he will recollect that it is the production of a man, who has not had the
advantage of much school education, but who has been constantly at sea from
his youth; and though, with the assistance of a few good friends, he has
passed through all the stations belonging to a seaman, from an apprentice
boy in the coal trade, to a post-captain in the royal navy, he has had no
opportunity of cultivating letters. After this account of myself, the
public must not expect from me the elegance of a fine writer, or the
plausibility of a professed book-maker; but will, I hope, consider me as a
plain man, zealously exerting himself in the service of his country, and
determined to give the best account he is able of his proceedings.

JAMES COOK.

_Plymouth Sound, July 7, 1776._

******************

LIST OF THE PLATES

With directions for placing them.

[As the Plates, for the sake of expedition, were printed off as fast as
they were finished, it was necessary to number them, before any
consideration could be had of the proper arrangement. They are to be placed
in the following order.]

V0L. I.

Print of Captain Cook.
Chart of the Southern Hernifphere, showing Captain Cook's tracks, and