INTRODUCTION. ;-\ 



m 



'were not accomplifhed, but at the expence of the valuable 

 life of its Condudor. 



When plans, caTculated to be of general utility, are car- 

 ried into execution with partial views, and upon interefted 

 motives, it is natural to attempt to confine, within fomc 

 narrow circle, the advantages which might have been de- 

 rived to the world at large, by an unreferved difclofure of 

 all that had been effeded. And, upon this principle, it has 

 too frequently been confidered as found policy, perhaps, in 

 this country, as well as amongfl: fome of our neighbours, 

 to afFc6l to draw a veil of fecrecy over the refult of enter- 

 prizes to difcover and explore unknown quarters of the 

 globe. It is to the honour of the prefent reign, that more 

 liberal views have been now adopted. Our late voyages, 

 from the very extenfive objeds propofed by them, could not 

 but convey ufeftil information to every European nation ; 

 and, indeed, to every nation, however remote, which cul- 

 tivates commerce, and is acquainted witli -navigation : and 

 that information has moil laudably been afforded. The 

 fame enlarged and benevolent fpirit, which ordered thefe 

 feveral expeditions to be undertaken, has alfo taken care 

 that the refult of their various difcoveries fhould be authen- 

 tically recorded. And the tranfacflions of the five firft 

 voyages round the world having, in due time, been com- 

 municated *, under the authority of his^Majedy's naval 

 Minifter; thofe of the fixth, which, befides revificing many 

 of the former difcoveries in the Southern, carried its opera- 



♦ The account of the four firfl: of thcfe voyages, compiled by Dr. Hawkefworth, 

 from the Journals of the feveral Commanders, was publifhed in 1772, in Three Vo- 

 lumes quarto; and Captain Cook's own account of the fifth, in 1777, in Two Vo- 

 lumes (-luarto, 



a 2 t-ions 



