The avidity for gold which actuated the first conquerors of America, and their ignorant belief that every spot that was secluded or difficult of access was the repository of nature's treasures, led them very soon into almost every recess of the South American continent. The same regions have been repeatedly viewed by modern travellers, who have surveyed them with more discerning eyes, and have added much to the information acquired by those who preceded them. The writings of Ulloa, Barrière, Luccock,Koster,Mawe, Helm, and others, all contain valuable information respecting the tropical regions of South America. But the analysis of these writers lies beyond the compass of a work the object of which is rather to trace the steps by which we first obtained a knowledge of the globe, than to follow through all its vicissitudes our progressive acquaintance with it.

The labours of Humboldt and of the Spanish hydrographers have contributed much to correct the map of the equatorial regions of America. The disputes also in which the courts of Lisbon and Madrid were for some time engaged respecting the southern limits of Brazil gave rise to enquiries calculated to improve geography. In 1781, don Felix de Azara was sent by the Spanish government with some other officers to determine on the spot with the Portuguese commissioners the boundaries of their respective dominions. The execution of the treaty agreed on between the two courts was embarrassed and retarded by the evasions of the Portuguese; but Azara, a man of an active spirit, and a good naturalist, was in the mean time usefully employed in exploring a part of the Spanish dominions but little known.

Life of Nathaniel Pearce, written by himself, and addressed to Henry Salt, Esq

While captain Parry was employed in exploring a passage from Baffin's Bay to the Pacific, another expedition was despatched over land to ascertain the true position of the Coppermine River, and the windings of the shore to the eastward of it. This measure, which had apparently no great difficulties, seemed to promise eminent advantages to geographical science, and might prove serviceable to the intrepid navigator employed to the northward. Lieutenant (now captain) Franklin was selected to command this expedition, accompanied by Dr. Richardson, a gentleman well skilled in natural history; Mr. Hood, and Mr. Back, two midshipmen; and two English seamen.

Captain Franklin and his companions embarked in the end of May, 18193 and arrived in safety at York Factory, on the shores of Hudson's Bay, on the 30th of August. Preparations for their long and difficult journey were immediately commenced, and the information which the local experience of the fur traders could supply them was eagerly collected. On the 9th of September the journey commenced from York Fort, and on the 22d of October our travellers arrived at Cumberland House; a distance of 690 miles. Notwithstanding the lateness of the season, captain Franklin resolved to push forward to Fort Chepeweyan, near the western extremity of Athabasca Lake, in order that he might personally superintend the preparations for the journey of the ensuing summer. He accordingly set out with Mr. Back on the 18th of January, and arrived at the fort on the 26th of March; thus performing a journey of 857 miles in the very depth of winter; the thermometer frequently sinking to forty and sometimes more than fifty degrees below zero.

Though Cook was not the first navigator who visited the South Sea, yet, by the combined merit of his discoveries, and of his skill in preserving the health of his crew in long voyages, he may be said to have been the first who traced a permanent path across the great ocean, and laid it completely open to the enterprise of Europeans. The fur trade on the north-west coast of America, to which he guided the hardy enterprise of British merchants; the colony in New South Wales, which also originated in his discoveries; and the success with which he wintered and provisioned his ships among the numerous islands of the great ocean; were all so many causes which led to a frequent and active intercourse between Europeans and the islanders of the South Sea. The fur trade started up with vigour immediately on the return of his ships from the last expedition; but the active tide of commerce originating in this impulse ran at first to the northward of the line, so as to embrace only the Sandwich Islands in its scope.

It was not till eleven years had elapsed after Cook's last visit to Otaheite, that a European ship again touched at that island. In 1788, the Penrhyn, commanded by lieutenant Watts, on her voyage from Port Jackson to China, being in great want of water and provisions, ran far to the east and made the island of Otaheite.