THE PACIFIC OCEAN. 
world was in the Refolution, of which he was appointed the 
Second Lieutenant: and foon after his return, in 1775, he 
was promoted to the rank of Mailer and Commander. When 
the prefent expedition was ordered to be fitted out, he was 
appointed to the Difcovery, to accompany Captain Cook; 
and, by the death of the latter, fucceeded, as has been al¬ 
ready mentioned, to the chief command. 
It would be doing his memory extreme injultice not to 
fay, that during the Ihort time the expedition was under his 
direction, he was moll zealous and anxious for its fuccefs. 
His health, about the time the principal command devolved 
upon him, began to decline very rapidly, and was every 
way unequal to encounter the rigours of a high Northern 
climate. But the vigour and activity of his mind had, in no 
lhape, fuffered by the decay of his body: and though he 
knew, that by delaying his return to a warmer climate, he 
was giving up the only chance that remained for his reco¬ 
very, yet, careful and jealous to the lad degree, that a regard 
to his own lituation fhould never bias his judgment to the 
prejudice of the fervice, he perfevered in the fearch of a paf- 
fage, till it was the opinion of every officer in both Ihips, 
that it was impra£licable, and that any farther attempts 
would not only be fruitlefs, but dangerous. 
O o 
VOL. III. 
CHAP. 
