13 



INTRODUCTION. 



tranfport the whole crew. In (hort, every thing which 

 could tend to promote the fuccefs of the undertaking, or 

 contribute to the fecurity, health, and convenience of the 

 fhips' companies, was granted. 



The Board of Longitude agreed with Mr. Ifrael Lyons 

 to embark in this voyage, to make aftronomlcal obferva- 

 tions. His reputation for mathematical knowledge was 

 too well eftablifhed to receive any addition from the few 

 opportunities which a voyage in fuch unfavourable 

 climates could afford. The fame Board fupplled him with 

 fuch inftruments as they imagined might be ufeful for 

 making obfervations and experiments. The Royal So- 

 ciety favoured me with fuch information as they judged 

 might ferve to dlred: my enquiries, whenever the clrcum- 

 ftances of the voyage fhould afford me lelfure and opportu- 

 nity for making obfervations. Befides thefe learned bodies, 

 I was obliged to many individuals for hints ; amongft 

 whom it Is with pleafure I mention Monfieur D'Alembert, 

 who communicated to me a (hort paper, which, from the 

 concifenefs and elegance with which it was drawn up, as 

 well as from the number of Interetthig objects that it re- 

 commended to my attention, would have done honour to 

 any perfon whofe reputation was not already eftablifhed 

 upon fo folid a foundation as that learned philofopher's. 

 To Mr. Banks I was indebted for very full inftru6lions in 

 the branch of natural hiftory, as I have fince been for his 



afliftance 



