6 
SIR JOSEPH BANKS. 
to the Lords of the Admiralty to permit him to proceed with Lieuten- 
ant Cook in the “ Endeavour.” The Council complied with his re- 
quest and in their official letter thus interceded in favour of Banks: 
The Council have appointed Mr. Charles Green, and Captain Cook, who is 
commander of the vessel, to be their observ^ers; besides whom, Joseph Banks, 
Esq., Fellow of this Society, a gentleman of large fortune, who is well versed in 
natural history, being desirous of undertaking the same voyage, the Council very 
earnestly request their Lordships, that in regard to Mr. Banks’ great personal 
merit, and for the advancement of useful knowledge, he also, together with his 
suite, being seven persons more (that is eight in all), together with their baggage 
be received on board of the ship in command of Captain Cook. 
From the following passage it would appear that California was also 
thought of as an observing station (although it is not enumerated in 
Weld, ii, .34), and it is also interesting as showing how the “ Endeavour,” 
a name dear to Australians, came on the scene. 
In the beginning of the year 1768, the British Ambassador at Madrid applied 
to the Coiirt of Spain for the grant of a passport to a ship designed for Cahfornia, 
to observe the Transit of Venus, which was promised, with a provision that the 
astronomer should be a member of the Romish Church, and an Italian gentleman 
was consequently engaged for the undertaking; but the passport, when demanded, 
was refused by the Spanish Ministry, who alleged that it was repugnant to the 
policy of government to admit foreigners into their American ports, unless driven 
there by necessity; but especially those who by their profession would be fitted 
to make such observations as might facilitate the approaches and descents of their 
enemies at any future war with Great Britain. 
It was then determined to despatch the Italian gentleman to Hudson’s Bay, 
and a ship of 400 tons burthen was purchased for the voyage by order of the 
Government. This ship was named the “ Endeavour,”* and, according to the 
original plan, was to have been navigated by a master, a second master, a mate, 
two midshipmen, and thirty seamen, who were engaged for the service, and orders 
were at the same time issued from the navy ofifice to equip her for the undertaking; 
and early in the month of May warrants were granted to the first and second 
masters, but recalled the following day — the plan of her voyage having been altered. 
But on the 27th of the same month the ship was again put in eommission, and 
her complement augmented to seventy men; an application was likewise made 
for a number of marines, but without success. 
On the 21st of July she fell down to Greenwich, and the next morning to the 
Galleons, where we received on board six guns, being four-pounders, together 
with twelve swivels, and gunners’ stores, &c. On the evening of the 30th we 
anchored at Gravesend, and the next morning proceeded towards the Downs, 
where we arrived on the 3rd August, and on the same day sailed for Plymouth, 
where we came to anchor on the 14th, and were ordered to receive on board twelve 
marines, and three additional seamen, which, with Mr. Green, the observer, and 
his servant, together with Mr. Banks and Dr. Solander, and their attendants, 
who were considered as supernumeraries, increased our number to ninetj’-six 
souls, f 
• For further particulars concerning the taking over of this vessel (368 tons) into the Na'i’y> 
see ” Kitson,” p. 88. 
t Beckefs (" Voyage of the Endeavour, 1768-1771,” pp. 1-3). A journal of a voyage round 
the world in H.M.S. " Endeavour ” in the years 1768-71, undertaken in pursuit of natural 
knowledge, at the desire of the Koyal Society, <tc., &c., London, printed for T. Becket and 
P. A. De Hondt, 1771. 4to, pp. 130 and three pages unnumbered. (Copy in library of Sydney 
Botanic Gardens.) No plates, no author given, but usually quoted as Thomas Becket. The 
Sydney Public Library edition is 12mo, Dublin, 1772. 
