INTRODUCTION. 
Tue reign of George III. will be referred to by future 
historians as a period not less distinguished by the brilliant 
exploits of our countrymen in arms, than by the steady 
and progressive march of the sciences and the arts. Oc- 
cupied, as a very considerable portion of that period has 
been, by a war, longer in its duration, more ferocious in 
its character, and more extensive in its ravages, than had 
ever before afflicted Europe, at least in modern times, 
the advancement of physical and geographical knowledge, 
though necessarily retarded in its progress, suffered but 
little interruption, if we except one memorable instance 
where a French General brutally seized the person and 
papers of a British naval officer, on his return from a voyage 
of discovery, and with unparalleled meanness, injustice, 
and inhumanity, detained the former nearly seven years 
in captivity, and purloined a part of the latter. With this 
exception, no war was waged against science; the im- 
pulse which had been given to geographical discovery 
still maintained its direction, and was never lost sight of, 
even by hostile fleets; witness, among other instances, 
the interesting and admirable survey of the coast of Asia 
Minor by Captain Beaufort, while commanding a frigate 
attached to the Mediterranean squadron, the account of 
which has recently been laid before the public. “ Indeed,” 
as Dr. Douglas has justly observed, “it would argue a most 
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