INTRODUCTION. Ik 



Chinefe market ; that market may probably be fupplied by 

 a direcft trade to America, from Canton itfelf, with thofe 

 valuable articles which the inhabitants of China have hi- 

 therto received, only by the tedious and expenfive circuit of 

 Kamtfchatka and Kiachta. 



Thefe and many other commercial improvements may 

 reafonably be expedled to refult from the Britifli difcoveriesj 

 even in our own times. But if we look forward to future 

 ages, and to future changes in the hiftory of commerce, by 

 recollecting its various pad revolutions and migrations, 

 we may be allowed to pleafe ourfelves with the idea of its 

 finding its way, at laft, throughout the extent of the 

 regions with v/hich our voyages have opened an intercourfeJ 

 and there will be abundant reafon to fubfcribe to Captain 

 Cook's obfervation with regard to New Zealand, which may 

 be applied to other tracks of land explored by him, that 

 *' although they be far remote from the prefent trading 

 " world, we can, by no means, tell what ufe future ages 

 " may make of the difcoveries made by the prefent *." In 

 this point of view, furely, the utility of the late voyages 

 mull Hand confelTed ; and we may be permitted to fay, that 

 the hiftory of their operations, which will be completed in 

 thefe volumes, has the jufteft pretenfions to be called xT^|ita 

 e? ecu, as it will convey to lateft pofterity a treafure of intereft- 

 ing information. 



3. Admitting, however, that we may have expreiTed too 

 fanguine expedlations of commercial advantages, either 

 ■within our own reach, or gradually to be unfolded at fome 

 future period, as the refult of our voyages of difcovery ; we 



* Cook's Voyage, Vol. i. p. 02. 



h 2 may 



