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Respected Sir, Bideford, Devon / 16 Jany 1772
Tho I have not the Honour of assigning a Personal Acquaintance as an Apology for my freedom in writing you; yet the great Knowledge & Opinion the World in general have derived & Entertain of you from your late Discoveries & Improvements in the natural World; Together with your laudable Thirst in the pursuit of that Specie of Knowledge from which I presume the spirit of Generosity & Friendship inseperable; Induces me so far to be Impertinent as to request your Sentiments on the following Questions.
Having long had a strong desire of visiting remote Climes, & Observing the different Customs of foreign Countries, I have formed to myself a pleasing Imagination of your intended Voyage; thinking that [cepile des perandum est, sub Jeuero Duce et Auspice Jeuernoz, Nous?]
Sir can you Imagine your intended Expedition and furnish a young Gentleman of Character, Easy fortune, actuated with a natural Curiosity, with an opportunity of benefiting himself in any respect by such a Voyage; Unless he had a thorough Knowledge of Geography, the Mathematics. & However as Curiosity is natural to the Soul of Man, even a desire only of extending Knowledge, Praise worthy; I flatter myself your Liberality of Spirit, will put that Charitable Construction