Chap. VII.] Navigafioji. 8J 



in promoting the Lunar method of findmg the 

 longitude is worthy oi' partieular rcmiirk. The 

 exti'emc faeility with which that operation, formerly 

 so tedious and diiiicult, is now performed, even ])y 

 comman seamen, deser\es to he notieed as a di- 

 stinction of the age under consideration. 



The great angmentation in the number of Maps 

 aijd CharU, and the manifest improvements in their 

 construction, accuracy, and elegance, may also he 

 mentioned among the circumstances, which ha\e 

 coiitributed to the advancement of navigation in 

 modem times. The degree in which these improve- 

 ments have promoted the safet}', the comfoit, and 

 the expedition of late voyages, is scarcely within 

 the reach of ordinary calculation. 



But there are few modern improvements in tlie 

 art of navigation more gratifying to humanity than 

 the remarkable and very successful attention to the 

 Health of Seamen, Avhigh characterises the conduc- 

 tors of late voyages. The names of those who di- 

 stinguished themselves by devising and bringing 

 into use the most approved methods for promotmg 

 this end were respectfully mentioned in a preceding 

 division of this Avork, The great contrast which 

 the history of ancient and modern voyages presents, 

 with respect to the comparative destruction of the 

 liealth and lives of mariners which they pro'iuced, 

 cannot but forcibly arrest the attention oi every 

 reader, and exceedingly gratify the benevoleut 

 mind. Beside the improvements in diet and regi- 

 men on shipboardj to which modern science ;iiid 

 humanity have given rise, and which have contri^ 

 buted greatly to preserve the health of seamen, the 

 introduction of Veniilaiors into ships also deserves 



