INTRODUCTION. 
XVll 
noticed these obligations in the course of my narrative : but as this could 
not always be done without inconvenience to the reader, I take this 
opportunity of more fully expressing my acknowledgments. 
In the compilation I have endeavoured to combine information 
useful to tbe philosopher with remarks that I trust may prove advan- 
tageous to tbe seaman, and to convey to the general reader the im- 
pressions produced upon my mind at the moment of each occurrence. 
How far 1 have succeeded in acquitting myself of the task my duty 
compelled me to undertake, I must leave to the public to decide, and 
shall conclude with expressing a hope that my very early entry into the 
service may be taken in extenuation of any faults they may discover. 
The collections of botanical and other specimens of natural history 
have been reserved for separate volumes, being far too numerous to 
form part of an appendix to the present narrative. His Majesty’s go- 
vernment having liberally appropriated a sum of money to their pub- 
lication, 1 hope, with the assistance of several eminent gentlemen, who 
have kindly and generously offered to describe them, shortly to be able to 
present them to the public, illustrated by engravings by the first artists. 
The botany, of which the first number has already been published, is 
in the hands of Dr. Hooker, professor of Botany, at Glasgow, who in 
addition to having devoted the whole of his time to our collection, 
as borne with the numerous difficulties and disappointments which 
lave attended the progress of the publication of this branch of natural 
ustory, and my thanks on this account are the more especially due to 
ira in particular. The department which he has so kindly undertaken 
wi extend to ten numbers 4to. ; making, in the whole, about 500 pages, 
an 100 plates of plants, wholly new, or such as have been hitherto 
imperfectly described. 
The other branches of natural history are under the care of Messrs. 
Edward Bennett, J. E. Gray, Bichard Owen, Dr. Bichard- 
son, B. N., and Mr. T. Lay, the naturalist to the expedition, and the 
geology of Professor Buckland and Captain Belcher, B. N. ; 'to all of 
whom I must express my warmest thanks, for their cordial assistance, 
and for the ready and handsome manner in which they have taken 
c 
