INTRODUCTION. Ixxix 



fome undertaking upon the mod dtfinterejled motives ; his 

 only reward being the fatisfacStion he feels, in having been 

 able to do an eflential fcrvice to the family of our great 

 navigator, who had honoured him, in the journal of this 

 voyage, with the appellation of Friend. 



They who have repeatedly aflced why this publication has 

 been fo long delayed, need only look at the volumes, and 

 their attendant illuflrations and ornaments, to be fatisfied 

 that it might, with at leafl equal reafon, be wondered at, 

 that it has not been delayed longer. The Journal of Captain 

 Cook, from the firft moment that it came into the hands of 

 the Editor, had been ready for the Prefs ; and Captain King 

 had left with him his part of the narrative, fo long ago as 

 his departure for the Weft Indies, when he commanded the 

 Refiftance man of war. But much, befides, remained to be 

 done. The charts, particularly the general one, were to be 

 prepared by Mr. Roberts, who gives an account of his work 

 in the note * ; the very numerous and elegant drawings of 



Mr. 



* Soon after our departure from England, I was inftrufled by Captain Cook to 

 complete a map of the world as a general chart, from the beft materials he was in, 

 pofleflion of for that purpofe ; and before his death this bufmefs was in a great mea-. 

 fure accomplidied : That is, the grand outline of the whole was arranged, leaving- 

 only thofe parts vacant or unlinifhed, which he expeded to fall in with and explore. 

 But on our return home, when the fruits of our voyage were ordered by the Lords 

 Commiffioners of the Admiialty to be publiflied, the care of the general chart being 

 confignedto me, I was direded to prepare it from the lateft and beft authorities • and 

 alfo to introduce Captain Cook's three fucceflive tracks, that all his difcoveries, and 

 the different routes he had taken might appear together ; by this means to (^ive a 

 general idea of the whole This tafk having been performed by me, it is necelTary, 

 for the information of the E.eader, to ftate the heads of the fevcral authorities which. 

 I have followed in fuch parts of the chart as differ from what was drawn up im- 

 mediately under the infpeftion of Captain Cook : And when the Public are made 

 acquainted, that many materials, necellary to complete and elucidate the work, were 

 not, at the time, on board the Refolution, or in his poffeffion, the reafon will ap- 

 pear 



