то JOSEPH BANKS, Efq; DEAR SIR, Think myself so much indebted to you, for making discovery of your last voyage, that I cannot difpenfe with this address the ufual tribute on fuch occafions. You took from me all temptation of envying your superior good fortune, by the liberal declaration you made that the HEBRIDES were my ground, and yourself, as you pleasantly expreffed it, but an interloper. May I meet with fuch, in all my adventures! Without leffening your merit, let me fay that no one has less reason to be sparing of his ftores of knowlege. Few poffefs fo large a fhare: you enjoy it without oftentation; and with a facility of communication, the result of natural endowments joined with an immensity of obfervation, collected in parts of the world, before, either of doubtful existence, or totally unknown. .You have enriched yourself with the treasures of the globe, by a circumnavigation, founded on the moft liberal and fcientific principles. The xvith century received luftre from the numbers of generous volunteers of rank and fortune, who diftinguishing themselves by the contempt of riches, ease, and luxury, made the most hazardous voyages, like yourself, animated by the love of true glory. In reward, the name of BANKS will ever exist with those of CLIFFORD, RALEIGH and WILLUGHBY, on the rolls of fame, celebrated inftances of great and enterprizing spirits and the arctic SOLANDER must remain a fine proof that no climate can prevent the feeds of knowlege from vegetating in the breast of innate ability. You have had justly a full triumph decreed to you by your country. May your laurels for ever remain unblighted! and if she has deigned to twine for me a civic wreath, return to me the fame good wish. ADVERTISEMENT. THIS HIS journey was undertaken in the fummer of 1772, in order to render more complete, my preceding tour; and to allay that species of restlessness that infects many minds, on leaving any attempt unfinished. Conscious of my deficiency in feveral respects, I prevaled on two gentlemen to favor me with their company, and to supply by their knowlege what I found wanting in myself. To the Rev. Mr. John Lightfoot, lecturer of Uxbridge, I am obliged for all the botanical remarks fcattered over the following pages. But it gives me great pleasure to say that he means to extend his favors, by foon giving to the public a FLOR A SCOTICA, an ample enumeration and history of the plants observed by him in the several places we visited. To Mr. Lightfoot, I must join in my acknowlegements, the Rev. Mr. John Stuart of Killin, for a variety of hints, relating to customs of the natives of the highlands, and of the islands, which by reafon of my ignorance of the Erfe or Galic language, must have escaped my notice. To both I was indebted for all the comforts that arife from the fociety of agreeable and worthy companions. I must not omit my thanks to the feveral gentlemen who favored me at different times with accounts and little hiftories of the places of their refidence, or their environs. To begin with the most fouthern, my best acknowlegements are due to Mr. Aikin, Surgeon, for the account of Warrington. |