Second Voyage

TOWARDS THE SOUTH POLE, AND ROUND THE WORLD,

IN 1772, 1773, 1774, AND 1775. THREE YEARS 18 DAYS.

WHETHER the unexplored part of the Southern Hemisphere were only an immense mass of water, or contained another continent, as speculative geography seemed to suggest, was a question which had long engaged the attention, not only of learned men, but of most of the maritime powers of Europe. To put an end to all diversity of opinion about a matter so curious and important was his Majesty's principal motive in directing this voyage to be undertaken.

The nature of this voyage required ships of a particular construction, and the "Endeavour" being gone to Falkland Isles, as a store-ship, the Navy-board was directed to purchase two such ships as were most suitable for this service.

Accordingly, two were purchased of Captain William Hammond of Hull. They were both built at Whitby, by the same person who built the "Endeavour," being about fourteen or sixteen months old at the time they were purchased, and were in my opinion as well adapted to the intended service as if they had been built for the purpose. The largest of the two was four hundred and sixty-two tons burthen. She was named "Resolution."

and sent to Deptford to be equipped. The other was three hundred and thirty-six tons burthen. She was named "Adventure," and sent to be equipped at Woolwich.

It was first proposed to sheath them with copper; but, on considering that copper corrodes the iron-work, especially about the rudder, this intention was laid aside, and the old method of sheathing and fitting pursued, as being the most secure; for, although it is usual to make the rudder-bands of the same composition, it is not, however, so durable as iron, nor would it, I am well assured, last out such a voyage as the "Resolution" performed. Therefore, till a remedy is found to prevent the effect of copper upon the iron-work, it would not be advisable to use it on a voyage of this kind, as the principal fastenings of the ship being iron, they may be destroyed.

On the 28th of November 1771, I was appointed to the command of "the Resolution ;" and Tobias Furneaux (who had been second lieutenant with Captain Wallis) was promoted, on this occasion, to the command of "the Adventure."

I had all the reason in the world to be perfectly satisfied with the choice of the officers. The second and third lieutenants, the lieutenant of marines, two of the warrant officers, and several of the petty officers, had been with me during the former voyage. The others were men of known abilities; and all of them, on every occasion, shewed their zeal for the service in which they were employed during the whole voyage.

"The Resolution" had 112 persons on board, officers included, and "the Adventure" 81. Mr. Forster and his son, both eminent naturalists, and Mr. Wales, afterwards mathematical master of Christ's Hospital, accompanied them. The following were the principal officers :

RESOLUTION."

R. P. Cooper, Charles Clerke, Richard Pickersgill, lieutenants.

Joseph Gilbert, master.

James Patten, surgeon.

John Edgecumbe, lieutenant, royal marines.

"ADVENTURE."

Joseph Shank, Arthur Kempe, lieutenants.
Peter Fannin, master.

Thomas Andrews, surgeon.

James Scott, lieutenant, royal marines.

And now it may be necessary to say, that, as I am on the point of sailing on a third expedition, I leave this account of my last voyage in the hands of some friends, who in my absence have kindly accepted the office of correcting the press for me; who are pleased to think, that what I have here to relate is better to be given in my own words, than in the words of another person, especially as it is a work designed for information and not merely for amusement; in which it is their opinion, that candour and fidelity will counterbalance the want of ornament.

I shall, therefore, conclude this introductory discourse with desiring the reader to excuse the inaccuracies of style, which doubtless he will frequently meet with in the following narrative; and that, when such occur, he will recollect that it is the production of a man who has not had the advantage of much school education, but who has been constantly at sea from his youth; and though, with the assistance of a few good friends, he has passed through all the stations belonging to a seaman,

from an apprentice boy in the coal trade, to a post captain in the Royal Navy, he has had no opportunity of cultivating letters. After this account of myself, the public must not expect from me the elegance of a fine writer, or the plausibility of a professed book-maker; but will, I hope, consider me as a plain man, zealously exerting himself in the service of his country, and determined to give the best account he is able of his proceedings.

Plymouth Sound,
July 7, 1776

CHAPTER IV.

(1772.)

ON the 22d of June the ship was completed for sea, when 1 sailed from Sheerness; and on the 3d of July, joined the "Adventure" in Plymouth Sound. The evening before, we met, off the Sound, Lord Sandwich, in the "Augusta" yacht (who was on his return from visiting the several dockyards), with the "Glory" frigate and "Hazard" sloop. We saluted his lordship with 17 guns; and soon after he and Sir Hugh Palliser gave us the last mark of the very great attention they had paid to this equipment, by coming on board, to satisfy themselves that everything was done to my wish, and that the ship was found to answer to my satisfaction.

On the 13th, at six o'clock in the morning, I sailed from Plymouth Sound, with the " Adventure" in company; and on the evening of the 29th, anchored in Funchal Road, in the island of Madeira. Having got on board a supply of water, wine, and other necessaries, we left Madeira on the 1st of August, and stood to the southward, with a fine gale. On the 4th we passed Palma, one of the Canary Isles.

On finding that our stock of water would not last us to the Cape of Good Hope, without putting the people to a scanty allowance, I resolved to stop at St. Jago for a supply. On the 9th we made the island of Bonavista; the next day passed the island of Mayo on our right; and the same evening anchored in Port Praya, in the island of St. Jago.