AUTHOR'S PREFACE. x V 



In his letters from time to time he put me in 

 mind of publishing the account of my voyage; 

 but I always oppofed it, as believing that fuch 

 defcriptions could only pleafe naturalifts, or 

 lovers of natural hiftory ; but all my objec- 

 tions were furmounted by the advice of other 

 learned men, and efpecially by the order of a 

 great perfonage, for whom I mall always re- 

 tain the greateft deference. The following 

 fheets however ought to be confidered as writ- 

 ten at firfl merely for my own amufement. 



During thecourfe of our voyage, I obferv- 

 ed the latitude at all opportunities, and have 

 fo defcribed feveral fifli and birds, that if they 

 fhould occur to others they may be known by 

 them though they had never feen them be- 

 fore. Some which I have only feen at a dift- 

 ance, I have (till further examination) only 

 mentioned under the name which the failors 

 generally give them in the latitude, where 

 they either ft ay for a feafon or throughout the 

 whole year. I have remarked fwallows and 

 other birds when they approached our (hip, 

 that by a variety of obfervations of that kind, 

 c 2 we 



