Description
Book SynopsisAmong the voyages of exploration and surveying in the late 18th century, that of Alejandro Malaspina best represents the high ideals and scientific interests of the Enlightenment. Italian-born, Malaspina entered the Spanish navy in 1774. In September 1788 he and fellow-officer José Bustamante submitted a plan to the Ministry of Marine for a voyage of survey and inspection to Spanish territories in the Americas and Philippines. The expedition was to produce hydrographic charts for the use of Spanish merchantmen and warships and to report on the political, economic and defensive state of Spain''s overseas possessions. The plan was approved and in July 1789 Malaspina and Bustamante sailed from CÃdiz in the purpose-built corvettes, Descubierta and Atrevida. On board the vessels were scientists and artists and an array of the latest surveying and astronomical instruments. The voyage lasted more than five years. On his return Malaspina was promoted Brigadier de la Real Armada, and began work
Table of ContentsContents: Foreword; Preface; Translating Malaspina; Introduction; Malaspina's IntroducciA(3)n; Journal of the Voyage: from CA!diz to Montevideo and at Montevideo: From CA!diz to Montevideo; At Montevideo; From Montevideo to Puerto San Carlos de Chiloe: From Montevideo to Puerto Deseado and at Puerto Deseado; From Puerto Deseado to Puerto Egmont; At Puerto Egmont; From Puerto Egmont to Puerto San Carlos de Chiloe; At Puerto San Carlos de Chiloe; From Puerto San Carlos de Chiloe to Coquimbo: From Puerto San Carlos de Chiloe to Talcahuano; At Talcahuano and BahA-a ConcepciA(3)n; From Talcahuano to ValparaA-so and visit by Descubierta to Islas de Juan FernA!ndez; At ValparaA-so and visit to Santiago; From ValparaA-so to Coquimbo; From Coquimbo to Callao: From Coquimbo to Callao and visit by Descubierta to Islas de San Felix; At Callao and visit to Lima; From Callao to Acapulco: From Callao to Guayaquil; At Guayaquil; From Guayaquil to PanamA!; At PanamA!; Appendixes; Works cited.
