314 



ULLOA's voyage to south AMERICA. 



of more penetration, but of founder judgments, could never afterwards, though pur- 

 fuing the fame routes, with their utmoft diligence difcover ; quickly loft that credit, 

 which novelty alone gave them ; and, being once exploded by fenfible judges, gradually 

 funk, firft into the contempt, and then into the oblivion, they deferved. 



Thefe books, however, are thus far ufeful, that they ferve to give us a clearer idea 

 of our wants, and a more juft notion, than perhaps we could other wife obtain, of the 

 qualities requifite to render voyages and travels truly worthy of efteem. They demon- 

 ftrate very fully, that, in the firft place, it is of great confequence, to know the cha- 

 raders of the authors we perufe, that we may judge of the credit that is due to their 

 reports ; and this as well in point of abilities, as of veracity ; for many writers impofe 

 on the world, not through any evil intention of deceiving others, but becaufe they have 

 been deceived themfelves. They relate falfehoods, but they believe them : we cannot 

 therefore juftly accufe them of want of candour ; the fault properly to be laid to their 

 charge is credulity. We are moft in danger of fuffering by thofe authors, who have 

 either lived in, or palTed through countries, that are rarely vifited, and into which few 

 are permitted to come. This protects their miftakes for a great length of time ; and 

 we know that prefcription is a fortrefs in which error often holds out a long fiege. 

 There cannot, therefore, be a more acceptable tribute offered to the republic of letters, 

 than voyages or travels, compofed by perfons of eftabliftied reputation for learning, and 

 in equal efteem for their probity. But the value of the prefent is much enhanced, if 

 thefe voyages or travels refpe£t countries little known, the coafts of which only, per- 

 haps, have been accidentally vifited by feamen, or haralfed and plundered by privateers, 

 perfons often of fufpefted faith, and almoft always of very limited capacities. Some 

 few exceptions indeed there may be to this general rule ; but even in regard to thefe, 

 there will be necelfarily great defects ; and, allowing them their higheft merit, they can 

 only report truly the little they have feen : and what idea can we form of a Turkey 

 carpet, if we look only at the border, or, it may be, at the felvage ? 



The authors, whofe writings are now offered to the public in an Englifh drefs, are 

 men of the moft refpeftable charadters, men diftinguifhed for their parts and learning, 

 and yet more for their candour and integrity : men who did not travel through accident, 

 but by choice ; and this not barely their own, but approved by authority, and approved 

 becaufe they were known to be equal to the tafk they undertook ; and that tafk was, 

 the examining every thing they went to fee, with all poflible care and fcrupulous 

 attention, in order to furnifh the public with fuch lights as might be entirely and fafely 

 depended on. This was the defign which they undertook : this defign they executed 

 with the circumfpedion it deferved ; and the punduality with which they difcharged it, 

 has procured them the juft returns of favour from their Royal Mafter, and the applaufe 

 and approbation of the beft judges in their own and other countries. Thefe are cir- 

 cumftances that diftinguifh, in a very fmgular degree, the following work ; circum- 

 ftances that, no doubt, will have their proper weight, and which it would be entirely 

 needlefs for us to enforce, though it would have been inexcufable not to have men- 

 tioned them. 



There is, however, one other circumftance that deferves particular notice, which is, 

 that, with refped to the characters and abilities of thefe gentlemen, all does not reft 

 either upon their writings or foreign authorities : they have been in this country ; were 

 feen and known by thofe who were beft able to judge of their merit ; and, in confe- 

 quence of that, are both of them members of our Royal fociety. They continued here 

 fome time, converfed indifferently with all forts of people, and were unanimoufly allowed 

 to have very extenfive views in refpe6t to fcience j great Sagacity j much application ; 



were 



