INTRODUCTION. 



TH E fpirit of difcovery, which had long animated the 

 European nations, having, after its arduous and fuc- 

 cefsful exertions, during the fifteenth and fixteenth cen- 

 turies, gradually fubfided, and for a confiderable time lain 

 dormant, began to revive in Great Britain in the late 

 reign * ; and recovered all its former activity, under the 

 cherifliing influence, and munificent encouragement, of his 

 prefent Majefly. 



Soon after his acceflion to the throne, having happily 

 clofed the deflrudlive operations of war, he turned his 

 thoughts to enterprizes more humane, but not lefs bril- 

 liant, adapted to the feafon of returning peace. While 

 every liberal art, and ufeful fludy, flourifhed under his pa- 

 tronage at home, his fuperintending care was extended to 

 I'uch branches of knowledge, as required diftant examina- 

 tion and inquiry ; and his fhips, after bringing back vidlory 

 and conqueft from every quarter of the known world, were 



* Two voyages for difcovering a North Weft paflage, through Huclfon's Bay 

 were then performed ; one under the command of Captain Middleton, in his Majefty's 

 fhips the Furnace, and the Difcovery Pink, in 1741, and 1742. The other under 

 the direftion of Captains Smith and Moore, in the fhips Dobbs and California, fitted 

 out by fubfcription, in 1746, and 1747. 



Vol. I. a now 



