320 ULLOA S VOYAGE TO SOUTH AMERICA. 



difadvantageous fituation of the places where they were to be made, and in fine, from 

 the very nature of the enterprife ! All thefe circumftances infinitely heighten the glory 

 of the monarch, under whofe aufpices the enteFprlfe has been fo happily accomplifhed. 

 This difcovery was referved for the prefent age, and for the two Spanifh monarchs, the late 

 Philip V. and Ferdinand VI. The former caufed the enterprife to be carried into execu- 

 tion, the latter honoured it with his countenance, and ordered the narrative of it to be pub- 

 lifhed ; not only for the information and inflruftion of his own fubjedts, but alfo for 

 thofe of other nations, to whom thefe accounts will prove equally advantageous. And, 

 that this narrative may be the more inftrudive, we fhall introduce the particular cir- 

 cumftances which originally gave occafion to our voyage, and were in a manner the bafis 

 and rule of the other enterprifes, which will be meafured in the fequel, each in its pro- 

 per order. 



The attention of the Royal Academy of Sciences at Paris for the improvement of 

 human knowledge, and its continual ardour to difcover and apply the baft methods for 

 that noble end, could not fit down contented under the uncertainty concerning the real 

 figure and magnitude of the earth, the inveftigation of which had, for feveral years paft, 

 employed the moft eminent geniufes of Europe. This learned aflembly reprefented to 

 their fovereign the neceffity of determining a point, the exadl decifion of which was of 

 fuch great moment, efpecially to geography and navigation ; and at the fame time laid 

 before him a method of doing it. This was, to meafure fome degree of the meridian 

 near the equator ; and (as was done with great propriety after our departure) by mea- 

 furing other degrees under the polar circle, in order to form a judgment of the different 

 parts of its circumference, by their equality or inequality, and from thence to determine 

 its magnitude and figure. No country feemed fo proper for this as the province of 

 Quito in South America. The other countries under the equinoctial line, both in Afia 

 and Africa, were either inhabited by favages, or not of an extent fufficient for thefe ope- 

 rations J , fo that, after the moft: mature refledlion, that of Quito was judged to be the 

 only place adapted to the plan in queftion. 



His moft Chriftian Majefty Lewis XV. applied, by his minifters, to King Philip, that 

 fome members of his Royal academy might pafs over to Quito, in order to make there 

 the neceffary obfervations ; at the fame time ftiewing the intention and univerfal advan- 

 tage of them, and how very remote they were from any thing which tends to awaken a 

 political jealoufy. His Majefty, perfuaded of the candour of this application, and de- 

 firous of concurring in fo noble a defign, as far as was confiftent with the dignity of his 

 crown and the fafety of his fubjeds, referred the matter to the council of the Indies ; 

 and, on their favourable report, the licence was granted, with all the neceffary re- 

 commendations and affurances of the royal protection to the perfons who were to 

 repair to America to make thefe obfervations. The patents, which were made out 

 for them on the 14th and 20th of Auguft 1734, contained the moft precife orders 

 to the viceroys, governors, &c. in the countries through which they were to pafs, 

 to aid and affift them, to fliew them all friendftiip and civility, and to fee that no 

 perfons exaded of them for their carriages or labour more than the current price ; 

 to which His Majefty was pleafed to add the higheft proofs of his royal munificence, 

 and of his zeal for the advancement of the fciences, and efteem for their pro 

 feffors. 



This general regard of His 'Majefty was followed by fome meafures, particularly 

 defigned to promote the honour of the Spanifli nation, and to give his own fubjeds 

 a tafte for the fame fciences. He appointed two officers of his navy, well Ikilled 

 in mathematics, to join in the obfervations which were to be made, in order to give 



them 



