INTRODUCTION. xiii 



main three months, I avail myself of the present opportunity to 

 forward to you abstracts of my two passages over your southern 

 routes, although not required to do so until my own return to the 

 United States next summer ; knowing that you are less amply 

 supplied with abstracts of voyages over these regions than of many 

 other parts of the ocean, and, such as it is, I am happy to con- 

 tribute my mite toward furnishing you with material to work out 

 still farther toward perfection your great and glorious task, not 

 only of pointing out the most speedy routes for ships to follow 

 over the ocean, but also of teaching us sailors to look about us, 

 and see by what wonderful manifestations of the wisdom and good- 

 ness of the great God we are continually surrounded. 



" For myself, I am free to confess that for many years I com- 

 manded a ship, and, although never insensible to the beauties of 

 nature upon the sea or land, I yet feel that, until I took up your 

 work, I had been traversing the ocean blindfolded. I did not 

 think ; I did not know the amazing and beautiful combination of 

 all the works of Him whom you so beautifully term ' the Great 

 First Thought.' 



"I feel that, aside from any pecuniary profit to myself from 

 your labors, you have done me good as a man. You have taught 

 me to look above, around, and beneath me, and recognize God's 

 hand in every element by which I am surrounded. I am grateful 

 for this personal benefit. Your remarks on this subject, so fre- 

 quently made in your work, cause in me feelings of the greatest 

 admiration, although my capacity to comprehend your beautiful 

 theory is very limited. 



" The man of such sentiments as you express will not be dis- 

 pleased with, or, at least, will know how to excuse, so much of 

 what (in a letter of this kind) might be termed irrelevant matter. 

 I have therefore spoken as I feel, and with sentiments of the 

 greatest respect." Sentiments like these can not fail to meet with 

 a hearty response from all good men, whether ashore or afloat. 



Never before has such a corps of observers been enlisted in the 

 cause of any department of physical science as is that which is 

 now about to be engaged in advancing our knowledge of the Phys- 

 ical Geography of the Sea, and never before have men felt such an 

 interest with regard to this knowledge. 



