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A. KIPPIS, D.D., F.R.S., & S.A.
I esteem myself highly honoured in being permitted to dedicate andpresent my Narrative of the Life and Actions of Captain James Cook toyour Majesty. It was owing to your Majesty's royal patronage andbounty, that this illustrious navigator was enabled to execute thosevast undertakings, and to make those extraordinary discoveries, whichhave contributed so much to the reputation of the British empire, andhave reflected such peculiar glory on your Majesty's reign. Withoutyour Majesty's munificence and encouragement, the world would haveremained destitute of that immense light which has been thrown ongeography, navigation, and the most important sciences. To yourMajesty, therefore, a work like the present is with particularpropriety addressed.
It is impossible, on this occasion, to avoid extending my thoughts tothe other noble instances in which your Majesty's liberal protectionof science and literature has been displayed. Your Majesty began yourreign in a career so glorious to princes: and wonderful has been theincrease of knowledge and taste in this country. The improvements inphilosophical science, and particularly in astronomy; the exertions ofexperimental and chemical inquiry, the advancement of natural history,the progress and perfection of the polite arts, and the valuablecompositions that have been produced in every department of learning,have corresponded with your Majesty's gracious wishes andencouragement, and have rendered the name of Britain famous in everyquarter of the globe. If there be any persons who, in these respects,would depreciate the present times, in comparison with those whichhave preceded them, it may safely be asserted, that such persons havenot duly attended to the history of literature. The course of mystudies has enabled me to speak with some confidence on the subject;and to say, that your majesty's reign is eminently distinguished byone of the greatest glories that can belong to a monarch.
Knowledge and virtue constitute the chief happiness of a nation: andit is devoutly to be wished that the virtue of this country were equalto its knowledge. If it be not so, this does not arise from the wantof an illustrious example in the person of your Majesty, and that ofyour royal Consort. The pattern which is set by the King and Queen ofGreat Britain, of those qualities which are the truest ornaments andfelicities of life, affords a strong incitement to the imitation ofthe same excellencies; and cannot fail of contributing to the moreextensive prevalence of that moral conduct on which the welfare ofsociety so greatly depends.
That your Majesty may possess every felicity in your royal Person andFamily, and enjoy a long and prosperous reign, over an enlightened, afree, and a happy people, is the sincere and ardent prayer of,
SIR,Your Majesty's most faithful,and most obedient,subject and servant,
ANDREW KIPPIS.
London, June 31, 1788.
Although I have often appeared before the public as a writer, I neverdid it with so much diffidence and anxiety as on the present occasion.This arises from the peculiar n