11 
INTRODUCTION. 
nation and inquiry ; and his fhips, after bringing back vic¬ 
tory and conqueft from every quarter of the known world, 
were now employed in opening friendly communications 
with its hitherto unexplored recefles. 
In the profecution of an object fo worthy of the Monarch 
of a great commercial people, one voyage followed another 
in clofe fuccehion; and, we may add, in regular gradation. 
What Byron * had begun, Wallis t and Carteret { foon im¬ 
proved. Their fuccefs gave birth to a far more extenlive 
plan of difcovery, carried into execution, in two fubfequent 
voyages, conducted by Cook §. And that nothing might 
be left unattempted, though much had been already done, 
the fame Commander, whofe profeffional Ikill could only 
be equalled by the perfevering diligence with which he 
had exerted it, in the courfe of his former refearches, was 
called upon, once more, to refume, or rather to complete, 
the furvey of the globe. Accordingly, another voyage was 
undertaken in 1776; which, though laft in the order of 
time, was far from being the leaf! conliderable, with refpedf 
to the extent and importance of its objects; yet, Hill, far 
* Captain, now Admiral, Byron, had, under his command, the Dolphin and Tamer. 
He failed in June 1764, and returned in May 1766. 
f Captain Wallis had, under his command, the Dolphin and Swallow. He failed in 
Auguft 1766, and returned, with the Dolphin, in May 1768. 
% The Swallow, commanded by Captain Carteret, having been feparated from 
Wallis, and, by keeping a different route, having made different difcoveries, this may 
be confidered as a diftincSt voyage. The Swallow returned to England in March 
J 7 6 9- 
§ Captain Cook, in the Endeavour, failed in Auguft 1768, and returned in July 
I 77 I * 
In his fecond voyage, he had the Refolution and Adventure under his command. 
They failed from England in July 1772, and returned on the 30th of July 1775. 
3 
