xvi. Menzies' Journal. 



own Officers & entering the full compliment of Seamen, an indulgence 

 that ought always to be allowed on any similar occasion, as the success 

 of an Expedition of this nature may greatly depend on the harmony 

 & good understanding which is more likely to subsist among those 

 of the Commanders choosing 



" 1790 Deer. The command of the Chatham was given to Lieu- 

 tenant William Robert Broughton, and as she was in want of some 

 essential repairs she was hauled into a Dock in Woolwich Yard to 

 have them compleated. 



" At this time I had been upwards of twelve months retained by 

 Government to go out as Naturalist on that Expedition planned for 

 Captain Roberts, but as a state of tedious suspence was more intoler- 

 able to me, than the hardships of a long Voyage or the dangers of 

 traversing the wildest Forests, I requested leave of the Treasury to 

 go out as Surgeon of the Discovery, promising at the same time that 

 my vacant hours from my professional charge, should be chiefly 

 employed in their service, in making such collections & observations 

 as might tend to elucidate the natural history of the Voyage, without 

 any further pecuniary agreement than what they might conceive me 

 entitled to, on my return — My chief objects being a desire to complete 

 my servitude in the Royal Navy & the pleasure of exercising iny 

 profession, — and as two assistant-surgeons were allowed the Discovery, 

 I trusted I should have time sufficient on my hands to perform my 

 promise to their satisfaction — and by that means cheerfully devote 

 to the service of my Country that experience I had already gained 

 in a long circumnavigation & particularly on that Coast where those 

 Vessels were to direct their course & perform their operations. 



" The Treasury gave a favorable hearing & readily agreed to my 

 proposal, but the Commander of the Expedition made some objec- 

 tions, what they were I never heard, nor am I at this moment anxious 

 to know, being conscious of the rectitude of my own intentions — The 

 Treasury then resolved upon my going out in my present capacity & 

 soon after requested me to go aboard the Discovery to see that the 

 accommodations intended for me should be fitted out agreeable to 

 my wishes for the preservation of such objects of Natural History 

 as I should be directed to collect." 



After a lengthened period of uncertainty we see that, through 

 the influence of Sir Joseph Banks, Menzies was at last assured of a 

 position with Vancouver's expedition. His duties included the dis- 

 tribution of useful plants as well as the collecting of new and rare 

 species. 



