CHAPTER II 

 ROUND THE WORLD WITH CAPTAIN COOK 



A opportunity came, in the year 1768, for an 

 exploit in all respects suitable to the active 

 genius of Mr. Banks. Circumnavigation had 

 been a topic of interest for several years past, 

 not less in scientific than in political circles. British cap- 

 tains had gained renown, and Frenchmen had closely 

 emulated them, by tales of adventure and research in 

 hitherto unknown seas ; and bulky compilations of travel 

 and exploration were popular with all classes of people 

 who read any books at all. Now, yet another project was 

 in the air, to unravel the mysteries of the southern ocean. 

 The occasion was this. The Royal Society was desirous 

 of getting an accurate observation of the Transit of 

 Venus, which was due in 1769. The Transit of 1761 had 

 not been satisfactorily observed. Great anticipations were 

 formed by astronomers of an improved result in 1769 

 Dr. Maskelyne at Greenwich, and the Rev. Thomas 

 Hornsby at Oxford, led discussions on the more suitable 

 stations for taking the observation. Hornsby contributed 

 an excellent paper on the subject to the Philosophical 

 Transactions. Having established their position, and 

 marshalled its points in a memorial to the King, the 

 Royal Society obtained an immediate acquiescence in the 

 proposal to send various expeditions to distant quarters 

 of the globe. On March 24, 1768, the President an- 

 nounced that 4000 had been paid to him, on account of 

 the astronomical expenses. The places decided upon as 



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