D E D I C A T I O N .
the fame benignity, vouchfafe to accept it from
my hands, in difcharge of the melancholy duty
which has devolved upon me by that unfortunate
event.
I cannot but indulge the hope that the following
pages will prove to Y our Majesty, that
C aptain V ancouver was not undeferving the honour
of the trufl repofed in him; and that he has
fulfilled the obje£t of his commiffion'from Y our
Majesty with diligence and fidelity.
Under the aufpices of Y our Majesty, the
late indefatigable C aptain C ook had already fhewn
that a fouthern continent did not exift, and
had afcertained the important fa.61 of the near
approximation of the northern Ihores of Afia
to thofe of America. To thofe .great difcoveries
the exertions of C aptain V ancouver will, I
trufl:, be found to have added the .complete certainty,
that, within the limits of his refearches on
the continental Ihore of North-Weft America,
D E D I C A T I O N .
NO INTERNAL SEA, OR OTHER NAVIGABLE COMMUNICATION
whatever exifts, uniting the Pacific and Atlantic
oceans.
I have the honour to be,
S I R,
With the moft profound refpeft,
YOUR MAJESTY’S
Moft faithful and devoted
Subjeél and fervant,
John V ancouver.