THE PACIFIC OCEAN, 281 



earliefl youth, and had been in feveral actions during the '779- 



J ° Auguft. 



war which began in 1756, particularly in that between the 

 Bellona and Courageux, where being ftationed in the mizen- 

 top, he was carried overboard with the mail, but was taken 

 up without having received any hurt. He was Midfliipman 

 in the Dolphin, commanded by Commodore Byron, on her 

 firfl Voyage round the world, and afterward ferved on the 

 American ftation. In 1768, he made his fecond voyage 

 round the world, in the Endeavour, as Mailer's Mate, and 

 by the promotion, which took place during the expedi- 

 tion, he returned a Lieutenant. His third voyage round 

 the world was in the Refolution, of which he was ap- 

 pointed the Second Lieutenant : and foon after his return, 

 in i775> he was promoted to the rank of Mailer and Com- 

 mander. When the prefcnt expedition was ordered to be 

 fitted out, he was appointed to the Difcovery, to accom- 

 pany Captain Cook ; and, by the death of the latter, fuc- 

 ceeded, as has been already mentioned, to the chief com- 

 mand. 



It would be doing his memory extreme injuflice not to 

 fay, that during the fhort time the expedition was under his 

 direction, he was mod zealous and anxious for its fuccefs. 

 His health, about the time the principal command devolved 

 upon him, began to decline very rapidly, and was every 

 way unequal to encounter the rigours of a high Northern 

 climate. But the vigour and activity of his mind had, in no 

 fhape, fulFered by the decay of his body: and though he 

 knew, that by delaying his return to a warmer climate, he 

 was giving up the only chance that remained for his reco- 

 very, yet, careful and jealous to the laft degree, that a regard 



Vol. III. O o to 



