INTRODUCTION. 



mere curiofity. The experiments and obfervations may 

 poflibly from their novelty, and the pecuHar circumftances 

 of the cUmate in which they were made, afford fome 

 entertainment to philofophers 5 and might perhaps have 

 been more numerous and fatisfaftory, if the purfuit of 

 the great objed: of the voyage had not rendered them, 

 however interefting in themfelves, but a fecondary con- 

 fideration. 



15 



