A Chronological History of the Discoveries in the South Sea or Pacific Ocean

Standard reference collection of summaries of European voyages of discovery between 1492 and 1764, first published between 1803 and 1817.

James Burney (Author)

9781108024099, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 9 December 2010

542 pages, 5 b/w illus. 8 maps
29.7 x 2.8 x 21 cm, 1.28 kg

Captain James Burney (1750–1821), the son of the musicologist Dr Charles Burney and brother of the novelist Fanny Burney, was a well-travelled sailor, best known for this monumental compilation of voyages of discovery in the Pacific Ocean. After joining the navy in 1764, he sailed on Cook's second voyage between 1772 and 1774, and was also present on the ill-fated third voyage. He retired from the navy in 1784 and turned to writing works on exploration. These volumes, published between 1803 and 1817, and regarded as the standard work on the subject for much of the nineteenth century, contain collected accounts of European voyages of discovery in the Pacific Ocean between 1492 and 1764. Burney provides summaries of Spanish, Dutch and English accounts, which include descriptions of voyages to China, Micronesia and Australia. Volume 2 covers voyages between 1579 and 1620, including that of Sir Richard Hawkins.

1. Voyage of Pedro Sarmiento de Gamboa, from Peru to the Strait of Magalhanes, and thence to Europe
2. Expedition of Pedro Sarmiento to fortify the Strait of Magalhanes. Ill conducted voyage and return of two English ships under Edward Fenton and Luke Ward. Spanish colony founded in the Strait. Distressed condition of the colony
3. Notice of Formosa. Navigation of Francisco de Gualle, or Gali, from New Spain to the Philippines, and from Macao to New Spain
4. Voyage of Robert Witherington and Christopher Lister, from England, intended for the South Sea
5. Voyage of Thomas Cavendish round the world
6. Voyage of Andrew Merick to the Strait of Magalhanes
7. Second voyage of Mr. Cavendish
8. Brief review of various reports concerning the discovery of a North West Passage to the Pacific ocean. Doubtful relation of a voyage by Juan de Fuca. Reports of the discovery of islands named Fontacias
9. Voyage of Sir Richard Hawkins to the South Sea
10. Second voyage of Alvaro de Mendana
11. The ship San Agustin wrecked on the Western coast of North America. Expedition of Sebastian Vizcaino to California
12. Voyage of five ships of Rotterdam, under the command of Jacob Mahu and Simon de Cordes, to the South Sea
13. Voyage of Olivier van Noort round the world
14. Spanish ship seized by the natives of the Ladrone Islands. Voyage of Sebastian Vizcaino, to examine the western coast of California, and the continuation of the coast northward
15. Concerning the navigation from New Spain to the Philippines, and the return from thence to New Spain: and of the Islands Rica de Oro and Rica de Plata
16. Preliminary to the discoveries of Pedro Fernandez de Quiros
17. Voyage of Pedro Fernandez de Quiros
18. Voyage of Admiral Joris Spilbergen, round the world
19. Voyage of Jacob Le Maire and Wilhelm Cornelisz Schouten, round the world
20. On the situations of the discoveries of Le Maire and Schouten
21. First certain knowledge obtained of the Great Terra Australis. Expedition of Bartolome Garcia de Nodal and Gonçalo de Nodal to examine Strait Le Maire
Appendix.

Subject Areas: History [HB]