Alexander Dalrymple was once described as the man who, after Hakluyt, had done most for the spread of Britain’s commerce. In this important new work, Dr. Fry discusses Dalrymple’s extensive contribution to knowledge about New Guinea and his pioneer attempt to establish a free port on Balambangan, and shows that his interest in the possibility of a North-West Passage and his influence in government circles were to be a major factor in bringing about Vancouver’s survey.
Dalrymple’s research and theories about the great Southern Continent led to his appointment by the Royal Society as commander of the 1768 expedition, and though the Admiralty countermanded this decision and appointed instead Captain Cook, Dalrymple’s geographical researches were the motivating force behind the initiation of the search for Terra Australis. Dr. Fry throws interesting new light on Dalrymple’s relations with Cook, which, he argues, have been consistently misrepresented.
Dalrymple became an expert navigator and surveyor during his years as captain of East India snows, and he became in turn hydrographer of the East India Company and the Admiralty. His work in this field revolutionised chart-making and was a contribution of incalculable value to Britain’s maritime supremacy in the nineteenth century. This classic book was first published in 1970.
foreword xiii
preface xv
introduction xviii
I The Years of Preparation 1
II The Cruise of the Cuddalore 16
III The Beginning of the Sulu Enterprise 36
IV The Settlement at Balambangan 66
V The Great Southern Continent 94
VI The British in the East Indies, 1761–1805 136
VII The Kingdom of Cochin China 166
VIII The Fur-Trade and the Search for a North-West Passage 187
IX The Hydrographer 222
X Alexander Dalrymple and Captain Cook 267
appendix the family of sir james and lady christian dalrymple 280
bibliography 281
index 319
Biography
Howard T. Fry