The Life of Captain James Cook (Volume 1)

Book may have numerous typos, missing text, images, or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1789. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER THE SECOND. Continuation of the History of Captain Cook's Life, to the End of his first Voyage round the World. Chap. Tphere is scarcely any thing from which the II. natural curiosity of man receives a higher gratification, than from the accounts of distant countries and nations. Nor is it curiosity only that is gratified by such accounts; for the sphere of human knowledge is hereby enlarged, and various objects are brought into view, an acquaintance with which greatly contributes to the improvement of lise and the benefit of the world. With regard to information of this kind, the moderns have eminently the advantage over the ancients. The ancients could neither pursue their enquiries with the same accuracy, nor carry them on to the same extent. Travelling by land was much more inconvenient and dangerous than it hath been in later times; and, as navigation was principally confined to coasting, it must necessarily have been circumscribed within very narrow limits. The invention of the compass, seconded by the ardent and enterprizing spirit of several able men, was followed by wonderful discoveries. Vasco di Garaa doubled the Cape of Good Hope; and a new way being thus found out to the East Cha Indies, the countries in that part of the earth, II. became more accurately and extensively known. Another world was discovered by Columbus; and, at length, Magalhaens accomplished the arduous and hitherto unattempted talk of sailing round the. globe. At different periods, he wa- succeeded by other circumnavigators, of whom it is no part of the present narrative to give an account. The spirit os discovery, which was so vigorous during the latter end of the fifteenth and through the whole of the sixteenth century, began, soon after the commencement of the seventeenth century, to d...