THE FIRST VOYAGE. 5 



The papers of Captain Cook contained a very 

 particular account of all the nautical incidents of 

 the voyage, and a very minute description of the 

 figure and extent of the countries he had visited, 

 with the bearings of the headlands and bays that 

 diversity the coasts, the situation of the harbours ia 

 which shipping may obtain refreshments, with the 

 depth of water wherever there were soundings ; the 

 latitudes, longitudes, variation of the needle, and 

 such other particulars as lay in his department ; and 

 abundantly showed him to be an excellent officer, 

 and skilful navigator. But in the papers which 

 were communicated to me by Mr. Banks, I found a 

 great variety of incidents which had not come under 

 the notice of Captain Cook, with descriptions of 

 countries and people, their productions, manners, 

 customs, religion, policy, and language, much more 

 full and particular than were expected from a Gen- 

 tleman whose station and office naturally turned his 

 principal attention to other objects ; for these parti- 

 culars, therefore, besides many practical observations, 

 the Public is indebted to Mr. Banks. To Mr. Banks 

 also the Public is indebted for the designs of the 

 engravings which illustrate and adorn the account 

 of this voyage, all of them, except the maps, charts, 

 and views of the coasts as they appear at sea, being 

 cop.ed from his valuable drawings, and some of 

 them from such as were made for the use of the 

 artists at his expense. 



As the materials furnished by Mr. Banks were so 

 interesting and copious, there arose an objection 

 against writing an account of ^tis voyage in the 

 person of the Commander, which could have no 

 place with respect to the others ; the descriptions 

 and observations of Mr. Banks would be absorbed 

 without any distinction, in a general narrative given 

 under another name : but this objection he gener- 

 ously over-ruled, and it, therefore, became necessary 

 to give some account of the obligations which he 



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