Account of Captain Cook during the Period between his Second Voyage
and his Voyage to the Pacific Ocean.
The able manner in which Captain Cook had conducted the preceding
voyage, the discoveries he had made, and his complete determination of
the grand point he had been sent to ascertain, justly and powerfully
recommended him to the protection and encouragement of all those who
had patronized the undertaking. No alterations had occurred, during
his absence, in the presidency of the admiralty department. The noble
lord, whose extensive views had taken such a lead in the plans of
navigation and discovery, still continued at the head of that board;
and it could not be otherwise than a high satisfaction to him, that so
extraordinary a degree of success had attended his designs for the
enlargement of science. His lordship lust no time in representing
Captain Cook's merits to the king; nor did his majesty stand in need
of solicitations to shew favour to a man, who had so eminently
fulfilled his royal and munificent intentions. Accordingly our
navigator, on the 9th of August, was raised to the rank of a post
captain. Three days afterwards, he received a more distinguished and
substantial mark of the approbation of government: for he was then
appointed a captain in Greenwich Hospital; a situation which was
intended to afford him a pleasing and honourable reward for his
illustrious labours and services.
It will easily be supposed, that the lovers of science would, in
general, be peculiarly attentive to the effects resulting from Captain
Cook's discoveries. The additions he had made to the knowledge of
geography, navigation, and astronomy, and the new views he had opened
of the diversified state of human life and manners, could not avoid
commanding their esteem, and exciting their admiration. With many
persons of philosophic literature he was in the habits of intimacy and
friendship; he was particularly acquainted with Sir John Pringle, at
that time president of the Royal Society. It was natural, therefore,
that his scientific friends should wish him to become a member of this
learned body; the consequence of which was, that, in the latter end of
the year 1775, he was proposed as a candidate for election. On the
29th of February, 1776, he was unanimously chosen; and he was admitted
on the 7th of March. That same evening, a paper was read, which he had
addressed to Sir John Pringle, containing an account of the method he
had taken to preserve the health of the crew of his majesty's ship the
Resolution, during her voyage round the world. Another paper, at the
request of the president, was communicated by him on the 18th of
April. relative to the tides in the South Seas. The tides particularly
considered were those in the Endeavour River, on the east coast of New
Holland.
A still greater honour was in reserve for Captain Cook, than the
election of him to be a common member of the Royal Society. It was
resolved by Sir John Pringle and the council of the society, to bestow
upon him the estimable prize of the gold medal, for the best
experimental paper, of the year; and no determination could be founded
to greater wisdom and justice. If Captain Cook had made no important
discoveries, if he had not determined the question concerning a
southern continent, his name would have been entitled to immortality,
on account of his humane attention to, and his unparalleled success in
preserving the lives and health of his seamen.
He had good reason, upon this head, to assume the pleasurable, but
modest language, with which he has concluded his narrative of his
second navigation round the globe: 'Whatever,' says he, 'may be the
public judgment about other matters, it is with real satisfaction, and
without claiming any merit but that of attention to my duty, that I
can, conclude this account with an observation, which facts enable us
to make, that our having discovered the possibility of preserving
health among a numerous ship's company, for such a length of time, in
such varieties of climate, and amidst such continued hardships and
fatigues, will make this voyage remarkable, in the opinion of every
benevolent person, when the disputes about the southern continent
shall have ceased to engage the attention, and to divide the judgment
of philosophers.'
It was the custom, of Sir John Pringle, at the delivery of Sir Godfrey
Copley's annual medal, to give an elaborate discourse, containing the
history of that part of science for the improvement of which the medal
was conferred. Upon the present occasion, the president had a subject
to enlarge upon, which was perfectly congenial to his disposition and
studies. His own life had been much employed in pointing out the means
which tended not only to cure, but to prevent, the diseases of
mankind; and, therefore, it was with peculiar pleasure and affection
that he celebrated the conduct of his friend, who, by precautions
equally wise and simple, had rendered the circumnavigation of the
globe, so far as health is concerned, quite a harmless undertaking.
