it, by the different courts of Europe, and intreated, amongst other things, that a vessel might be fitted out, at the expence of government, for conveying proper persons to some of the Friendly Islands, in order to make the necessary observations. To this memorial, a favourable answer was returned, and the Endeavour, a ship built for the coal trade, was put in commission, and the command of her given to Mr. Cook, who was, upon this occasion, promoted to the rank of a lieutenant in his majesty's service. But before the vessel was ready to sail, captain Wallis returned from his voyage, and pointed out Otaheite as a place more proper for the purpose of the expedition, than that mentioned by the Royal Society. This alteration being approved of, directions for the purpose, were, accordingly, given to Mr. Cook, with whom Mr. Charles Green, who had been assistant to Dr. Bradley, in the Royal Observatory, at Greenwich, was joined, in the astronomical part. In this voyage, he was likewise accompanied by Sir Joseph Banks, Dr. Solander, &c. On the 30th July, 1768, he set sail on his expedition; and on the 13th April, 1769, arrived at Otaheite; where, on the third of June, the transit of Venus was observed in different parts of the island.

To give the reader some idea of that exact regard to the rules of justice and humanity, for which captain Cook was so justly celebrated, in his behaviour towards the savage nations he occasionally met with, we shall only take notice of the following rules, which he drew up for his ship's company, on his first arrival at Otaheite, and which he took care to have punctually obeyed. 1st. That they should endeavour by every fair means, to cultivate a friendship with the natives, and to treat them with all imaginable humanity. 2d. That proper persons should be appointed to treat with the natives for provisions, &c. and that no other person belonging to the ship, should do so without leave. Although the repeated thefts of the na Vol. II. No. 10,

tives, required all the wisdom and moderation of captain Cook, to conduct himself in a proper manner, yet they appeared, in general, to be friendly in their dispositions, and very ready to supply the ship with necessaries, in exchange for such things as they wanted, particularly for large nails, spikes, axes, lookingglasses and beads. At last, after a stay of three months, when preparing to take his leave, the most disagreeable adventure took place, which he had hitherto met with. This was the desertion of two of his people, who having married young women of the country, determined to take up their residence in it. Mr. Cook was now obliged to seize some of their chiefs, and to inform them, that they could not obtain their liberty, until the deserters were recovered. This at last produced the desired effect, and on the 13th of July, 1769, Mr. Cook set sail, along with Tupia, who had formerly been the prime minister to Oberea a princess of that island, and a boy of 13 years of age, both of whom were desirous of accompanying him to England.

When Mr Cook proceeded to visit others of the South Sea islands, Tupia occasionally served as an interpreter. On his arrival in New Zealand, he found the natives extremely hostile. At their very first meeting, one of them having threatened to dart his lance into the boat, was shot dead: Another, having carried off a hanger, belonging to one of the officers, was fired at with small shot, and upon his still refusing to restore it, was fired at with ball and killed. This, however, produced little effect upon the rest, who offered to make an attack upon them, till several muskets were fired with small shot, which wounded three or four more. Next day, the commander having determined to force some of the natives on board, in order to conciliate their affections, by kind treatment, directed his men to follow two canoes, which he perceived under way before him. One made her escape, but the other, not observing.the boats in pur

suit, was overtaken. Tupia, whose language the New Zealanders understood, called on them to return, with assurances that no hurt should be done them; but they continued their flight without minding him. A musket was then fired over their heads, with a view to intimidate them; but upon this, they began so vigorous an attack upon the people in the boats, that orders were given to fire with ball, by which four out of seven, who were in the canoe, were killed, and the other three jumped into the water, and were taken on board.

