Letter 1

• “increasing confidence in the success of my undertaking”
• “i shall satiate my ardent curiosity with the sight of a world never before visited (…) never before imprinted by the foot of man”
• “the phenomena of the heavenly bodies undoubtedly are in those undiscovered solitudes”
• “These are my enticements, and they are sufficient to conquer all fears of danger or death”
• I feel my heart glow with enthusiasm which elevates me to heaven’.
• “My education was neglected, yet I was passionately fond of reading.”
• “This expedition has been the favourite dream of my early years. I have read with ardour the accounts of various voyages”
• “You are acquainted with my failure, and how heavily I bore the disappointment.”
• “And now, my dear Margeret, do I not deserve to accomplish some great purpose?”
• “I preferred glory to every enticement that wealth placed in my path.”