Towards the beginning of his discourse, Sir John justly asks, 'What
inquiry can be so useful as that which hath for its object the saving
the lives of men? and when shall we find one more successful than that
before us? Here,' adds the president, 'are no vain boastings of the
empiric, nor ingenious and delusive theories of the dogmatist; but a
concise and artless, and an incontested relation of the means by
which, under divine favour, Captain Cook, with a company of a hundred
and eighteen men, performed a voyage of three years and eighteen days,
throughout all the climates, from fifty-two degrees north to
seventy-one degrees south, with the loss of only one man by sickness.
I would now inquire.' proceeds Sir John Pringle, 'of the most
conversant to the study of bills of mortality, whether, in the most
healthful climate, and in the best condition of life, they have ever
found so small a number of deaths within that space of time? How great
and agreeable then must our surprise be, after perusing the histories
of long navigations in former days, when so many perished by marine
diseases, to find the air of the sea acquitted of all malignity; and,
in fine, that a voyage round the world may be undertaken with less
danger, perhaps, to health, than a common tour in Europe!'
In the progress of his discourse; the president recounted the dreadful
calamities and destruction the scurvy had heretofore brought upon
mariners in voyages of great length; after which he pointed out at
large, and illustrated with his own observations, the methods pursued
by Captain Cook for preserving the health of his men. In conclusion,
Sir John remarked, that the Royal Society never more cordially or more
meritoriously bestowed the gold medal, that faithful symbol of their
esteem and affection. 'For if,' says he, 'Rome decreed the civic crown
to him who saved the life of a single citizen, what wreaths are due to
that man, who, having himself saved many, perpetuates in your
transactions the means by which Britain may now, on the most distant
voyages, preserve numbers of her intrepid sons, her _mariners_;
who, braving every danger, have so liberally contributed to the fame,
to the opulence, and to the maritime empire of their country!'[10]
[Footnote 10: Sir John Pringle's Six Discourses, p. 145-147,
199.--It cannot but be acceptable to insert here Captain Cook's
enumeration of the several causes to which, under the care of
Providence, the uncommon good state of health, experienced by his
people, was owing. I shall not trespass upon the reader's time in
mentioning them all, but confine myself to such as were found the
most useful.
'We were furnished with a quantity of malt, of which was made
_sweet wort_. To such of the men as shewed the least symptoms
of the scurvy, and also to such as were thought to be threatened
with that disorder, this was given, from one to two or three pints
a day each man; or in such proportion as the surgeon found
necessary, which sometimes amounted to three quarts. This is,
without doubt, one of the best antiscorbutic sea medicines yet
discovered; and if used in time, will, with proper attention to
other things, I am persuaded, prevent the scurvy from making any
great progress for a considerable while. But I am not altogether
of opinion that it will cure it at sea.
'_Sour krout_, of which we had a large quantity; is not only
a wholesome vegetable food, but in my judgment, highly
antiscorbutic; and it spoils not by keeping. A pound of this was
served to each man, when at sea, twice a week, or oftener, as was
thought necessary.
'_Portable broth_ was another great article of which we had a
large supply. An ounce of this to each man, or such other
proportion as circumstances pointed out, was boiled in their
pease, three days in the week; and when we were in places where
vegetables were to be got, it was boiled with them, and wheat or
oatmeal, ever morning for breakfast; and also with pease and
vegetables for dinner. It enabled us to make several nourishing
and wholesome messes, and was the means of making the people eat a
greater quantity of vegetables than they would otherwise have
done.
'_Rob of lemon and orange_ is an antiscorbutic we were not
without. The surgeon made use of it in many cases with great
success.
