INTRODUCTION. 
lxi 
country, and to add to our national glory, by diftinguifhing 
Great Britain as taking the lead in the moil arduous under¬ 
takings for the common benefit of the human race. Be¬ 
fore thefe voyages took place, nearly half the furface of the 
globe we inhabit was hid in obfcurity and confuflon. What 
is flill wanting to complete our geography, may juftly be 
termed the minut'ue of that fcience. 
4. Let us now carry our thoughts fomewhat farther. It 
is fortunate for the interefl s of knowledge, that acquifitions 
in any one branch, generally, and indeed unavoidably, lead 
to acquifitions in other branches, perhaps of flill greater 
confequence; and that we cannot even gratify mere curio- 
fity, without being rewarded with valuable inflrudlion.' 
This obfervation applies to the fubjedt before us. Voyages, 
in which new oceans have been traverfed, and in which 
new countries have been vifited, can fcarcely ever be per¬ 
formed, without bringing forward to our view frefh ob¬ 
jects of fcience. Even when we are to take our report of 
what was difcovered, from the mere Bailor, whofe know¬ 
ledge fcarcely goes beyond the marrow limits of his own 
profeffion, and whofe inquiries are not diredled by philofo- 
phical difcernment, it will be unfortunate indeed, if fome- 
thing hath not been remarked, by which the fcholar may 
profit, and ufeful acceflions be made to our old ftock of in¬ 
formation. And if this be the cafe in general, how much 
more mull be gained by the particular voyages now under 
confideration ? Befides naval officers equally fkilled to exa¬ 
mine the coails they might approach, as to delineate them 
accurately upon their charts, artifls * were engaged, who, 
* Meff. Hodges and Webber, whofe drawings have ornamented and illuftrated this and 
Captain Cook’s fecond voyage. 
by 
