2 A VOYAGE TO Book Í. 



veis obftadcs, which otberwife would appear unfur- 

 mountablc. Deñre and refolution arc not, however, 

 always fufFicient to enfure lucceis ; and the belt-con- 

 certed meafures are not always proiperous. Divine 

 Providence, whofe over-ruling and incomprehenñblc 

 determinations direct the courfe of hanian actions, 

 íéems to have prclcribed certain limits, beyond which 

 all our attempts are vain. The cauleshis infinite wii- 

 dom has thought proper to conceal from us, and the 

 refult of fuch a conduce: is rather an obje¿l of our re- 

 verence than fpeculatlon. The knowledge of the 

 bounds of human underilanding, a difcreet arnule- 

 ment and excrcile of our talents for the demonfira- 

 tion of (ruths which are only to be attained by a con- 

 tinual and exteniive fludy, which rewards the mind 

 with tranquillity and pleaáire, are advantages worthy 

 of our higheft efteem, and objects which cannot be 

 too much recommended, in all times (he defire of 

 enlightening others, by lome new difcovery, has roofed 

 the induilrv of man, and engaged him in laborious 

 reiearches, and by that means proved the principal 

 fource of the improvement of the Iciences. 



Things which have long baffled fagacity and ap- 

 plication, have fometimes been dilcovered by, chance, 

 •The firmefl refolution has often been difcouragcd by 

 the infuperable precipicps, wiiich, in appearance, en- 

 circle his invefiigation. The reafon is, bccaule the ob- 

 fracles are painted, by the imagination, in the molt 

 lively colours ; but the methods of iurmounting them 

 efcape our attention; till, fmoothed by labour and 

 application, a more ealy paflage is difcovered. 



Among the difcoveries mentioned in hiftory, whe- 

 ther owing to accident or reflexion, that of the In- 

 dies is not the leaft advantageous. Thele parts were 

 for many ages unknown to the Europeans; or, at 

 leaft, the remembrance of them was buried in obli- 

 vion. They were loft through a long fucceffion of 

 tirac, and disfigured by the confufion and darknefs iii 



which 



