11 



INTRODUCTION. 



now employed in opening friendly communications with its 

 hitherto unexplored receffes. 



In the profecution of an object fo worthy of the Monarch 

 of a great commercial people, one voyage followed another 

 in clofe fucceffion ; and, we may add, in regular grada- 

 tion. What Byron * had begun, Wallis f and Carteret |. 

 foon improved. Their fuccefs gave birth to a far more ex- 

 renfive plan of difcovery, carried into execution, in two fub- 

 fequent voyages, conducted by Cook §. And that nothing 

 might be left unattempted, though much had been already 

 done, the fame Commander, whofe profeffional fliiil could 

 only be equalled by the perfevering diligence with which 

 he had exerted it, in the courfe of his former refearches, 

 ■was called upon, once more, to refume, or rather to com- 

 plete, the furvey of the globe. Accordingly, another voyage 

 was undertaken in 1776; which, though laft in the order of 

 time, v/as far from being the leaft confiderable, with re- 

 fped to the extent and importance of its objecfls ; yet. Hill, 

 far iefs fortunate than any of the former, as thofe objefts 



* Captain, now Admiral, Byron, had, ur.der his command, the Dolphin and 

 Tamer. He failed in June IjGj^, and returned in May 1766. 



f Captain Waliis had, under his command, the Dolphin and Swallow. He failed 

 in AuguH 1766, and returned, with the Dolphin, in May 1768. 



X The Swallow, commanded by Captain Carteret, having been feparated from 

 .Wall!?, and, by keeping a different route, having made different difcoveries, this may- 

 be confidered as a diftiniSl voyage. The Swallow returned to England in March. 

 J 769. 



§ Captain Cookj in the Endeavour, failed in Augufl: 1768, and returned in 

 July 1771. 



In his fecond voyage, he had the Refolution and Adventure under his command. 

 They failed from England in July 1772, and returned on the 30th of July X775. 



were 



