Tasman’s voyage of discovery.

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or the Unking out, if poffible, fome new branch of trade, which may reftore it to itsformer fplendour; and in this as it hath an apparent right, fo there is not the leaft reafonto doubt, that it would meet with all the countenance and affiftance from the govern-ment that it could reafonably expect or defire.

If fuch a defign Ihould ever be attempted, perhaps the ifland of New Britain mightbe the propereft place for them to fettle. As to the fituation, extent, and prefent con-dition of that ifland, all that can be faid of it muft be taken from the account given byits difcoverer Captain Dampier: which, in few words, amounts to this : “ The iflandwhich I call Nova Britannia has about 4 ° of latitude* the body of it lying in 4 0 , thenorthermoft part in 2 ° 30', and the fouthermoft in 6° 30'. It has about 5° 18' longi-tude from eaft to well; it is generally high mountainous land, mixed with large valleys,which, as well as the mountains, appeared very fertile; and in moil; places that we faw,the trees are very large, tall, and thick. It is alfo very well inhabited, with ftrongwell-limbed negroes, whom we found very daring and bold at feveral places : as to theproduct of it, it is very probable, this ifland may afford as many rich commodities asany in the world ; and the natives may be eafily brought to commerce, though I couldnot pretend to it in my circumftances.” If any objections Ihould be raifed fromDampier’s misfortune in that voyage, it is eafy to ffiew, that it ought to have no mannerof weight whatever, fince, though he was an excellent pilot, he is allowed to have beenbut a bad commander: befides the Roebuck, in which he failed, was a worn-outfrigate, that would hardly fwim ; and it is no great wonder, that in fo crazy a veffelthe people were a little impatient at being abroad on difcoveries ; yet, after all, he per-formed what he was fent for; and, by the difcovery of this ifland of New Britain ,fecured us an indifputable right to a country, that is, or might be made, very valuable.

It is fo fituated, that a great trade might be carried on from thence through thewhole Terra Auftralis on one fide, and the moll valuable iflands of the Eaft-Indies onthe other. In Ihort, all, or at leaft moft, of the advantages propofed by the DutchWeft-India Company’s joining with their Eaft-India Company, of which a large accounthas already been given, might be procured for this nation, by the eftablilhing a colonyin this ifland of New Britain, and fecuring the trade of that colony to the AfricanCompany by law; the very palling of which law would give the company more thanfufficient credit, to fit out a fquadron at once capable of fecuring the pofleflion of thatifland, and of giving the public fuch fatisfaCtion as to its importance, as might berequifitfe to obtain further power and affiftance from the ftate, if that Ihould be foundneceflary. It would be very eafy to point out fome advantages peculiarly convenientfor that company ; but it will be time enough to think of thefe, whenever the AfricanCompany Ihall difcover an inclination to profecute this defign. At prefent I have donewhat I propofed, and have Ihewn that fuch a collection of voyages as this, ought notto be confidered as a work of mere amufement, but as a work calculated for the benefitof mankind in general, and of this nation in particular, which it is the duty of everyman to promote in his ftation; and whatever fate thefe reflections may meet with, Ifhall always have the fatisfadion of remembering, that I have not negleCted it in mine*but have taken the utmoft pains to turn a courfe of laborious reading to the advantageof my country.

But, fuppofing that neither of thefe companies Ihould think it expedient, or, in otherwords, Ihould not think it confiftent with their intereft, to attempt this difcovery, thereis yet a third company, within the fpirit of whofe charter, I humbly conceive, the pro*fecution of fuch a fcheme immediately lies. The reader will eafily difcern, that I meanthe company for carrying on a trade to the South Seas, who, notwithftanding the exten-