16 INTRODUCTION TO 



These considerations concurring with Lord Sand- 

 wich's opinion on the same subject, the Admiralty 

 determined to have two such ships as are here re- 

 commended. Accordingly, two were purchased of 

 Captain William Hammond of Hull. They were 

 both built at Whitby, by the same person who built 

 the Endeavour, being about fourteen or sixteen 

 months old at the time they were purhased, and were, 

 in my opinion, as well adapted to the intended ser- 

 vice as if they had been built for the purpose. The 

 largest of the two was four hundred and sixty-two 

 tons burthen. She was named Resolution, and sent 

 to Deptford to be equipped. The other was three 

 hundred and thirty-six tons burthen. She was named 

 Adventure, and sent to be equipped at Woolwich. 



It was first proposed to sheath them with copper ; 

 but, on considering that copper corrodes the iron 

 work, especially about the rudder, this intention was 

 laid aside, and the old method of sheathing and fitting 

 pursued, as being the most secure ; for, although it is 

 usual to make the rudder-bands of the same compo- 

 sition, it is not, however, so durable as iron, nor would 

 it, I am well assured, last out such a voyage as the 

 Resolution performed. 



Therefore, till a remedy is found to prevent the 

 effect of copper upon the iron work, it would not be 

 advisable to use it on a voyage of this kind, as the 

 principal fastenings of the ship being iron, they may 

 be destroyed. 



On the 28th of November, 1771> I was appointed 

 to the command of the Resolution ; and Tobias Fur- 

 neaux (who had been second lieutenant with Cap- 

 tain Wallis) was promoted, on this occasion, to the 

 command of the Adventure. 



Our complements of officers and men were fixed, 

 as in the following table : 



