X. Mcnzies' Journal. 



in a search for ores or metals and mineral substances. He was also to 

 note the sort of beasts, birds, and fishes likely to prove useful either 

 for food or in commerce. Particular attention was to be paid to the 

 natural history of the sea-otter and obtain information concerning the 

 wild sheep, and note particularly all places where wliales or seals 

 are found in abundance. Inquiry was to be made into the manners, 

 customs, language, and religion of the natives and information obtained 

 concerning their manufactures, particularly the art of dyeing. He was 

 to keep a regular journal of all occurrences, which journal, together 

 with a complete collection of specimens of the animals, vegetables, and 

 minerals obtained, as well as articles of the cloths, arms, implements, 

 and manufactures of the Indians, were to be delivered to H.M. Secre- 

 tary of State or to such person as he shall appoint to receive them. 



Lord Grenville, in transmitting a copy of these instructions to the 

 Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty under date of February 23rd, 

 1 79 1, emphasizes the necessity for impressing upon the commander of 

 the ship that he was to afiford every degree of assistance to Mr. Menzies, 

 as the service he has been directed to perform " is materially connected 

 with some of the most important objects of the expedition." 



Sir Joseph Banks was apparently apprehensive as to the treat- 

 ment he might receive, as witness his last letter to Menzies (August 

 loth, 1791), in which he says: " How Captain Vancouver will behave 

 to you is more than I can guess, unless I was to judge by his conduct 

 toward me — which was not such as I am used to receive from persons 

 in his situation. . . . As it would be highly imprudent in him to 

 throw any obstacle in the way of your duty, I trust he will have too 

 much good sense to obstruct it." 



Although Captain Vancouver and Menzies were usually on good 

 terms, the latter being permitted (according to Sir Joseph's wish) 

 to build a glass frame for his plants upon the quarter-deck, yet the 

 relationship became strained when the Captain demanded Menzies' 

 journals and the latter refused to give them up until Sir Joseph 

 Banks and the Admiralty had granted permission, which was in 

 accordance with instructions issued to him before entering upon this 

 voyage. Menzies' work was further retarded when Vancouver took 

 the man who was tending the plants and placed him before the mast. 

 When Menzies complained that he had lost many of his best plants 

 through this action, Vancouver placed him under arrest for " insolence 

 and contempt." 



Although the ability of Captain Vancouver and the fact that he 

 accomplished fine work is readily admitted by every one, yet he appears 



