would now feek for it, or give himfelf the trouble of perufing it? Not a fingle Poetefs, deferving to be mentioned, arofe in this cour try till the feventeenth century. The Duchefs of Newcastle, Mrs Katherine Philips, and Mrs Behn, appear to have been the first who could, in any degree. merit that appellation. If we come down to later times, we fhall be fenfible that, independently of poetry, the learned women of the fixteenth century have been far exceeded by the ingenious ladies of the prefent age, both in the general and extenfive utility of their writings, and in the elegancies of competition. We pretend not to enumerate all thofe whofe works will be read and admired by fucceeding generations; but it is impoffible, whilt we are treating on fuch a fubject, to forget the names of a Cockburn, a Rowe, a Montagu, a Carter, a Chapone, a More, and a Barbauld. We are fpeaking of profe works only, fince otherwife we could not avoid adding to the catalogue a Seward and a Williams. Neither does novel-writing come under our immediate view, to which fo many, perhaps too many female authors, apply themfelves, though none with a fuccefs equal to that of a Bur

ney.

There is a remark to be made concerning the difference between the literature of the ladies of the fixteenth century, and that of the women of more recent times. The former entered deeply into the ftudy of the ancient languages, whilft the latter, befides acquiring a fkill in the modern tongues, efpecially the French and the Italian, have paid their principle attention to the culti

tivation of general knowledge. Some of them, however, have been no fmall proficients in the learning of antiquity. Mrs Carter ftands, without competition, at the head of her fex in this refpect; having difplayed her accurate acquaintance with the Greek writings and philofophy, in a manner highly honourable to herfelf, and advantageous to the world. How admirably Mrs Barbauld hath entered into the fpirit of the Latin claffics, is apparent from the uncommon propriety and beauty of her mottos. Montagu, in her admirable Effay on the Writings and Genius of Shakespeare, hath fhewn that, amongst the other qualifications neceffary to confitute a Critic of the firft order, fuch as a penetrating mind, a fine tafte, and a correct and elegant ftyle, fhe is well acquainted with ancient literature, and rich in the flores of various knowledge.

Mrs

Another circumftance obfervable in the learned ladies of the fixteenth cen tury is, that they were moft eminent for their piety. Religion was deeply impreffed upon their minds, and, agreeably to the fafhion of the times, religion was aimoft the fole topic of their writings. It is pleafing to reflect, that the beft female authors of the prefent day are not inferior to them in pious and virtuous principles and conduct. Thofe who have the happinefs of a perfonal intimacy with Mirz Montagu, Mrs Carter, Mrs Barbauld, Mrs Chapone, and Mifs Hannah More, will know that we feak the truth; to which may be added, that thefe ladies are unaffected in their manners, and that they do not esteer themfelves above the ordinary duties of domeftic life.

have confuted fanciful theories, too likely to give birth to impracticable undertakings. The ingenious reveries of fpeculative philofophers, which have fo long amufed the learned, and raised the most fanguine expectations, are now obliged to fubmit, perhaps with reluctance, to the fober dictates of truth and experience. Nor will it be only by difcouraging future unprofitable fearches, that the late voyages will be of fervice to mankind, but alfo by leffening the dangers and diftreffes formerly experienced in thofe feas which are within the actual line of commerce and navigation. From the British difcoveries, many commercial improvements may be expected to arife in our own times; but, in future ages, fuch improvements may be extended to a degree, of which, at prefent, we have no conception. In the long chain of caufes and effects, no one can tell how widely and beneficially the mutual intercourfe of the various inhabitants of the earth may hereafter be carried on, in confequence of the means of faciliating it, which have been explored and pointed out by Captain Cook.

The interefts of fcience, as well as of commerce, ftand highly indebted to this illuftrious Navigator. That a knowledge of the globe on which we live is a very defirable object, no one can call in question. This is an object which, while it is ardently purfued by the most enlightened philofophers, is fought for with avidity, even by thofe whofe ftudies do not carry them beyond the lowest rudiments of learning. It need not be faid what gratification Captain Cook hath provided for the world in this refpect. Before the voyages of the prefent reign took place, nearly half the furface of the earth was hidden in obfcurity and confufion. From the difcoveries of our Navigator, geography has affumed a new face, and become, in a great measure, a new fcience; having attained to fuch a completion,

as to leave only fome lefs important parts of the globe to be explored by future voyagers.

