Ch.IX. south AMERICA. 417 



in him to procure me my papers, or do me any other 

 good offices. 



Martin Folkes, Efq-, prefidentof the Royal Society 

 of London, a perfon equally diftinguifhed for his 

 learning, politenefs and readinefs to do every good ac- 

 tion in his power, being informed I was a prifoner at 

 Fareham, and that my papers were lodged at the ad- 

 miralty •, and fearing they might fall into the hands 

 of perfons entirely ignorant of their contents, and by 

 that means be miflaid or abufed, had applied for 

 having them delivered to himfelf ; alledging, that as 

 the fubjecl of them related to the fciences, none 

 could be fitter for them than the fociety. But as 

 they were unhappily mingled with many others of a 

 very different kind taken at the fame time, it was 

 difficult to feparate them without the prefence of the 

 author himfelf, to diftinguifh them by the hand and 

 other marks. By his affiilance and the alacrity of 

 Mr. Brookes, who was determined not to give him- 

 felf any reft till the affair was ended to my fatisfac- 

 tion, an order of the admiralty was obtained to the 

 fecretary of the India com.pany, to whom they had 

 all been fent, that I might make a fearch for them, 

 and thofe which 1 fliould feparate were to be fent to 

 the admiralty. This order rnet with fuch a pundual 

 compliance, that it was executed the very day of its 

 date. 



The prefident of the Royal Society, for whom 

 all the lords of the admiralty entertained an edeem 

 fuitable to his great merit, was again pleafed to inte- 

 reft himfelf in behalf of my papers and in regard to 

 his folicitations the examination of them was referred 

 to himfelf. This gentleman, who polTeffed in the high- 

 eft degree all the fecial and intelle6lual qualities, affabi- 

 lity without artifice, a genius which nothing could 

 efcape, an amiable deportment, and generous man- 

 ners, had from my iirfb arrival flievv^n me great 

 kindnefs ; he introduced me to the meetings of the 



Vol. II. E e " focicry 



