630 Transactions. — Miscellaneous. 



west passage through which vessels might sail to the East 

 by a short route, instead of by the long journey round 

 the Cape. As all previous expeditions with this mission 

 had failed, it was now determined to make the attempt 

 from another direction, and to seek an entrance from the 

 Pacific instead of from the Atlantic Ocean. As we know, this 

 discovery was achieved by Sir John Franklin in 1847. Had 

 Cook been spared to complete his voyage it is quite probable 

 that his experience, skill, and determination would have con- 

 quered the difficult problem set before him. As with the pre- 

 vious two, so this voyage proved rich in contributions to its 

 history. It extended over four years — from July, 1776, to 

 October, 1780. The vessels were the old " Eesolution " and 

 the " Discovery," the command of the latter devolving on 

 Captain Gierke, and, after his death, on Captain James King. 

 The month of February, 1777, was spent in New Zealand, at 

 the old favourite spot in Queen Charlotte Sound. The 

 account of this voyage appeared in 1784 in three large quarto 

 volumes ; the first and second nominally by Cook, the third 

 by King. Again the services of Dr. John Douglas as editor 

 were put in requisition ; but from the introductory remarks it 

 would seem as though Cook had formed the strong resolve of 

 editing himself his journal and of trusting to no deputy. But 

 death forbade this. The plates and charts were, as previously, 

 of the best character, and executed by eminent engravers from 

 the drawings of James Webber, the artist of the expedition. 

 The plates are of large size, and were consequently issued sepa- 

 rately in elephant folio. Some copies of the letter-press have, 

 however, the plates infolded. A few copies of the folio plates 

 have an additional engraving at the end by the celebrated Bar- 

 tolozzi, representing the death of Cook. Such copies are very 

 rare and accordingly valuable. In 1808 an additional folio 

 of coloured illustrations by Webber was published. One of 

 the views represents Ship Cove, in Queen Charlotte Sound, 

 where Cook was wont to lie. The representation is most 

 faithful, and I immediately recognized the spot when visiting 

 it five years ago. The great earthquake of .1846, which did 

 such damage at Wellington and which raised the eastern 

 beaches, had here the effect of depressing the land some feet 

 below the water. Hence the beach whereon Cook erected his 

 huts, and which is depicted in Webber's illustration, no longer 

 exists. 



These nine volumes, then, form the complete and original 

 edition of Cook's voyages; though, as has been explained 

 already, the first relates to the discoveries of Cook's 

 immediate predecessors. It is needless to speak of the 

 numberless editions which have since appeared and with 

 some of which we are all acquainted. I may, however, add 