This part of Mr. Cook's conduct seems inconsistent with that humanity, for which he was in general so eminently distinguished. He was aware of the censure, and makes the following apology: "These people certainly did not deserve death for not choosing to confide in my promises, or not consenting to come on board my boat, even if they had apprehended no danger; but the nature of my service required me to obtain a knowledge of their country, which I could no otherwise obtain but by forcing into it in a hostile manner, or gaining admission through the 'confidence and good will of the people. I had already tried the power of presents without effect; and I was now prompted by my desire to avoid farther hostilities, to attempt to get some of them on board, the only method we had left of convincing them, that we intended them no harm, and had it in our power to contribute to their gratification and convenience. Thus far my intentions certainly were not criminal; and, though in the contest which I had not the least reason to expect, our victory might have been complete, without so much expence of life, yet, in such situations, when the command to fire has been once given, no man can pretend to refrain its excess, or prescribe its effect."

Notwithstanding the disaster just mentioned, to which the three New Zealanders, who were taken on board, had been witnesses, they were soon conciliated;

but no kindness, which could be shewn them, was, in any degree, effectual to bring about a reconciliation with the rest. On the contrary, they, from that time, seem to have manifested a more hostile behaviour than formerly; in consequence of which, according to Dr. Hawkesworth's account of this voyage, a considerable number of them perished. On these melancholy occasions, however, it is to be remarked, to the honour of captain Cook, that his humanity was eminently conspicuous, beyond that of the common people, who uniformly shewed as much inclination to destroy the Indians, as a sportsman does to kill the game pursues.

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Mr. Cock having spent six months in circumnavigating and fully exploring the islands of New-Zealand, dnring which time he was often in the most imminent danger of being shipwrecked, proceeded from thence towards New-Holland, on the 31st March, 1770, and came in sight of Botany-Bay on the 28th April, fol lowing.

The dangers they sustained in navigating round the coast of New-Holland were innumerable, insomuch, that for nearly three months, they were obliged to have a man constantly in the chains, heaving the lead. They were always entangled among rocks and shoals, which could not have failed to destroy a less experienced navigator; and even Mr. Cook, with all his sagacity, could not sometimes have extricated himself, had it not been for the favourable interposition of Divine Providence, at some particular emergencies, which human penetration could neither have foreseen nor prevented. Of this we shall only give the following instance :-Having, at last, as they thought, got safely over the vast reefs of sunk rocks, with which the coast of New-Holland is surrounded, they flattered themselves that all danger was past. The remembrance, however, of former dangers, induced them frequently to take the precaution of sounding, notwithstanding which, in the latitude of 14 1-2

deg. S. they found themselves, one morning, only about a mile distant from the most hideous breakers, though the sea all around was unfathomable. Their situation was rendered the more dreadful by its being a dead calm, whilst, at the same time, they were carried toward the rock with such rapidity, that, by the time they had got the ship's head turned, by means of the boats, she was scarcely an hundred yards distant from it. Their only resource, then, was to tow the ship, if possible, out of a situation so inexpressibly dreadful; but all their efforts would have been unsuccessful, had not a breeze sprung up, which, tho' too light to have been observed at any other time, was found to second their efforts so effectually, that the ship began to move perceptibly from the reef in an oblique direction. During the time which this breeze lasted, which was not more than ten minutes, they had made a considerable way; but a dead calm succeeding, they began to lose ground, and, in a little time, were driven within two hundred yards of the rocks: a small opening was now perceived in the reef, to which the ship was directed by every possible means, and a light breeze happening to spring up at that very instant, they were hurried through by the rapidity of the current, which, had it not been for this opening, would undoubtedly have dashed them to pieces against the rocks.

From the time they quitted the coast of New-Holland, till their arrival at Batavia, on the 10th October, 1770, our navigators met with nothing very remarkable. They were obliged to stay for some time at this place to repair their vessel, which was almost reduced to a mere wreck; during which time, they were, likewise, excessively annoyed by sickness, which obliged them to remain much longer than they would otherwise have done: and it is worthy of notice, that every one of the crew was ill, excepting the sailmaker, an old man between seventy and eighty years of age, who regularly got drunk every night. Poor