INTRODUCTION. XXI 



Dr. Solander, he made such collections, both in Zoology and Botany, as had never 

 before rewarded the zeal and efforts of any single individual; and from regions 

 which till then had remained unexplored, and of some of which the very existence 

 was till then unknown, poured vast sums of her peculiar wealth into the general 

 treasury of Natural Science. 



Sir Joseph employed the influence he had acquired with the Government in 

 promoting the interests of that science, and securing to it a portion of the same en- 

 couragement which had been bestowed upon other branches of art and literature ; 

 so that to examine and collect the natural productions of a country, began, at 

 length, to be regarded as an important object, and to form part of the official duty 

 contained in the instructions delivered to commanders of voyages and expeditions 

 of discovery. 



And, certainly, merely to ascertain the geographical position and limits of any 

 country, considered as the sole object of such expeditions, although to the Geo- 

 grapher and Navigator confessedly of the first importance, yet considered per se, 

 and independently of any knowledge of the inhabitants and productions of such 

 country, it loses the largest portion of its interest. The advantages that may be 

 derived from an intercourse with it, furnish one of the principal motives for ex- 

 ploring it, and these may be ranged under two heads, accessions to science, and 

 accessions to commerce : the former as useful in the enlargement of the human 

 mind, in the improvement of the human intellect, and in adding to our stores of 

 knowledge ; as the latter is in the enlargement of our property, and in adding to 

 our stores of individual and national wealth. And the studies, labours, and obser- 

 vations of the man of science often lead to knowledge highly useful in ascertaining 

 how far the latter object may be promoted by intercourse with any given country. 

 The Zoologist, the Botanist, and the Geologist, each in his peculiar department, 

 may direct the attention of the man of commerce to those districts where such 

 productions of the animal, vegetable, or mineral kingdoms abound, as may be 

 made articles of profitable speculation. 



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