Chap. V.] Geography, Cj 



Toward the close of the seventeenth century, the 

 intercourse between distant nations of the earth 

 was greater than it had been at any former period, 

 and was considered higlily honourable to human 

 enterprise : but since that period it has been in- 

 creased to a wonderful degree ; insomuch that at 

 the present time the inhabitants of the remotest 

 countries have seen and know more of eacli other, 

 than those, in many cases, who resided compara- 

 tively in the same neighbourhood a hundred years 

 ago. 



Great advantages to Commerce have also arisen 

 from the geographical discoveries above recited. 

 The extension of the trade iovfurs to the north-west 

 coast of America, is one important and beneficial 

 event of this nature. This article of commerce was 

 rapidly becoming more scarce in those parts of the 

 world from which traders had before obtained it : 

 it was, therefore, a most seasonable and interesting 

 discovery to make them acquainted with a coast on 

 whicJi they might be supplied with the greatest 

 abundance, and which is likely to furnish an inex- 

 haustible store for ages to come. To this signal 

 commercial advantage might be added many others, 

 w^ere it expedient to enlarge on the subject. It 

 would be improper, however, to omit taking no- 

 tice, that the numerous groups of Islands, lately 

 discovered in the Pacific Ocean, have risen to un- 

 expected importance, and promise to be of still, 

 greater utility. These Islands afford very con- 

 venient victualling and watering places for ships; 

 and if the civilised nations who visit them were as 

 industrious and successful m introducing among 



Vol. II. F 



