neither its extent nor figure fhould have been
afcertained. But the caufe has probably been,
that fovereign Princes have feldom any other
motive for attempting the difcovery of new
countries than to conquer them, that the advantages
of conquering countries which muft
firft be difcovered are remote and uncertain,
and that ambition has always found objedfts
nearer home.
It is the diftinguilhing characteriftic of Your
Majefty to add from more liberal motives j and
having the belt fleet, and the braveft as well
as moft able navigators in Europe, Your
Majefty has, not with a view to the acquifition
of treafure, or the extent of dominion, but the
improvement of commerce and the increale
and diffufion of knowlege, undertaken what
has fo long been negledded j and under Your
Majefty’s aufpices, in little more than feven
years, difcoveries have been made far greater
than thofe of all the navigators in the world
9 colcollectively,
from the expedition of Columbus
to the prefent time.
T o have been appointed to record them,
and permitted to infcribe the Narrative to Your
Majefty, is an honour, the fenfe of which will
always be retained with the warmeft gratitude,
by
YOUR MAJESTY’S
Moft faithful,
Bromleï,. Kent,
ift May 1773.
and moft obliged
Subject and Servant,
JOHN H AWK E SWO R T f t