P R E F A C E 
We mud however allow, that Tome Degree of Reflection is neceffary, to profit by this Kind of 
Reading, and that therefore the Benefits received by it, will be in Proportion to the Capacity and 
Attention of the Readers. But what of this? If a fmall Degree of Reflection will do much) if a 
moderate Attention will do all, and if a Method can be devifed to excite fuch a Spirit of Reflection, 
and preferve fuch a conftant Attention from every Reader $ what kind of Literature deferves fo great 
Encouragement? Yet there is nothing eafier than to demonflrate this to the Satisfaction even of 
the mod ftubborn Critic. For, without affeCting to play with Words, what Way fo likely to convey 
univerfal Knowledge, as exhibiting a complete View of the Univerfe? In other Branches of Learn- 
ing, we may arrive at the Knowledge of abdrufer Things, but in none can we come at what is 
more ufeful. Homer opens his Odyjfey with obferving, that Travel had made Ulyffes the wifeft 
Man of his Age 5 and the great View of that excellent Writer is, to inftil Wifdom pleafantly by 
a poetical Defcription of that Hero's Travels. Can there be any thing more fatisfaCtory, with 
refped either to Reafon or Authority, than this? Can any Man doubt, that the feeing different 
Countries, conftdering the feveral Humours, Cufloms and Conditions of various Nations, and 
comparing them with each other, and our own, is the readied Way to Wifdom ? Or can we 
fufped, that the Reputation of Homer , and his Poem, would have fubfifled fo many Ages, if it 
had been built upon a falfe Polition ? 
This Kind of Knowledge, of all others, mod opens and inlarges the Mind. Some Studies 
ingulph and fwallow us up, fo that we have no longer Attention for any thing elfe 5 and this is 
that learned Didemper which the World calls Pedantry. But the Reading of Voyages and Travels 
is not only free from this Difadvantage, fince it contains a perpetual Variety of Subjects, but is in 
Truth the bed Cure for Pedantry 5 fince, if a Man can be once induced to entertain himfelf this 
way, he mud neceffarily fee the Folly of purfuing any fingle Scheme of Science too far. The 
Utility therefore, as well as Pleafure of this Courfe of Reading, cannot be difputed. But there 
is another Objection that preffes more clofely ; and it is this, that the pretending to grafp the 
whole Circle of Science in this Way, by perufing the Voyages and Travels into and through ail the 
Countries in the Globe, is altogether as endlefs, though, perhaps, a lefs tedious Method of acquiring 
Knowledge, than any hitherto propofed. Yet I venture to affirm, that even this Objection may 
be like wife anfwered, and the Truth of the contrary Propofition made mod evident j which is the 
fecondPart of the Task I undertook to perform. 
This Humour of Defpairing on the remote ProfpeCt of Hardfhips, and fup poling Difficulties at 
fird Sight to be infurmountable, has often proved a Bar to great and generous Undertakings. If 
Columbus could have been difeouraged by fuch a ProfpeCt, or diverted from his Purpofe by the 
Encounter of many Difficulties, he had never fucceeded fo far as he did in his Project of Sailing 
round the Globe. Or if his Example had frighted Magellan from contemplating his Reafons from 
the Conlideration of his Fate, the Tour of the Globe might have been yet unmade. But lince we 
fee that thefe magnanimous Men were not only capable of forming fuch vad Deligns, but alfo of 
carrying them into Execution, it ought furely to encourage us in our Labours of another Kind 5 
becaufe it mud convince us, that, with like Steadinefs and Application, fomething of the fame 
Sort may be performed in this Way, if a right Method be taken. 
In order to come at this Method, it is requifite to condder what we would avoid, and what we 
would obtain. As to the former, we can ealily difeern, that the running through a Multiplicity 
of Books, mod of them incumbered with Matters foreign to our Purpofe, and all of them, from 
their very Nature, fubjeCt to tedious Repetitions, is what we ought to be mod afraid of. Every 
Writer of Voyages and Travels purfues a particular Plan, which, however agreeable to his Purpofe, 
mud be wide of ours 5 for while he aims, either at a copious Detail of his own Adventures, or at 
a general Difplay of his Learning and Difcoveries, we defire to hear no more than what relates to 
the Point, iliudrated by fuch Circumdances as may enable us to conceive it fully, and come at it 
with Pleafure ; hence it appears, that a 'voluminous Collection of different Voyages and Travels, 
though the bed in their Kind that can be met with, and digeded in the bed Order that can poffibly 
t be invented, will fcarce anfwer this End ; becaufe the very Perufal of them will cod more Time than 
mod People have to bedow j and the comparing, collecting, and digeding their Contents, would 
demand fuch a Degree of Labour and CircumfpeCtion, as very few Readers would be inclined to 
4 afford, 
