4 
A VOYAGE TO 
England. 
1801. The Investigator was a north-country-built ship, of three-hun- 
January. dred and t hj rt y_f our tons . an( j, in form, nearly resembled the descrip- 
tion of vessel recommended by captain Cook as best calculated for 
voyages of discovery. She had been purchased some years before 
into His Majesty's service; and having been newly coppered and 
repaired, was considered to be the best vessel which could, at that 
time, be spared for the projected voyage to Terra Australis. 
The ship was in a state of re-equipment ; but, on obtaining 
permission from the Navy Board to fit her out in such manner as I 
should judge necessary, without reference to the supplies usually 
allotted to vessels of the same class, all the stores were returned, 
and others of the best quality demanded, upon a more extensive 
scale. Such of the officers and crew as were aged, or did not volun- 
teer for this particular service, were discharged ; and able young 
men were received in lieu from His Majesty's ship Zealand, on 
board of which the flag of vice-admiral Graeme was flying at the 
Nore. Upon one occasion, where eleven volunteers were to be 
received from the Zealand, a strong instance was given of the spirit 
of enterprise prevalent amongst British seamen. About three hun- 
dred disposable men were called up, and placed on one side of the 
deck ; and after the nature of the voyage, with the number of men 
wanted, had been explained to them, those who volunteered were 
desired to go over to the opposite side. The candidates were not 
less than two-hundred and fifty, most of whom sought with eager- 
ness to be received ; and the eleven who were chosen, proved, with 
one single exception, to be worthy of the preference they obtained. 
In making the various alterations required in the ship, and in 
performing the duties incident to an equipment of this nature, I re- 
ceived the most ready concurrence and assistance from Isaac Coffin, 
Esq., ( now vice-admiral Sir Isaac Coffin, Bart. ) the resident naval com- 
missioner at Sheerness. At his suggestion I had the ship coppered 
two streaks higher than before, and took on board a spare rudder, 
which, after being fitted, was stowed away in pieces, ready against 
