THE LAST STAY IN ENGLAND 185 



grave had tried in vain to discover the great 

 means of union between the two oceans. In 

 spite of the failure of these attempts, the Eng- 

 lish, the most persevering race of any, had never 

 abandoned the idea of these explorations, the 

 success of which seemed so important for their 

 navy and trade. 



Captain Cook's patron. Lord Sandwich, the 

 First Lord of the Admiralty, had formed the 

 plan of sending, after meticulous organisation, a 

 new expedition in North American waters. One 

 man occurred to him as its leader — Captain 

 Cook, to the exclusion of all others. But he did 

 not venture to suggest to the brave sailor that he 

 should lead this dangerous adventure. Cook 

 had scarcely been home a few months. His duty 

 was now to his wife and children. It would 

 have been cruel to urge him to leave his family; 

 and, besides, after the unheard-of-suffering and 

 privations of his last voyage, he had now an 

 inalienable right to rest. 



Lord Sandwich invited Cook to dinner one 

 evening, in company with Sir Hugh Palliser and 

 Mr. Stephens. The First Lord explained to 

 Cook the plan he had formed, and said to him, 

 "Captain Cook, you can give me a piece of good 

 advice better than anybody. Who do you recom- 

 mend me to put at the head of the new expedi- 

 tion?" Cook, who was sitting at table, stood 



