36 CAPTAIN COOK 



the Lords of the Admiralty in the place of Mr. 

 Dalrymple to the command of the expedition 

 entrusted with the observation in the South Seas 

 of the transit of Venus across the sun's disc. 



As soon as he was informed of his appoint- 

 ment, Cook began his search for a ship fit to 

 undertake the long and perilous journey of 

 which the responsibility would hereafter be his. 

 Accompanied by Sir Hugh Palliser, he visited 

 several ships which happened to be at anchor in 

 the Thames. The choice of both fell upon a 

 solidly-built craft of 370 tons, engaged in the 

 coal trade and built at Whitby. Her birthplace 

 seemed of good augury to Cook, who bought her 

 for £2500 and renamed her the Endeavour. 



While the Endeavour was fitting out. Captain 

 Wallis returned in his ship the Dolphin from 

 his voyage round the world. The President of 

 the Royal Society had asked Wallis upon his 

 departure to look for a place whence the transit 

 of Venus could most efficiently be observed. 

 The latter declared on his return that he had 

 discovered an island, which he had named 

 George Island, and that he was certain that a 

 harbour in this island would be suitable for the 

 astronomical observations contemplated by the 

 Royal Society. It was thereupon decided that 



