SIR JOSEPH BANKS. 23 



each of them half a meal ; and tney knew not how- 

 much more they might suffer from the cold, as the 

 snow still continued to fall." * At daybreak, how- 

 ever, after having cut up their vulture into ten 

 portions, and given every man his share to cook 

 in his own way, they prepared to set out, and 

 providentially found themselves nearer to the beach 

 than they expected, for they had made a circuit 

 of the hill. They thus succeeded in reaching the 

 vessel by mid-day, with the exception of two of 

 the party, a seaman and a negro, who died. 



We have selected this adventure as a proof of 

 the ardour with which Mr Banks entered on the 

 duties he had volunteered, and the courage and 

 perseverance with which he at all times pursued 

 the objects of the expedition. Indeed, he must have 

 been a most valuable assistant to Lieutenant Cook 

 during the whole of his arduous and responsible 

 undertaking, for he appears never to have shrunk 

 from services of danger ; but, on the contrary, to 

 have taken the lead on all emergencies. We will 

 give another instance of great fortitude, by which 

 a principal object of the voyage was secured from 

 defeat. 



It is well known, that to observe the transit 



of Venus over the sun's disk, from some of the 



islands of the South Seas, was the purpose for 



which the Endeavour was primarily fitted out, in 



• Hawkesworth. 