'Amongst the articles of victualling, we were supplied with
_sugar_ in the room of _oil_, and with _wheat_ for
a part of our _oatmeal_; and were certainly gainers by the
exchange. Sugar, I apprehend, is a very good antiscorbutic;
whereas oil (such as the navy is usually supplied with), I am of
opinion, has the contrary effect.
'But the introduction of the most salutary articles, either as
provisions or medicines, will generally prove unsuccessful, unless
supported by certain regulations. On this principle, many years'
experience, together with some hints I had from Sir Hugh Palliser,
Captains Campbell, Wallis, and other intelligent officers, enabled
me to lay a plan whereby all was to be governed.
'The crew were at three watches, except upon some extraordinary
occasions. By this means they were not so much exposed to the
weather, as if they had been at watch and watch; and had generally
dry clothes to shift themselves, when they happened to get wet.
Care was also taken to expose them as little to wet weather as
possible.
'Proper methods were used to keep their persons, hammocks,
bedding, clothes, &c. constantly clean and dry. Equal care was
taken to keep the ship clean and dry betwixt decks. Once or twice
a week she was aired with fires; and when this could not be done,
she was smoked with gunpowder, mixed with vinegar and water. I had
also, frequently, a fire made in an iron pot at the bottom of the
well, which was of great use in purifying the air in the lower
parts of the ship. To this, and to cleanliness, as well in the
ship as amongst the people, too great attention cannot be paid;
the least neglect occasions a putrid and disagreeable smell below,
which nothing but fires will remove.
'Proper attention was paid to the ships coppers, so that they were
kept constantly clean.
'The fat, which boiled out of the salt beef and pork, I never
suffered to be given to the people; being of opinion that it
promotes the scurvy.
'I was careful to take in water wherever it was to be got, even
though we did not want it. Because I look upon fresh water from
the shore to be more wholesome than that which has been kept some
time on board a ship. Of this essential article we were never at
an allowance, but had always plenty for every necessary purpose.
Navigators in general cannot, indeed, expect, nor would they wish
to meet with such advantages in this respect, as fell to my lot.
The nature of our voyage carried us into very high latitudes. But
the hardships and dangers, inseparable from that situation, were
in some degree compensated by the singular felicity we enjoyed, of
extracting inexhaustible supplies of fresh water from an ocean
strewed with ice.
'We came to few places, where either the art of man, or the bounty
of nature, had not provided some sort of refreshment or other,
either in the animal or vegetable way. It was my first care to
procure whatever of any kind could be met with, by every means in
my power; and to oblige our people to make use thereof, both by my
example and authority; but the benefits arising from refreshments
of any kind soon became so obvious, that I had little occasion to
recommend the one to exert the other.'
In a letter which Captain Cook wrote to Sir John Pringle, just
before he embarked on his last voyage, dated Plymouth Sound, July
7, 1776, he expressed himself as follows: 'I entirely agree with
you, that the dearness of the rob of lemons and of oranges will
hinder them from being furnished in large quantities. But I do not
think this so necessary; for, though they may assist other things,
I have no great opinion of them alone. Nor have I a higher opinion
of vinegar. My people had it very sparingly during the late
voyage, and, towards the latter part none at all; and yet we
experienced no ill effect from the want of it. The custom of
washing the inside of the ship with vinegar, I seldom observed;
thinking that fire and smoke answered the purpose much better.']
One circumstance alone was wanting to complete the pleasure and
celebrity arising from the assignment of Sir Godfrey Copley's medal.
Captain Cook was not himself present, to hear the discourse of the
president, and to receive the honour conferred upon him. Some months
before the anniversary of St. Andrew's day, he had sailed on his last
expedition. The medal, therefore, was delivered into the hands of Mrs.
Cook, whose satisfaction at being intrusted with so valuable a pledge
of her husband's reputation cannot be questioned. Neither can it be
doubted, but that the captain, before his departure from England, was
fully apprized of the mark of distinction which was intended for him
by the Royal Society.
