Menaies' Journal. 



Nootka. 



121 



diminished, that there were reasons to conclude from its 

 appearance that it must penetrate a considerable way inland, 

 but the unfavorableness of the weather preventerl their pur- 

 suing it further. 



Mr. Alexander Cranstoun Surgeon of the Discovery & 

 Mr. House Boatswain being invalided on account of ill state 

 of health, were both on the 9th discharged into the Doedalus 

 Store Ship to take their passage to England by the way of 

 Port Jackson together with Mr. Philips Carpenter who was 

 sent home by the same conveyance under Arrest. In conse- 

 quence of which the following changes & appointments took 

 place. Mr. Bray Carpenter of the Chatham & Mr. Noot 

 Boatswain were removd into the Discovery, & Messrs. 

 Laithwood & Philiskirk from the Discovery were appointed 

 to fill the vacancies on board the Chatham / & as Cap* 

 Vancouver did not conceive himself warrantable to make a 

 new Surgeon to fill up the vacancy on board the Discovery 

 while I was on the spot, he solicited me to take charge of 

 the Surgeon's duty, as the success of our expedition so much 

 depended on the health & welfare of the Ship's Company, 

 which he could more confidently entrust to my care, & this 

 he urged with a degree of earnestness that I could not well 

 refuse, especially as he requested at the same time that in 

 case of my not accepting of it, to state my having refused 

 it in writing, & as I did not know how far this might operate 

 against my interest at the Navy Office, I with considerable 

 hesitation accepted of the appointment, on Cap* Vancouver's 

 promising me that he would take care it should not interfere 

 with my other pursuits, more than the real exigences of the 

 service required, & as I had done the Surgeon's duty in the 

 most critical situation since we left the Cape of Good Hope, 

 & constantly prescribed for Cap* Vancouver himself since 

 we left England on account of Mr. Cranstoun's ill state of 

 health, I conceivd the difference of now attending the duty 

 wholly would be very little specially as there were two 

 assistant Surgeons on board & the Ship in general healthy. 



Nothing particular happened for the few following days, 

 the Boatswain & Carpenter's Stores were surveyed on 

 board / of both Vessels, & the Surgeon's Stores & Medi- 

 cines on board the Discovery. The weather which had been 

 remarkably fine & pleasant since our arrival, set in on the 

 I2th with the Wind from the South East Quarter accom- 



8tb. 



1792. 

 Sept. 



(in., .380. 

 :\H\ ) refers to 

 Ciiamano'H 

 chart and bis 

 " supposed 

 straits of 

 De Font." 



