[Haweis, Thomas; Editor]. A MISSIONARY VOYAGE TO THE SOUTHERN PACIFIC OCEAN, performed in the Years 1796, 1797, 1798, in the Ship Duff, commanded by Captain James Wilson. Compiled from Journals of the Officers and the Missionaries; and illustrated with Maps, Charts, and Views, drawn by Mr. William Wilson, and engraved by the most eminent Artists. With a Preliminary Discourse on the Geography and History of the South Sea Islands; and an Appendix, including Details never before published, of the Natural and Civil State of Otaheite; by a Committee appointed for the Purpose by the Directors of the Missionary Society. Published for the Benefit of the Society. London: Printed by S. Gosnell, for T. Chapman, No. 151, Fleet Street. 1799. Med. 4to, Best Issue of First Edition, pp. [xii], c, 420, [12](Subscribers' Names); 7 maps & charts (5 folding), 6 plates, appendix (on Otaheitian government, society, inhabitants, deities, customs, natural history, etc,); half navy blue morocco, with moire cloth sides (small trifling mark on front cover; slight scuffing of spine); a fine, clean copy, entirely uncut, with the original paper title-label preserved on inside front board; scarce in such condition. London; Printed by S. Gosnell, for T. Chapman; 1799.
***Ferguson 301; Hill 2, 1894; . The first and preferred of two closely similar editions bearing the same date, this being of slightly larger format and printed on better quality paper. Another edition bearing the imprint "Printed for T. Chapman ... by T. Gillet" and with a completely different set of subscriber's names, was issued almost simultaneously (see Ferguson 302). The purpose of employing two printers appears to have been to ensure the speedy production of sufficient copies to meet the demand. This important work is the account of the first English missionary enterprise in the South Seas. The hostility of the natives at Tahiti and Tonga caused many of the missionaries to seek refuge at Sydney. Some of them settled in Australia "and founded families important in Australian history". William Wilson was Chief Mate on the voyage. Apart from its missionary interest the work contains much valuable information on Tahiti, Fiji and the Marquesas. The Duff Group in the Santa Cruz islands was newly discovered on this voyage. #2293
