6 A VOYAGE TO Book I. 



of his royal academy might pafs over to Quito, in 

 order to make there the neceffary obfervations ; at 

 the fame time fliewing the intention and univerfal ad- 

 vantage of them, and how very remote they were 

 from any thing which tends to awaken a political jea- 

 loufy. Plis majefly, perfuaded of the candour of 

 this application, and defirous of concurring in fo no- 

 ble a defign, as far as was confiftent with the dignity 

 of his crown and the fafety of his fabjedts, referred 

 the matter to the council of the Indies; and, on their 

 favourable report, the licenfe was granted, with all 

 the neceffary recommendations and affurances of the 

 royal protedlion 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 molt precife orders 

 to the viceroys, governors, &c. in the 'countries 

 through which they were to pafs, to aid and affift them, 

 to fhew them all friendihip and civility, and to fee that 

 no perfons exacted of them for their carriages or la- 

 bour more than the current price ^ to which his ma- 

 jcfty vv'as p leafed to add the highefb proofs of his royal 

 munificence, and of his zeal for the advancement of ' 

 the fciences, and efteem for their profeffors. 



This general regard of his majefty was followed 

 by fome meafures, particularly defigned to promote 

 the honour of the Spanifh nation, and to give his 

 own fubjedts a taile for the fame fciences. He ap- 

 pointed two officers of his navy, well flcilled in ma^ 

 thematics, to join in the obfervations which were to 

 be made, in order to give them a greater dignity, and 

 a more extenfive advantage ; and that the Spaniards 

 might owe only to themfelves the fruits and im- 

 provem.eqts expected from them, tiis majefty alfo 

 conceived, that the French academicians, having thefe 

 oliicers in their company, VN^ould be more regarded 

 by the natives ; and, in the places through which they 

 .were to pafs, all umbrage would be thus removed 



froni 



