34 
SIR JOSEPH RANKS. 
Island), when he surprised me by stating that a very interesting naval relic was 
standing in a store hard by. My friend then led me into the counting-house of 
an oil merchant, and directed my attention to a large post which was fastened 
against the wall. This piece of wood was a part of the stem of the “ Endeavour,” 
the identical vessel in wliich the celebrated Captain Cook circumnavigated the 
globe. It appeared that the ship, after her long voyage, was sold, at Dunkirk, to an 
American merchant, who meant to convert her into a whaler, and for that purpose 
sent her to New'port for the necessary repairs. Before these could be effected, 
she was broken up by the equinoctial gales, and this was the sole relic of the famous 
vessel. The proprietor of the fragment very poUtely presented me with a bit 
of the wood.” W. Clixtox. 
January 4. 
Sir, (9 Jiimtaru, 1906.) 
The writer of the letter in your issue of Friday last on the above interesting 
subject is not the first person to call attention to the fact that the remains of this 
historic vessel were left by a gale on the shores of the harbour of Newport, Rhode 
Island. But others have from time to time interested themselves in the matter. 
Mr. John W. Deering* traced the history of this vessel for Professor Jlorris, and 
Mr. Patrick Boyle, Mayor of Newport, supplied the information. JIany relics 
were preserved by private individuals. They included a box made from her keel, 
and presented to Fenimore Cooper in 1828. And he regrets that “ there are no 
remains of the ‘ Endeavour ’ in any pubhc institution out of which a relic could 
be sent to the Austrahan JIuseum.” This “ post,” ‘‘ part of the stem ” of the 
‘‘ Endeavour,” was, therefore, not the only portion preserved, and some day it 
may be the good fortime of the Austrahan Museum to become possessed of some 
carefully preserved rehc, the value of which to the present possessor is unknown. 
January 8. James H. Watsox. 
* The letters of Mr. Deering and of Mr. Boyle are published in the “ Herald ” of 8th April, 
1899 (J.H.M.) 
