177^. THE PACIFIC OCEAN. QS 



And, that we might go out with every help that 

 could serve to make the result of our voyage enter- 

 taining to the generality of readers, as well as in- 

 structive to the sailor and scholar, Mr. Webber was 

 pitched upon, and engaged to embark with me, for 

 the express purpose of supplying the unavoidable 

 imperfections of written accounts, by enabling us 

 to preserve, and to bring home, such drawings of 

 the most memorable scenes of cur transactions, as 

 could only be executed by a professed and skilful 

 artist. 



Every preparation being now completed, I re- 

 ceived an order to proceed to Plymouth, and to take 

 the Discovery under my command. I accordingly 

 gave Captain Gierke two orders ; one to put himself 

 under my command, and the other to carry his ship 

 round to Plymouth. 



On the 15th, the Resolution sailed from Long 

 Reach, with the Discovery in company, and the 

 same evening they anchored at the Nore. Next 

 day the Discovery proceeded, in obedience to my 

 order ; but the Resolution was ordered to remain at 

 the Nore till I should join her, being at this time in 

 London. 



As we were to touch at Otaheite and the Society 

 Islands, in our way to the intended scene of our 

 fresh operations, it had been determined not to omit 

 this opportunity (the only one ever likely to happen) 

 of carrying Omai back to his native country. Ac- 

 cordingly, every thing being ready for our depar- 

 ture, he and I set out together from London on the 

 24th, at six o'clock in the morning. We reached 

 Chatham between ten and eleven o'clock ; and after 

 dining with Commissioner Proby, he very obligingly 

 ordered his yacht to carry us to Sheerness, where my 

 boat was waiting to take us on board. 



Omai left London with a mixture of regret and 

 satisfaction. When we talked about England, and 

 about those who, during his stay, had honoured him 



4 



