite ; yet it is probable that at firft: the effects 

 of the load-ftone were looked upon as trivial, 

 and it is doubtful whether the inventor got a 

 proportionable reward for its difcovery : but 

 time has (hewn, that the firft: "attention to this 

 object has been of great and almoft: ineflima- 

 ble ufe. Our attention mult therefore not 

 merely extend to thofe things of which we 

 already fee the ufe, but likewife to thofe from 

 which we dill may expect it. 



Follow me therefore, Gentlemen, over 

 the foaming waves to the Spanijh fhores, and 

 over a boiflerous fea to the riches of the In- 

 dus : but we fhall here mention only a fmall 

 part of what will gratify a laudable curiofity, 

 and confine ourfelves to domeflick ceconomy 

 and natural hiftory, which will be amply fuf- 

 K 2 ficient 



