that could tend to promote the fuccefs of the undertaking,
or contribute to the convenicncies and health of thofe who
embarked in it.
The Admiralty Ihewed no Iels attention to fcience in general,
by engaging Mr. William Hodges, a Landfcape
Painter, to embark in this voyage, in order to make drawings
and paintings o f fuch places in the countries we
ihould touch at, as might be proper to give a more perfect
idea thereof, than could be formed from written defcriptions
only.
And it being thought o f public utility, that fome perfon
{killed in Natural Hillory Ihould be engaged to accompany
me in this voyage, the parliament granted an ample fum for
that purpofe, and Mr, John Reinhold Forfter, with his fon,
Were pitched upon for this employment.
The Board of Longitude agreed with Mr. William Wales
and Mr. William -Bayley, to make Aftronomical Obfervations
; the former on board the Refolution, the latter on
board the Adventure. The great improvements which
Aftronomy and Navigation have met with from the many
interefting obfervations they have made, would have done
honour to any perfon whofe reputation for mathematical
knowledge was not fo well known as theirs.
The fame board furnifhed them with the heft of inftru-
ments for making both aftronomical and nautical obfervations
and experiments ; and likewife with four time-pieces»
or watch machines; three made by Mr. Arnold, and one
made by Mr. Kendal on Mr. HarrifonY principles. A
particular account of the going of thefe watches, as alfo
the aftronomical and nautical obfervations made by the
aftronomers, has been before the Public by order of the
Board of Longitude,, under the infpection of Mr. Wales.
Beftdes the obligations I was under to this gentleman
for communicating to me the obfervations he made, from
time to time, during the voyage, I have fince been indebted
to him for the perufal of his journal, with leave to
take from it whatever I thought might contribute to the
improvement of this Work.
For the convenience o f the generality o f readers, I have
reduced the time from the nautical to the civil computation,
fo that whenever the terms A. M. and P. M. are ufed,
the former fignifies the forenoon, and the latter the afternoon
of the fame day.
In all the courfes, bearings, 8cc. the variation o f the
compafs is allowed, unlefs the contrary is exprefled.
‘ d 2 A nd