Ixxvi INTRODUCTION. 



can never be remembered, without blulhing for religion 

 and human nature. But when the recefles of the globe 

 are inveftigated, not to enlarge private dominion, but to pro- 

 mote general knowledge ; when we vifit new tribes of our 

 fellow-crcaiures as friends ; and wifh only to learn that they 

 exift, in order to bring them within the pale of the offices 

 of humanity, and to relieve the wants of their imperfect 

 ftate of fociety, by communicating to them our fuperior 

 attainments ; voyages of difcovery planned with fuch be- 

 nevolent views by George the Third, and executed by Cook, 

 have not, we truft, totally failed in this refpecft. Our repeated 

 vifits, and long continued intercourfe with the natives of the 

 Friendly^ Society, and Sandwich Iflands, cannot but have 

 darted fome rays of light on the infant minds of thofe poor 

 people. The uncommon objedls they have thus had oppor- 

 tunities of obferving and admiring, will naturally tend to 

 enlarge their flock of ideas, and to furnifli new materials 

 for the exercifc of their reafon. Comparing themfelves 

 with their viliters, they cannot but be flruck with the deepefl 

 convidlion of their own inferiority, and be impelled, by 

 the flrongeft motives, to ftrive to emerge from it, and 

 to rife nearer to a level with thofe children of the Sun who 

 deigned to look upon them, and left behind fo many fpeci- 

 mens of their generous and humane attention. The very 

 introducflion of our ufeful animals and vegetables, by add- 

 ing frefli means of fubfiftence, will have added to their com- 

 forts of life, and immediate enjoyments ; and if this be the » 

 only benefit they are ever to receive, who will pronounce 

 that much has not been gained ? But may we not carry our 

 wifhes and our hopes ftill farther ? Great Britain itfelf, 

 when firft vifited by the Phcenicians, was inhabited by 

 painted Savages, not, perhaps, blefled with higher attain- 

 ments 



