90 cook's voyage to march, 



These two ships were, at this time, in the dock at 

 Deptfbrd, under the hands of the shipwrights ; being 

 ordered to be equipped to make farther discoveries 

 in the Pacific Ocean, under my direction. 



On the 9th of March, the Resolution was hauled 

 out of dock into the river ; where we completed her 

 rigging, and took on board the stores and provisions 

 requisite for a voyage of such duration. Both ships, 

 indeed, were supplied with as much of every neces- 

 sary article as we could conveniently stow, and with 

 the best of every kind that could be procured. And, 

 besides this, every thing that had been found, by the 

 experience acquired during our former extensive 

 voyages, to be of any utility in preserving the health 

 of seamen, was supplied in abundance. 



It was our intention to have sailed to Long Reach 

 on the 6th of May, when a pilot came on board to 

 carry us thither ; but it was the 29th before the wind 

 would permit us to move -> and the 30th before we 

 arrived at that station, where our artillery, powder, 

 shot, and other ordnance stores were received. 



While we lay in Long Reach, thus employed, the 

 Earl of Sandwich, Sir Hugh Palliser, and others of 

 the Board of Admiralty, as the least mark of the 

 very great attention they had all along shown to this 

 equipment, paid us a visit on the 8th of June, to ex- 

 amine whether every thing had been completed con- 

 formably to their intentions and orders, and to the 

 satisfaction of all who were to embark in the voyage. 



They, and several other noblemen and gentlemen, 

 their friends, honoured me with their company at 

 dinner on that day ; and, on their coming on board, 

 and also on their going ashore, we saluted them with 

 seventeen guns, and three cheers. 



With the benevolent view of conveying some per- 

 manent benefit to the inhabitants of Otaheite, and of 

 the other islands in the Pacific Ocean, whom we 

 might happen to visit, his Majesty having com- 

 manded some useful animals to be carried out, we 



