xxxiv 
INTRODUCTION. 
the Winter ; and, in the Spring of the enfuingyear 177 8, to ■proceed from thence 
to the Northward, as far as, in your prudence, you may think proper, in further 
fearch of a North Eaft, or North Weft p off age, from the Pacific Ocean into the 
Atlantic Ocean, or the North Sea ; and if, from your own obfervation, or any in¬ 
formation you may receive, there Jhall appear to he a probability offuch a pajfage, 
you are to proceed as above directed: and, having difcoveredfuch pajfage, or failed 
in the attempt, make the beft of your way back to England, by fuch route as you 
may think beft for the improvement of geography and navigation repairing to 
Spithead with both Jloops, where they are to remain till further order. 
At whatever places you may touch in the courfe of your voyage, where accurate 
obfervations of the nature hereafter mentioned have not already been made, you 
are, as far as your time will allow, very carefully to obferve the true fituation of 
fuch places, both in latitude and longitude ; the variation of the needle bearings 
of head-lands ; height, direction, and courfe of the tides and currents depths 
and foundings of the fea ; Jhoals, rocks, &c.and alfo to furvey, make charts, 
and take views of fuch bays, harbours, and different parts of the coaft, and to 
make fuch notations thereon, as may be ufeful either to navigation or commerce . 
Ton are alfo carefully to obferve the nature of the foil, and the produce thereof; 
the animals and fowls that inhabit or frequent it the fijhes that are to be found 
in the rivers or upon the coaft, and in what plenty; and, in cafe there are any 
peculiar to fuch places, to defcribe them as minutely, and to make as accurate 
drawings of them, as you can: and, if you find any metals, 'miner ads, or valuable 
ft ones, or any extraneous foffils, you are to bring home fpecimens of each as alfo 
of the feeds of fuch trees, Jhrubs, plants, fruits, and grains, peculiar to thofe 
places, as you may be able to colled, and to tranfmit them to our Secretary, that 
proper examination and experiments may be made of them. Tou are likewife to 
obferve the genius, temper, difpofition, and number of the natives and inhabitants, 
where you find any ■, and to endeavour, by all proper means, to cultivate afriend- 
ftjip with them ; making them prefents of fuch trinkets as you may have on board, 
and they may like beft ; inviting them to traffic ; and Jhewing them every kind of 
civility and regard but taking care, neverthelefs, not to fuffer yourfelf to be fur- 
prized by them, but to be always on your guard againft a,ny accidents. 
Tou are alfo, with the confent of the natives, to take pojfeffion, in the name of 
the King of Great Britain, of convenient Jituations in fuch countries as you may 
difcover, that have not already been difcovered or viftted by any other European 
power 1 
