A General History and Collection of Voyages and Travels | Page 4

the secretary of the
Admiralty, informing them that a bark of three hundred and seventy
tons had been taken up for that purpose. This vessel was called the
Endeavour, and the command of her given to Lieutenant James Cook,[3]
a gentleman of undoubted abilities in astronomy and navigation, who
was soon after, by the Royal Society, appointed, with Mr Charles
Green, a gentleman who had long been assistant to Dr Bradley at the
Royal Observatory at Greenwich, to observe the transit.[4]
[Footnote 3: The gentleman first proposed for this command was Mr
Alexander Dalrymple, a member of the Royal Society, and author or
publisher of several works in geography. He was anxious for the
undertaking, but apprehending that difficulties might arise during the
voyage from the circumstance of the crew not being subjected to
ordinary naval discipline under him, he made it a condition that he
should hold a brevet commission as captain. Sir Edward Hawke, at that
time at the head of the Admiralty, did not give his consent to this
demand, saying, that his conscience would not permit him to entrust
any of his majesty's ships to a person not educated as a seaman; and
declaring, in consequence, that he would rather have his right hand cut
off than sign any commission to that effect. This brave and spirited
man, it is probable, feared the degradation of his profession by such a
measure; but, besides this, he knew that in a similar case, where a
commission was given to Dr Halley, very serious evils had been
occasioned by the sailors refusing to acknowledge the authority thus
communicated. Mr Dalrymple remaining equally tenacious of his own
opinion, it became necessary either to abandon the undertaking, or to

procure another person to command it. Mr Stephens, Secretary to the
Admiralty, made mention of our great navigator, as well known to him;
and very fit for the office, having been regularly bred in the navy, in
which he was that time a master, and having, as marine surveyor of
Newfoundland and Labradore, and on several occasions, exhibited very
singular marks of good understanding and abilities. Sir Hugh Palliser,
applied to by the Board for his opinion on the matter, most warmly,
from his own knowledge, espoused Mr Stephens's recommendation of
Cook, who was accordingly appointed to the command, and promoted
to the rank of lieutenant in the navy, by a commission bearing date 25th
of May, 1768. Mr Dalrymple, it may be remarked, took his
disappointment very badly. He published a petulant letter to Dr
Hawkesworth, complaining, among other things, of the ill treatment he
had received. Dr H. replied in the second edition of this work, but the
controversy betwixt these two gentlemen is unworthy of the reader's
patience.--E.]
[Footnote 4: Joseph Banks, Esq. afterwards Sir Joseph Banks, Bart, and
Dr Solander, accompanied Cook in this voyage.--E.]
While this vessel was getting ready for her expedition, Captain Wallis
returned; and it having been recommended to him by Lord Morton,
when he went out, to fix on a proper place for this astronomical
observation, he, by letter, dated on board the Dolphin the 18th of May,
1768, the day before he landed at Hastings, mentioned Port Royal
harbour, in an island which be had discovered, then, called George's
island, and since Otaheite: the Royal Society, therefore, by letter, dated
the beginning of June, in answer to an application from the admiralty to
be informed whither they would have their observers sent, made choice
of that place.
The Endeavour had been built for the coal trade, and a vessel of that
construction was preferred for many reasons, particularly because she
was what the sailors called a good sea-boat, was more roomy, would
take and lie on the ground better, and might be navigated by fewer men
than other vessels of the same burden.
Her complement of officers and men was Lieutenant Cook the

commander, with two lieutenants under him, a master and boatswain,
with each two mates, a surgeon and carpenter, with each one mate, a
gunner, a cook, a clerk and steward, two quarter-masters, an armourer,
a sail-maker, three midshipmen, forty-one able seamen, twelve marines,
and nine servants, in all eighty-four persons, besides the commander:
she was victualled for eighteen months, and took on board ten carriage
and twelve swivel guns, with good store of ammunition and other
necessaries. The Endeavour also, after the astronomical observation
should be made, was ordered to prosecute the design of making
discoveries in the South Seas. What was effected by these vessels in
their several voyages, will appear in the course of this work, of which it
is now necessary to give some account.
It is drawn up from the journals that were kept by the commanders of
the several ships, which were put into my hands