FIRST VOYAGE 15 



zeal they have ever shown for its advancement, presented 

 a memorial to his Majesty at the beginning of the previous 

 year, requesting, among other things^ that a vessel might 

 be fitted out at the expense of the government, to convey 

 proper persons to observe this transit at one of the places 

 already mentioned. 



The petition being readily complied with, and orders 

 having been given by the Admiralty to provide a vessel for 

 that purpose, on the 3rd of April, Mr. Stephens, the 

 secretary to the Board, informed the Society that every- 

 thing was progressing according to their wishes. 



Mr. Dalrymple was originally fixed upon to superintend 

 this expedition : a man eminent in science, a member of the 

 Royal Society, and who had already greatly distinguished 

 himself respecting the geography of the Southern Ocean. 

 As this gentleman had been regularly bred to the sea, he 

 insisted (very properly too) on having a brevet commission, 

 as captain of the vessel, before he would undertake the 

 employment. Sir Edward Hawke, (afterwards Lord 

 Hawke, a naval officer, and not a civilian), who then 

 presided at the Admiralty, violently opposed this measure ; 

 and being pressed on the subject, declared that nothing 

 could induce him to give his sanction to such a commission. 



Both parties were inflexible ; and it was therefore 

 thought expedient to look out for some other person to 

 conduct the expedition. Accordingly, Mr. Stephens having 

 recommended Lieutenant Cook, and this recommendation 

 being strengthened by the testimony of Sir Hugh Palliser, 

 who was well acquainted with Cook's merits, and abilities 

 for the discharge of this office, he was appointed to this 

 distinguished post by the lords' commissioners, and pro- 

 moted to the rank of lieutenant of the royal navy on the 

 25th of May, 1768. He was now, be it remembered, close 

 upon forty years of age. 



This appointment having taken place, Sir Hugh Palliser 

 was commissioned to provide a vessel adapted for such a 

 voyage. After examining a great number then lying in the 

 Thames, in conjunction with Cook, of whose judgment he 

 entertained the highest opinion, they at last fixed upon the 

 Endeavour, a barque of 370 tons, which had been built for 

 the coal trade. 



In the interim, Captain Wallis having returned from his 

 voyage round the world, and having signified to the Royal 

 Society that Port Royal Harbour, in King George's Island, 

 now called Otaheite, would be the most convenient place for 

 observing the transit, his opinion was adopted, and the 

 observers were ordered to repair thither. 



Mr. Charles Green, the coadjutor of Dr. Bradley, the 



