lxxxiv 1 N T R O D U C T I O N.
This public teftimony of gratitude, reminds the Editor,
that there are fimilar calls upon himfelf. He owes much to
Captain King for his advice and diredlion, in a variety of
inftances, where Captain Cook’s Journal required explanation
; for filling up feveral blanks with the proper longitude
and latitude; and for fupplying deficiencies, in the tables of
aftronomical obfervations.
Lieutenant Roberts was alfo frequently confulted, and was
always found to be a ready and effectual affiftant, when any
nautical difficulties were to be cleared up.
But particular obligations are due to Mr. Wales, who, be-
fides the valuable communications which have been adopted
in this Introduction, feconded moft liberally the Editor’s,
views of ferving Mrs. Cook, by cheerfully taking upon him-
felf the whole trouble o f digefting, from the log books, the
tables o f the route of the ihips, which add fo greatly to the
intrinfic merit of this publication-.
Mr. Wegg, befides fharing in the thanks fo juftly due to
the committee o f the Hudfon’s Bay: Company, for their
unreferved' communications, was particularly obliging to-
the Editor, by giving him repeated opportunities o f converting
with Governor Hearne, and Captain Chriftopher.
The Honourable Mr. Dames Barrington- had the goodnefs-
to in ter eft himfelf, with his ufual zeal for every work of
public utility, in. procuring 'fome neceflary information,,
and fuggcfting fome valuable hints-which were adopted,.
It would be great inj'uflrce not- to exprefs- our acknowledgments
to Mr. Pennant, who, befides enriching the third
volume with references to his Ardiic Zoology, the publication.
©£ which will be an important acceffion to Natural Hiftory,.
alfo
I N T R O D li C T 1 0 N. Ixxxv
alfo communicated fome very authentic and fatisfa&ory
manufcript accounts of the Ruffian difcoveries.
The vocabularies of the Friendly andSandwich Iflands, and
of the natives o f Nootka, had been furniihed to Captain
Cook, by his moft ufeful aflociate in the voyage, Mr. An-
derfon ; and a fourth, in which the language of the Efqui-
rnaux is compared with that of the Americans on the op*-
pofite fide of the continent, had been prepared by the Captain
himfelf. But the comparative Table of Numerals, which;
is marked No. 2. in the Appendix, was- very obligingly-
drawn up, at the requeft of the Editor, by Mr. Bryant, whor
in his ftudy, has followed Captain Cook,, and, indeed, every
traveller and hiftorian, of every age, into every part of the1
globe. The Public will confider this Table as a very ftriking
illuftration of the wonderful migrations o f a nation, about
whom fo much additional information has been gained b y
our voyages, and be ready to. acknowledge it as a very ufeful
communication.
Gne more communication remains to- be not only acknowledged,
but to be inferted at the clofe of this Intro*
duition. The tejlimonks of learned contemporaries, in commendation
of a deceafed Author, are- frequently difplayed-
in the front of his book. It is with the greateft propriety,-
therefore,, that we prefix, to this pofthumous work of Captain
Cook the teftimony of one o f his own profeffion, nor
more diftinguiftied by the elevation of rank,, than by the
dignity of private virtues. As he wiffies to- remain concealed',
perhaps- this- allufion. for which we intreat his indulgence;
may have given too exadt diredlion to the eyes o f
the. Public where to lbok for fuch a- character; Eet us, however,
reft fatisfied with the intrinfic merit of a.compofitfom,
e o n v e y e d i