SIR JOSEPH BANKS. 351 



increased, and it descended from the astronomer him- 

 self to the humblest mariner of the expedition. On 

 the night of the 2nd not an eye was closed. One 

 rose every half hour to report the state of the weather 

 to the rest, who were kept on the alert by the hope 

 which arose when the sky was reported clear, or 

 the fear which the mention of a cloud produced ; but 

 next morning, to their unspeakable delight, the sun was 

 seen to rise without a cloud, and the serene clear sky 

 continued during the day. The observations were accord- 

 ingly among the best of any which the different astrono- 

 mers made of the phenomenon. The precaution had 

 been taken, judiciously suggested by Lord Moreton, of 

 making the observation at more places than one ; and Mr. 

 Banks accompanied the party which was despatched for 

 that purpose to the Island of Eimeo. An officer was 

 sent to another station on the main island, while Captain 

 Cook and Dr. Solander remained at the fort erected at 

 Otaheite, with Mr. Green, who there found the first 

 external contact to be at 9, 25, 42, and the beginning 

 of emersion and the total emersion 3, 32, 10, so that 

 about six hours of serene and clear weather were required 

 for this important observation. The latitude was 

 17 29' 15" south, the longitude 149 32' 30" west. 



In the same year the transit of Mercury was afterwards 

 observed with equal success in the island of Major near 

 Mowtohera on the 9th November. The weather, though 

 it had been very thick for several days before, proved 

 most propitious on the 9th. Mr. Green made the internal 

 contact 12, 8, 58, the external 12, 9, 55. Captain Cook's 

 observation differed one second as to the former, seven 

 as to the latter. The latitude was 36 48' 28" south. 



