THE LIFE O F CAPTAIN JAMES COOK. Totque Maris vaftaque exhaufta Pericula Terra. VIRG. BY ANDREW KIPPIS, D. D. F. R. S. AND S. A. VOL. I. BASIL: PRINTED BY J. J. TOURNEISEN. KING. SIR, I ESTEEM myfelf highly honoured in being permitted to dedicate and present the Life of CAPTAIN JAMES COOK to Your Majefty. It was owing to Your Majefty's Royal patronage and bounty, that this illuftrious Navigator was enabled to execute those vaft undertakings, and to make those extraordinary discoveries, which have contributed fo much to the reputation of the British empire, and have reflected fuch peculiar glory on Your Majefty's reign. Without Your Majefty's munificence and encouragement, the world would have remained deftitute of that immense light which has been thrown on geography, navigation, and the most important fciences. To Your Majefty, therefore, a Narrative of the Life and Actions of Captain Cook is with particular propriety addressed. It is impoffible, on this occafion, to avoid extending my thoughts to the other noble inftances in which Your Majefty's liberal protection of science and literature has been displayed. Your Majesty began Your reign in a career fo glorious to princes: and wonderful has been the increase of knowledge and taste in this country. The improvements in philofophical science, and particularly in aftronomy; the exertions of experimental and chemical enquiry, the advancement of natural history, the progress and perfection of the polite arts, and the valuable compofitions that have been produced in every department of learning, have correfponded with Your Majefty's gracious wishes and encouragement, and have rendered the name of Britain famous in every quarter of the globe. If there be any persons who, in these respects, would depreciate the prefent times, in comparison with those which have preceded them, it may fafely be afferted that such persons have not duly attended to the history of literature. The course of my studies has enabled me to speak with fome confidence on the subject; and to say, that Your Majefty's reign is eminently diftinguished by one of the greatest glories that can belong to a monarch. Knowledge and virtue conftitute the chief happiness of a nation: and it is devoutly to be wished that the virtue of this country were equal to its knowledge. If it be not fo, this does not arise from the want of an illuftrious example in the person of Your Majesty, and that of Your Royal Confort. The pattern which is fet by the King and Queen of Great Britain, of thofe qualities which are the trueft ornaments and felicities of life, affords a ftrong incitement to the imitation of the fame excellencies; and cannot fail of contributing to the more |