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PREFACE. 



I 



T is certainly a very true, as well as trite obser- 

 vation, that knowledge is the food of the mind ; 

 and if this be so, then certainly that ought to have 

 the preference, which is at once equally nutritive and 

 pleasant. On this account, books of voyages and tra-^ 

 veis have been in such general esteem, and at the same 

 time have been commended by persons of the greatest 

 sagacity, and in the highest reputation for superior 

 understanding. The pleasantness of this kind of 

 reading has attracted many, who had before no 

 relish for learning, and brought them by degrees to 

 enter upon severer enquiries, in order more effectually 

 to gratify that curiosity which this kind of study na^ 

 turaliy excites. Men of higher abilities have turned 

 their thoughts on this subject, from the consideration, 

 of its real utility. This induced the ingenious Hakluyt 

 to make that noble collection, which procured him the 

 patronage of queen Elizabeth's ablest minister. This 

 led the elder Thevenot, to enrich the French language 

 with a very copious collection of the same kind. And, 

 not to multiply examples, this made voyages and tra- 

 vels the favourite study of the judicious Locke, who 

 looked upon it as the best method of acquiring those 

 useful and practical lights, that serve most effectually 

 to strengthen and also to enlarge the human under- 

 standing.. 



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