may ilill be allowed to confider them as a laudable effort to
add to the flock of human knowledge, with regard to an object
which cannot but deferve the attention of enlightened
man. To exert our faculties indeviflng ingenious modes of
fatisfying ourfelves about the magnitude and diflance of the
fu n ; to extend our acquaintance with the fyftem to which
that luminary is the common centre, by tracing the revolutions
o f a new planet, or the appearance of a new comet;
to carry our bold refearches through all the immenfity of
fpace, where world beyond world rifes to the view o f the
aftonifhed obferver; thefe are employments which none
but thofe incapable of purfuing them can depreciate,
and which every one capable of purfuing them mufl delight
in, as a dignified exercife o f the powers of the human
mind. But while we direft our ftudies to diflant worlds,
which, after all our exertions, we mufl content ourfelves
with having barely difcovered to exift, it would be a flrange
neglect, indeed, and would argue a moil culpable want of
rational curiolity, i f we did not ufe our befl endeavours to
arrive at a full acquaintance with the contents of our own
planet j of that little fpot in the immenfe univerfe, on
which we have been placed, and the utmoft limits of which,
at leaft its habitable parts, we poffefs the means of afcer-
taining, and defcribing, by adlual examination.
. So naturally doth this reflection prefent itfelf, that to know
fomething of the terraqueous globe, is a favourite objeCt
with every one who can tafle the loweft rudiments of learning.
Let us not therefore think fo meanly of the times in which
we live, as to fuppofe it poflible that full juflice will not
be done to the noble plan of difcovery, fo fteadily and fo
fuccefsfully carried on, fince the acceffion of his Majefly j
which
which cannot fail to be confidered, in every fucceeding age, as
a fplendid period in the hiflory o f our country, and to add to
our national glory, by diftinguifhing Great Britain as taking
the lead in the moil arduous undertakings for the common
benefit of the human race. Before thefe voyages took place,
nearly .half the furface of the globe we inhabit was hid in
obfcurity and confufion. What is ilill wanting to complete
our geography, may juflly be termed the minutice o f that
fcience.
4. Let us now carry our thoughts fomewhat farther. It
is fortunate for the interefls of knowledge, that acquifitions
in any one branch, generally, and indeed unavoidably, lead
to acquifitions in other branches, perhaps o f ilill greater
confequencej and that we cannot even gratify mere curio-
fity, without being rewarded with valuable inflruftion.
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 performed,
without bringing forward to our view frefh objedls of fcience.
Even when we are to take our report of what was
difcovered, from the mere failor, whofe knowledge fcarcely
goes beyond the narrow limits of his own profeffion, and
whofe inquiries are not directed by philofophical difcern-
ment, it will be unfortunate indeed, if fomething hath not
been remarked, by which the fcholar may profit, and ufe-
ful acceilions be made to our old flock of information. And
i f this be the cafe in general, how much more muil be
gained by the particular voyages now under confideration i
Befides naval officers equally Ikilled to examine the coafls
they might approach, as to delineate them accurately upon
3 theix ,