and when they occur, are always cursory and short;
for nothing would have been more absurd than to interrupt
an interesting narrative, or new descriptions, by
hypothesis and dissertation.[5] They will, however,
be found most frequent in the account of the voyage
of the Endeavour; and the principal reason is, that
although it stands last in the series, great part
of it was printed before the others were written, so
that several remarks, which would naturally have been
suggested by the incidents and descriptions that would
have occurred in the preceding voyages, were anticipated
by similar incidents and descriptions which occurred
in this.
[Footnote 5: It is highly questionable if this
substitution of writer for adventurer have the efficiency
ascribed to it, when the reader knows before hand,
and cannot but remember, that it is artificial, and
avowedly intended for effect. This is so obvious,
that one cannot help wondering how the parties concerned
in the publication of these Voyages should have acquiesced
in the mode of their appearance. The only way
of accounting for it, perhaps, is this; it was imagined
that no one but an author by profession was competent
to fulfil the expectations that had been formed in
the public mind. The opinion generally entertained
that Mr Robins was the author of the Account of Anson’s
Voyage, might have contributed to this very groundless
notion; and the parties might have hoped, that a person
of Dr Hawkesworth’s reputation in the literary
world, would not fail to fabricate a work that should
at least rival that excellent production. It
would be unfair not to apprise the reader, that this
hope was not altogether realised. Public opinion
has unquestionably ranked it as inferior, but has
not however been niggard in its praise. The work
is read, and always will be read, with high interest.
This, perhaps, is capable of augmentation; and the
Editor much deceives himself if he has not accomplished
this effect by his labours, as well in pruning off
the redundant moralizings and cumbrous ratiocinations
of Dr Hawkesworth, as in contributing new but relevant
matter to the mass of amusing and instructive information
which that gentleman has recorded. He confesses
that he has far less delicacy in doing either of these
offices in the present case, than he would chuse to
avow, had the account emanated purely and directly
from the pens of those who performed the voyages;
nor can he help feeling a regret, that such persons
as Byron and Cook, both of whom have given most satisfactory
proofs of their possessing every literary requisite,
were not permitted to edify the public as they thought
good, without the officious instrumentality of an
editor. These men needed no such interference,
though their modesty and good sense availed them,
undoubtedly, in profiting by the merely verbal corrections
of friendship; and their own productions have the
charm of simplicity and genuineness of narrative,
which, it is certain, the ability acquired by mere
drudgery in composition is by no means adequate to
produce.—E.]
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