Geography, 333 



number of islands, particularly JVer*^ Caledonia^ and 

 the Sandwich Islands, some of them large and 

 populous, and presenting important objects of com- 

 mercial and scientific pursuit. His observations 

 threw much light on the manners, the trade, the 

 affinities, and the probable origin of nations. x\nd, 

 finally, to the laudable exertions of this distinguished 

 voyager, and to those of the learned men w'ho ac- 

 companied him,'^ almost every branch of natural 

 history is indebted for great and valuable improve- 

 ments. And though to these important services 

 his life was finally sacrificed; yet seldom has the 

 memory of any man been loaded with more just 

 and liberal honours, not only by his countrymen, 

 but by the civilized world. 



AVhileCapt.CooKwas accomplishing the splendid 

 discoveries which have placed him above all rival- 

 ship in the history of modern navigation, the French 

 government, desirous of signalizing itself in the same 

 honourable career, began to project voyages for this 

 purpose. Accordingly, in 1766 AI. Bougainville, 

 a naval commander of talents and enterprise, was 

 sent on a voyage of discovery, in the course of which 

 he circumnavigated the globe. His discoveries were 

 numerous and important, consisting, particularly, 

 of a number of islands in the Pacific Ocean. He 

 displayed great abilities as an officer, observed with 

 accuracy, and reported with faithfulness; and the 



latter became peopled, as the general Deluge destroyed all the inhabitants 

 of the earth, excepting those who were miraculously preserved with Noaii, 

 in the Ark, which is generally supposed, after the subsidence of the waters, 

 to have rested on a mountain of Asia. So formidable did this difficulty 

 appear to some, that it led them to renounce their belief in the sacred his- 

 tory. It is true, several plausible, and even probable suppositions might 

 be made to avoid this impious alternative; but the discoveries of Cook, 

 and succeeding navigators, shov/ that there is no difficulty in the case. The 

 two continents are now known to approach so near to each other, that, 

 even throwing out of view the possibility of passing from one to the other 

 on the ice, the passage might easily have been eifccted by means of canoes, 

 or small Loatt. 

 b Sir Jos£PH Banks, Dr. Solander, Dr. Forstef, and several others. 



