very imperfectly, when I say that they are
not exceeded, and perhaps not equalled, by any thing of this nature
that hath, as yet, been communicated to the world: For they were not
copied from the works of others, or composed at home from imperfect
accounts given by incurious and unskilful observers, a practice
too frequent in these matters; but the greatest part of them were
delineated on the spot, with the utmost exactness, by the direction
and under the eye of Mr Anson himself; and where, as is the case in
three or four of them, they have been done by less skilful hands, or
were found in possession of the enemy, and consequently their justness
could be less relied on, I have always taken care to apprize the
reader of it, and to put him on his guard against giving entire credit
to them; although I doubt not but these less authentic draughts, thus
cautiously inserted, are to the full as correct as those which are
usually published upon these occasions. For, as actual surveys of
roads and harbours, and nice and critical delineations of views of
land, take up much time and attention, and require a good degree
of skill, both in planning and drawing, those who are defective
in industry and ability supply these wants by bold conjectures and
fictitious descriptions; and, as they can be no otherwise confuted
than by going on the spot, and running the risk of suffering by their
misinformation, they have no apprehension of being detected; and
therefore, when they intrude their supposititious productions on the
public, they make no conscience of boasting, at the same time, with
how much skill and care they have been executed. But let not those who
are unacquainted with naval affairs imagine, that the impositions of
this kind are of an innocent nature; for, as exact views of land are
the surest guides to a seaman, on a coast where he has never been
before, all fictions, in so interesting a matter, must be attended
with numerous dangers, and sometimes with the destruction of those who
are thus unhappily deceived.[7]

[Footnote 7: It must be quite obvious to all who are in the least
degree acquainted with the nature of these draughts and views of land,
in the nature of a coasting pilot, that it is utterly impossible to
reduce them within the compass of an octavo size, and at the same
time to render them of the smallest degree of usefulness; while large
plates must have been necessary, and speedily destroyed by opening and
refoldin