Happily for the advancement of knowledge, acquifitions cannot be obtained in any one branch, without leading to acquifitions in other branches, of equal, and perhaps of fuperior confequence. New oceans cannot be traverted, or new countries vifited, without prefenting fresh objects of fpeculation and enquiry, and carrying the practice, as well as the theory, of philofophy, to a higher degree of perfection. Nautical aftronomy, in particular, was in its infancy, when the late voyages were firft undertaken; but, during the profecation of them, and efpecially in Captain Cook's laft expedition, even many of the petty officers could obferve the diftance of the moon from the fun, or a ftar, the moft delicate of all obfervations, with fufficient accuracy. As for the officers of fuperior rank, they would have felt themselves afhamed to have it thought that they did not know how to obferve for, and compute the time at fea; though fuch a thing had, a little before, icarcely been heard of among feamen. Nay, first-rate philofophers had doubted the poffibility of doing it with the exactness that could be wifhed. It muft, however, be remembered, that a large fhare of prai is due to the Board of Longitude, for the proficiency of the Gentlemen of the Navy in taking obfervations at sta. In confequence of the attention of that Board to this important object, liberak rewards have been given to the Ma thematicians for perfecting the lunar tables, and facilitating calculations ; and artifts have been amply encourag ed in the conftruction of inftruments and watches, much more accurately and compleately adapted to the pur poles of navigation than formerly exifted.

It is needless to mention what a quantity of additional information has been gained with refpect to the rife

and times of the flowing of the tides; the direction and force of currents at fea; and the cause and nature of the polarity of the needle, and the theory of its variation. Nautical knowledge has been increased by experiments on the effects of gravity in different and very diftant places; and, from Capt. tain Cook's having penetrated fo far into the Southern Ocean, it is now afcertained, that the phænomenon, ufually called the Aurora Borealis, is not peculiar to high northern latitudes, but belongs equally to all cold climates, whether they be North or South.

Amidst the different branches of science that have been promoted by the late expeditions, there is none, perhaps, that ftands fo highly indebted to them as the fcience of botany. At least twelve hundred new plants have been added to the known fyftem; and large acceffions of intelligence have accrued with regard to every other part of natural hiftory. This point has already been evinced by the writings of Dr Sparrman, of the two Forters, father and fon, and of Mr Pennant; and this point will illuftri oufly be manifefted, when the great work of Sir Jofeph Banks fhall be ac complished, and given to the world.

It is not to the enlargement of natural knowledge only, that the effects arifing from Captain Cook's voyages are to be confined. Another important object of study has been opened by them; and that is, the fludy of human nature, in fituations various, interefting, and uncommon. The Iflands vifited in the centre of the South Pacific Ocean, and the principal feenes of the operations of our dif. coverers, were untrodden ground. As the inhabitants, fo far as could be obferved, had continued, from their original fettlement, unmixed with any different tribe; as they had been left entirely to their own powers for every art of life, and to their own remote traditions for every political or

cuftom or inftitution; as they wereuninformed by fcience, and unimproved by education, they could not but afford many lubjects of speculation to an inquifitive and philofophical mind. Hence may be collected a variety of important facts with refpect to the state of man; with refpect to his attainments and deficiencies, his virtues and vices, his employments and diverfions, his feelings, manners, and cuftoms, in a certain period of fociety. Even the curiofities which have been brought from the difcovered Inlands, and hich enrich the British Museum, and the late Sir Afhton Lever's (now Mr Parkinson's) repofitory, may be confidered as a valuable acquifition to this country; as fupplying no fmall fund of information and entertainment.

Few enquiries are more interesting than thofe which relate to the migrations of the various families or tribes that have peopled the earth. It was known in general, that the Afiatic nation, called Malayans, poffeffed, in former times, much the greatest trade in the Indies; and that they frequented, with their merchants hips, not only all the coafts of Alia, but ventured over even to the coasts of Africa, and particularly to toe great Ifland of Malag fear., Bat twat, from Madagafcar to the Marquefas and Eafter Inland, that is, nearly rom the Eaft fide of Africa, till we approach towards the Weft fide of America, a space including above half the circumference of the globe, the fame nation of the Oriental world should have made their fettlements, and founded colonies throughout almost every intermediate ftage of this im menfe tract, in lands at amazing diftances from the mother continent, and the natives of which were ignorant of each other's exiftence; is an hiftorical fact, that, before Captain. Cook's voyages, could be but very imperfectly known. He it is who hath difcovered a valt number of new fpots of land, lurking in the bofom

of

of the South Pacific Ocean, all the inhabitants of which difplay ftriking evidences of their having derived their defcent from one common Afiatic original. Nor is this apparent folely from a fimilarity of cuftons and insti tutions, but is eftablished by a proof which conveys irrefitable conviction to the mind, and that is, the affiity of languag. The collections that bave been made of the words which are used in the widely diffufed Iflands and count ies that have lar ly been vilited, cannot fail, in the hands of fuch men as a Bryant and a Marfden, to throw much light on the origin of nations, and the peopling of the globe. From Mr Marf den, in particular, who has devored his attention, time, and ftudy to this curious fubject, the literary world may hereafter expect to be highly intrusted and entertained.

