Tahiti depicted as an earthly paradise

Rare. ESTC lists 12 copies only. Author attribution from old note to title. One of the less common poetic outbursts occasioned by the return of Captain Cook from his First Voyage.

'What worlds discover'd, and what Oceans known:
Now what enchanting Fair, with wanton smiles,
Shone forth the Venus of the Southern Iles:
Now what stern races
they met of savage might,
In Peace their Manners, and their Force in Fight.
Much of their Search through Nature's boundless Reign
The Sons of Science ask, nor ask in vain.
From all the vegetable World unfolds,
All that or Air or deepest Ocean holds,
Their Treasures with collected Spoils are stor'd,
Tribes yet unknown, and wonders unexplor'd.'

First edition. 4to, 16 pp., modern blue morocco-backed boards, light spotting, old author attribution and ownership inscriptions to title, a very good example.

Holmes, 10.