INTRODUCTION. iix 
Chinefe market; that market may probably be fupplied by 
a direct trade to America, from Canton itfelf, with tbofe 
valuable articles which the inhabitants of China have hi¬ 
therto received, only by the tedious and expenfive circuit 
of Kamtfchatka and Kiachta. 
Thefe and many other commercial improvements may 
reafonably he expected to refult from the Britifh difcoveries, 
even in our own times. But if we look forward to future 
ages, and to future changes in the hiftory of commerce, by 
recollecting its various paft revolutions and migrations, we 
may be allowed to pleafe ourfelves with the idea of its find¬ 
ing its way, at laft, throughout the extent of the regions 
with which our voyages have opened an intercourfe ; and 
there will be abundant reafon to fubfcribe to Captain Cook’s 
obfervation with regard to New Zealand, which may be ap¬ 
plied to other traCts of land explored byh im, that “ al- 
u though they be far remote from the prefent trading 
“ world, we can, by no means, tell what ufe future ages 
“ may make of the difcoveries made by the prefent In 
this point of view, furely, the utility of the late voyages 
muff hand confeffed; and we may be permitted to fay, that 
the hiftory of their operations, which will be completed in 
thefe volumes, has the jufteft pretenfions to be called wwa 
ig xst, as it will convey to lateft pofterity a treafure of inte- 
refting information. 
3. Admitting, however, that we may have expreffed too 
fanguine expectations of commercial advantages, either 
within our own reach, or gradually to be unfolded at fome 
future period, as the refult of our voyages of difcovery; we 
may ftill be allowed to confider them as a laudable effort to 
add to the ftock of human knowledge, with regard to an 
* Cook’s Voyage, Vol. i. p. 92. 
li 2 
objeCt, 
