A VOYAGE TO 



Book VIT. 



the different fchemes and confequences in politics^ 

 fucceffive chain of which, rjenders hiftory £9 de- 

 lightful, and, to a refleding mind, fo infl:ru6tive. 

 The inconftancy, fo often feen in things the moft 

 folid and liable, is generally one of the moft power- 

 ful obftacles, to the advantages which might other- 

 wife be derived from works of any duration. How- . 

 ever great they are, either in reality, or idea, the per- 

 fedion of them is not only impeded by the viciffitudes 

 of time, and the inconftancy of things, but they even 

 decline, and fall into ruins. Some, thro' want of pro- 

 per fupport and encouragement ; while others, from 

 the mind being wearied out by delays, difficulties, 

 and' a thoufand embarrafsments, are abandoned the 

 imagination being no longer able to purfue its mag- 

 nificent fcheme. 



To meafure fome degrees of the Meridian near the 

 equator, the principal intention of our voyage, if 

 confidered only in idea, and abftradedly from the 

 difficulties which attended its execution, muft appear 

 eafy, and as requiring no great length of time but 

 experience convinced us, that a w^ork of fuch impor- 

 tance to the improvement of fcience, and the intereft 

 of all nations, was not to be performed v/ithout de- 

 lays, difficulties and dangers ; which demanded at- 

 tention, accuracy, and perfeverance. Befides the 

 difficulties neceffariiy attending the requifite accuracy 

 of thefe obfervations, the delays we were obliged to 

 make in order to take them in the moft favourable?-^ 

 feafons,, the intervening clouds, the Paramos, and 

 difpofition of the ground were fo many obftacles to 

 our making any tolerable difpatch and thefe delays, 

 filled us with apprehenfions, that if any other accidents . 

 ftiould happen, the whole defign would be rendered 

 abortive, or at leaft, fufFer a long interruption. * 



It has already been obferved that while we were 

 at Cuen^a, finiffiing our aftronomical obfervations in : 

 that extremity of the arch of the Meridian, we un- .» 



ipedledly 



