504 SIR JOSEPH BANKS. 



Forster got some things there new in your way. Mr. Brand 

 has got for you a fine collection, as I am told. I depart from 

 hence in a day or two well stored with every necessary thing, 

 but I am told the French from the Mauritius have got the 

 start of me. About eight months ago two ships from that 

 island discovered land in the latitude of 48 degrees, and 

 about the meridian of the Mauritius, along which they sailed 

 forty miles till they came to a bay, into which they were 

 about to enter, when they were separated, and drove off the 

 coast by a gale of wind. The one got to the Mauritius soon 

 after, and the other is since arrived from Batavia with a cargo 

 of arrack, as the report goes here ; also, in March last, two 

 frigates from the same island touched here in their way to 

 the South Sea, having on board the man Bougainville 

 brought from Otaheite, and who died before the ships de- 

 parted hence, a circumstance I am really sorry for. These 

 ships were to touch some where on the coast of America, 

 and afterwards to proceed round Cape Horn. 



" I am in your debt for the pickled and dried salmon 

 which you left on board, which a little time ago was most 

 excellent ; but the eight casks of pickled salted fish I kept for 

 myself proved so bad that even the hogs would not eat it. 

 These hints may be of use to you in providing for your in- 

 tended expedition, in which I wish you all the success you 

 can wish yourself; and am, with great esteem and respect, 



"Dear Sir, 



" Your most obliged humble servant, 

 "JAMES COOK." 



CAPT. COOK TO MR. BANKS. 



" DEAR SiR, " Plymouth Sound, July 10th, 1776. 



" As you was so obliging as to say you would give a 

 description of the New Zealand spruce tree, or any other 

 plant, the drawing of which might accompany my Journal, 

 I desired Mr. Strahan and Mr. Stuart, who have the charge 

 of the publication, to give you extracts out the manuscript of 

 such descriptions as I had given (if any), for you to correct 



