i6 A V O Y A G E T O 
CHAP, -^vould indulge a fpeculative ciiriolity, concerning the 
V— ' tendency of fiich an enterprize, there are few topics 
■ . ■ which would afford an ampler fcope for conje6lure. 
The fanguine might form expe6lations of extraordinary 
confequences, and be juftified, in fome degree, by the 
refiedion, that from fmaller, and not more refpe£l-able 
beginnings, powerful empires have frequently arifen. 
The phlegmatic and apprehenfive might magnify to 
themfelves the difficulties of the undertaking, and prog- 
noflicate, from various caufes, the total failure of it. 
Both, perhaps, would be wrong. The opinion neareft 
to the right was probably formed by the Governor him- 
felf, and fuch others among the leaders of the expedi- 
tion, as from native courage, felt themfelves fuperior to 
all difficulties likely to occur ; and by native good fenfe 
were fecured from the fedu6lion of romantic reveries. 
To all it mil ft appear a ftriking proof of the flouri fil- 
ing ftate of navigation in the prefent age, and a lin- 
gular illuftration of its vaft progrefs lince the early 
nautical efforts of mankind ; that vvdiereas the ancients 
coafted with timidity along the Ihores of the Mediterra- 
nean, and thought it a great effort to run acrofs the 
■narrow fea which feparates Crete from E^-vut, Great 
Britain, without helitation, fends out a fleet to plant 
a fettlement near the antipodes. 
5 
The 
