A Voyage to the South Sea | Page 3

of iron and other ballast. I gave directions that only nineteen
tons of iron should be taken on board instead of the customary
proportion which was forty-five tons. The stores and provisions I
judged would be fully sufficient to answer the purpose of the remainder;
for I am of opinion that many of the misfortunes which attend ships in
heavy storms of wind are occasioned by too much dead weight in their
bottoms.
The establishment of men and officers for the ship were as follows:
1 Lieutenant to command. 1 Master. 1 Boatswain. 1 Gunner. 1
Carpenter. 1 Surgeon. 2 Master's Mates. 2 Midshipmen. 2
Quartermasters. 1 Quartermaster's Mate. 1 Boatswain's Mate. 1
Gunner's Mate. 1 Carpenter's Mate. 1 Carpenter's Crew. 1 Sailmaker. 1
Armourer. 1 Corporal. 1 Clerk and Steward. 23 Able Seamen. --- 44.
Two skilful and careful men were appointed, at Sir Joseph Banks's
recommendation, to have the management of the plants intended to be
brought home: the one, David Nelson, who had been on similar
employment in Captain Cook's last voyage; the other, William Brown,

as an assistant to him. With these two our whole number amounted to
forty-six.
It was proposed that our route to the Society Islands should be round
Cape Horn; and the greatest dispatch became necessary as the season
was already far advanced: but the shipwrights not being able to
complete their work by the time the ship was ready in other respects,
our sailing was unavoidably retarded.
October. Thursday 4.
However by the 4th of October the pilot came on board to take us down
the river.
Tuesday 9.
On the 9th we fell down to Long Reach where we received our gunner's
stores and guns, four four-pounders and ten swivels.
The ship was stored and victualled for eighteen months. In addition to
the customary allowance of provisions we were supplied with sourkraut,
portable soup, essence of malt, dried malt, and a proportion of barley
and wheat in lieu of oatmeal. I was likewise furnished with a quantity
of ironwork and trinkets to serve in our intercourse with the natives in
the South Seas: and from the board of Longitude I received a
timekeeper, made by Mr. Kendal.
Monday 15.
On the 15th I received orders to proceed to Spithead.
November. Sunday 4.
But the winds and weather were so unfavourable that we did not arrive
there till the 4th of November. On the 24th I received from Lord Hood,
who commanded at Spithead, my final orders. The wind, which for
several days before had been favourable, was now turned directly
against us.

Wednesday 28.
On the 28th the ship's company received two months pay in advance,
and on the following morning we worked out to St. Helen's, where we
were obliged to anchor.
1787. December. Sunday 23.
We made different unsuccessful attempts to get down Channel, but
contrary winds and bad weather constantly forced us back to St. Helen's,
or Spithead, until Sunday the 23rd of December when we sailed with a
fair wind.
During our stay at Spithead, the rate of the timepiece was several times
examined by Mr. Bailey's observations at the Portsmouth observatory.
On the 19th of December, the last time of its being examined on shore,
it was 1 minute 52 seconds, 5 too fast for meantime, and then losing at
the rate of 1 second, 1 per day; and at this rate I estimate its going when
we sailed.
The object of all the former voyages to the South Seas undertaken by
the command of his present majesty, has been the advancement of
science and the increase of knowledge. This voyage may be reckoned
the first the intention of which has been to derive benefit from those
distant discoveries. For the more fully comprehending the nature and
plan of the expedition, and that the reader may be possessed of every
information necessary for entering on the following sheets, I shall here
lay before him a copy of the instructions I received from the admiralty,
and likewise a short description of the breadfruit.
BY THE COMMISSIONERS FOR EXECUTING THE OFFICE OF
LORD HIGH ADMIRAL OF GREAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND,
ETC.
Whereas the king, upon a representation from the merchants and
planters interested in his Majesty's West India possessions that the
introduction of the breadfruit tree into the islands of those seas, to
constitute an article of food, would be of very essential benefit to the

inhabitants, hath, in order to promote the interests of so respectable a
body of his subjects (especially in an instance which promises general
advantage) thought fit that measures should be taken for the procuring
some of those trees, and conveying them to the said West India islands:
And whereas the vessel under your command hath, in consequence
thereof, been stored and victualled for that