Ch.IX. south AMERICA. 419 



fevcral other gentlemen of the Royal Society, that I 

 might be admitted a member of that learned body, 

 rightly judging that fuch an honour could not fail 

 of adding an ardour to my defire of contributing to 

 the improvement of the fciences. Having thus hap- 

 pily nnifhed my affairs, and obtained my liberty at 

 the firft felicitation for it, I embarked at Falmouth 

 in the Lifbon packet boat ; my predominant incli- 

 nation now being to fee my native country, after 

 fuch a variety of adventures. On m.y fafe arrival 

 at Lifbon, I haftened to Madrid, which I reached 

 on the 25th of July 1746^ eleven years and two 

 months after my embarkation at Cadiz on this com- 

 mifTion. 



I found Spain in mourning for the lofs of its 

 late excellent fovereign Philip V. who had paiTed to a 

 better ftate, on the 9th of the fame month. My 

 firil care was to wait upon the marquis de la Enfe- 

 nada, fecrctary of ftate, with my papers, that he 

 might lay them before his majefty ^ v/hom God long 

 preferve. His majefty w^as pieafed to order that thele 

 papers fnould be publifhed under his patronage j a 

 declaration truly becoming a prince, who, to all the 

 eftimable qualities of a king and a man, has added a 

 love for the Iciences. 



Thus have v/e concluded a work, which has been 

 long expeded by all nations. Its importance en- 

 titled it to the encouragement of the greatcft 

 monarchs ; and the length of time employed in it, 

 has kept in an impatient fufpenfe, the learned of 

 Europe. 



INDEX 



