6 A VOYAGE TO Bopxl. 



of his royal academy might pais over to Quito, in 

 order to make there the neceíTary obfervations ; at 

 the fame time ihevving the intention and univerfal ad- 

 vantage of them, and how very remote they were 

 from any thing which tends to awaken a political jea- 

 loufy. His majeity, perfuaded of the candour of 

 this application, anddelirous of concurring in fo noble 

 a deiign, as far as was coníifíent with ihe dignity 

 of his crown and the fafety of his lubjeils, referred 

 the matter to the council of the Indies : and, on their 

 favourable report, the licenfe was granted, with all 

 the neceflary recommendations and ailurances of the 

 royal proteétion to the perfons who were to repair to 

 America ^ to make thefe obfervations. The patents, 

 which were made out for them on the 14th and 20th 

 of Auguit 1734, contained the moil precife orders 

 to the viceroys, governors, &c. in the countries 

 through v^hich <hey were to pafs, to aid and aííift them, 

 to fhcw them all friendfiiip and civility, and to fee that 

 no perlbns exaéled of them for their carriages or La- 

 bour more than the current price ; to which his ma- 

 jeñy was pleated to add the higheft proofs of his royal 

 m^mificcnce, and of his zeal for the advancement of 

 the fciences, and efleem for their profciTors. 



This general regard of his majefiy was followed 

 by lome mcafures, particularly defigned to promote 

 the honour of the Spanifh nation, and to give his 

 own fubjec9s a íafíe for the fame fciences. He ap- 

 pointed Uvo officers of his navy, well ikilled in ma- 

 thematics, to join in the obfervations which were to 

 be made, in order to give them a greater dignity and 

 a more exícnñve advantage; and that the Spaniards 

 might owe only to themfelves the fruits and im- 

 provements expected from them. His majerty alfo 

 conceived, that the French academicians, having thefe 

 officers in their company, would be more regarded 

 by the natives ; and, in the places through which they 

 Were to pafs, all umbrage would be thus removed 

 ' * from 



