Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Scientists, philosophers and zealous patriots might campaign
for new expeditions to be sent forth but if they expected the mer-
cantile companies to finance such enterprises, they were baying for
the moon. Even the prospects of the legendary isles of gold, the So-
lomons, and trade with a whole new continent could not induce the
wealthy burghers of London, Paris or Amsterdam to put their hands
in their purses. Their ships and men were sufficiently occupied in
lucrative trade with the known parts of the Orient; they had no need
to engage in speculative ventures to find new markets. So it was left
to government-sponsored naval expeditions to solve the riddles still
posed by the Great South Sea.
If we ask why politicians should be any more anxious than mer-
chants to squander money, men and ships on Pacific exploration,
the answer lies largely in national prestige and maritime supremacy.
Throughout much of the century Britain and France were in a
sporadic state of either cold or hot war. Clashes occurred both in
Europe and the colonies. Both nations had extensive overseas com-
mercial interests. It was, therefore, important to make occasional
demonstrations of nautical prowess. Moreover, since neither side
was prepared to scale down its navy, work had to be found for cap-
tains and crews when there were no war manoeuvres to execute.
Whatever the problematic mercantile advantages to be derived from
opening up new territories, there were usually more quantifiable
nautical and navigational spin-offs from long voyages: charts be-
came more accurate; officers more skilled, new instruments could
be tested; new islands and harbours might be discovered where
ships could take on water and fresh food. The stage was thus set for
new feats of endurance and the transportation of European rivalries
to distant parts of the globe.
The main strategic prize which still attracted imperialistically-
minded officials in London and Paris was control over the western
access to the Pacific. It was to achieve this that they revived their in-