There is another family of the earth, concerning which new information has been derived from the voyages of our British Navigators. That the Efquimaux, who had hitherto only been found feated on the coafts of Labradore and Hudfon's Bay, agreed with the Greenlanders in every circumflance of customs, manners, and language, which could demonftrate an original identity of nation, had already been afcertained. But that the fame tribe now actually inhabit the islands and coafts on the Weft fide of North America, oppofite Kamtfchatka. was a discovery, the completion of which was referved for Captain Cook. In his narrative it will be feen that thefe people have extended their migrations to Nor ton Sound, Oonalathka, and Prince William's Sound; that is, to nearly the distance of fifteen hundred leagues from their ftations in Greenland, and the coat of Labradore. Nor does this curious fact reft merely on the evidence arifing on fimilitude of manners: for it flands confirmed by a table of words, exhibiting fuch an

affinity of language as will remove every doubt from the mind of the maft fcrupulous enquirer.

Other queftions there are, of a very important nature, the folution of which will now be rendered more eafy than h th heretofore been apprehended. From the full confirmation of the vicinity of the two continents of Afi and America, it can no longer be represented as ridiculous to believe, that the former furnished inhabitants to the latter. By the facts recently difcovered, a credibility is added to the Mofaic account of the peopling of the earth. That account will, I doubt not, ftand the test of the moft learned and rigorous inveftigation. Indeed, I have long been convinced, after the clofeft meditation of which I am capable, that found philofophy and genuine revelation never militate against each other. The rational friends of religion are fo far from dreading the fpirit of enquiry, that they with for nothing more than a candid, calm, and impartial examination of the fubject, according to all the lights which the improved reafon and the enlarged fcience of man can afford.

There is one event at home, which has evidently refulted from Captain Cook's difcoveries, and which, therefore, muft not be omitted. What I refer to, is the feitlement at Botany Bay. With the general policy of this meafure the prefent narrative has not any concern. The plan, I doubt not, has been adopted with the best intentions, after the matureft deliberation, and perhaps with confummate wisdom. One evident advantage arifing from it is, that it will effectualaly prevent a number of unhappy wretches from returning to their for mer fcenes of temptation and guilt, and may open to them the means of induftrious fubfiflence and moral reformation. If it be wilely and prudently begun and conducted, who can tell what beneficial confequen

ces

may fpring from it, in future ages! Immortal Rome is faid to have rifen from the refufe of mankind,

While we are confidering the advantages the discoverers have derived from the late navigations, à question naturally occurs, which is, What behefits have hence accrued to the difcovered? It would be a fource of the higheft pleafure to be able to anfwer this question to complete fatisfaction. But it must be acknowledged, that the fubject is not wholly free from doubts and difficulties; and thefe doubts and difficulties might be enlarged upon, and exaggerated, by an imagination which is rather difpufed to contemplate and reprefent the dark thau the luminous afpect of human affairs. In one refpect, Mr Samwell has endeavoured to fhew, that the natives of the lately explored parts of the world, and efpecially fo far as lates to the Sandwich Islands, were not injured by our people; and it was the conftant folicitude and care of Captain Cook, that evil might not be communicated in any place to which be came. If he was univerfally fuc cefsful, the good which, in various cafes, he was inftrumental in producing, will be reflected upon with the more peculiar fatisfaction.

There is an effential difference between the voyages that have lately been undertaken, and many which have been carried on in former times. None of my readers can be ignorant of the borrid cruelties that were exercifed by the conquerors of Mexico and Peru; cruelties which can never be remembered, without bluthing for religion and human nature. But to undertake expeditions with a defign of civilizing the world, and meliorating its condition, is a noble object. The receffus of the globe were investigated by Captain Cook, not to enlarge privare dominion, bat to promote general knowledge; the new tribes of the earth were vifited as friends; and an act, aintance with their exiftence was Ñ n VOL. XIV. No. 82.

m

fought for, in order to bring the' within the pale of the offices of humanity, and to relieve the wants of their imperfect ftate of fociety. Such were the benevolent views which our Navigator was commiffioned by his Majetty to carry into execution; and there is reafon to hope that they will not be wholly unfuccefsful. From the long continued intercourfe with the natives of the Friend y, Society, and Sandwich Islands, fome rays of light muit have darted on their infant minds. The uncommon objects which have been prefented to their obfervation, and excited their furprize, will natu rally tend to enlarge their flock of ideas, and to furnish new materials for the exercife of their reasonable faculties. It is no fmall addition to their comforts of life, and their immediate enjoyments, that will be derived from the introduction of our ufeful animals and vegetables; and if the only beneft they should ever receive foom the vifits of the English, thould be the having obtained fresh means of fubfiftence, that must be confidered as a great acquifition.

But may not our hopes be extended to fill nobler objects? The connection which has been opened with thefe remote inhabitants of the world, is the first flep toward their improvement; and confequences may flow from it, which are far beyond our prefent conceptions. Perhaps, our late voyages may be the means appointed by Providence, of fpreading, in due time, the bleffings of civilization among the numerous tribes of the South Pacific Ocean, and preparing them for holding an honourable rank among the nations of the earth. There cannot be a more laudable attempt, than that of endeavouring to refcue mill ons of our fellow-creatures from that flate of humiliation in which they now exist. Nothing can more effentially contribute to the attainment of this great end, than a wife and rational intraduction of the Chriflian R ligion; an introduction