Captain Cook, after the conclusion of his second voyage, was called
upon to appear in the world in the character of an author. In the
account that was published, by authority, of his former
circumnavigation of the globe, as well as of those which had been
performed by the Captains Byron, Cateret, and Wallis, it was thought
requisite to procure the assistance of a professed literary man, whose
business it should be to draw up a narrative from the several journals
of these commanders. Accordingly, Dr. Hawkesworth, as is universally
known, was employed for the purpose. In the present case, it was not
esteemed necessary to have recourse to such an expedient. Captain Cook
was justly regarded as sufficiently qualified to relate his own story.
His journal only required to be divided into chapters, and perhaps to
be amended by a few verbal corrections. It is not speaking
extravagantly to say, that in point of composition, his history of his
voyage reflects upon him no small degree of credit. His style is
natural, clear, and manly; being well adapted to the subject and to
his own character: and it is possible that a pen of more studied
elegance would not have given any additional advantage to the
narration. It was not till some time after Captain Cook's leaving
England that the work was published; but, in the meanwhile, the
superintendence of it was undertaken by his learned and valuable
friend, Dr. Douglas, whose late promotion to the mitre hath afforded
pleasure to every literary man, of every denomination. When the Voyage
appeared it came recommended by the accuracy and excellence of its
charts, and by a great variety of engravings, from the curious and
beautiful drawings of Mr. Hodges. This work was followed by the
publication of the original astronomical observations, which had been
made by Mr. Wales in the Resolution, and by Mr. Bayley in the
Adventure. It was at the expense of the commissioners of longitude
that these observations were made, and it was by their order that they
were printed. The book of Mr. Wales and Mr. Bayley displays, in the
strongest light, the scientific use and value of Captain Cook's
voyage.
Some of the circumstances which have now been mentioned have
designedly been brought forward more early in point of time than
should otherwise have been done, in order to prevent any interruption
in the course of the subsequent narrative.
Though Captain Cook was expected to, sit down in repose, after his
toils and labours, the design of farther discoveries was not laid
aside. The illusion, indeed of a _Terra Australis incognita_, to
any purposes of commerce, colonization, and utility, had been
dispelled: but there was another grand question which remained to be
determined; and that was the practicability of a northern passage to
the Pacific Ocean.
It had long been a favourite object with navigators, and particularly
with the English, to discover a shorter, a more commodious, and a more
profitable course of sailing to Japan and China, and, indeed, to the
East Indies in general, than by making the tedious circuit of the Cape
of Good Hope. To find a western passage round North America had been
attempted by several bold adventurers, from Frobisher's first voyage,
in 1576, to those of James and of Fox, in 1631. By these expeditions a
large addition was made to the knowledge of the northern extent of
America, and Hudson's and Baffin's Bays were discovered. But the
wished-for passage, on that side, into the Pacific Ocean, was still
unattained. Nor were the various attempts of our countrymen, and of
the Dutch, to find such a passage, by sailing round the north of Asia,
in an eastern direction, attended with better success. Wood's failure
in 1676, appears to have concluded the long list of unfortunate
expeditions in that century. The discovery, if not absolutely
despaired of, had been unsuccessful in such a number of instances,
that it ceased for many years, to be an object of pursuit.
The question was again revived in the present century. Mr. Dobbs, a
warm advocate for the probability of a north-west passage through
Hudson's Bay, once more recalled the attention of this country to that
undertaking. In consequence of the spirit by him excited, Captain
Middleton was sent out by government, in 1741, and Captains Smith and
More, in 1746. But though an act of Parliament had been passed, which
secured a reward of twenty thousand pounds to the discovery of a
passage, the accomplishment of this favourite object continued at as
great a distance as ever.
To ascertain a matter of such importance and magnitude in navigation,
was reserved to be another glory of his present majesty's reign. The
idea was peculiarly suited to the enlightened mind of the noble lord
at the head of the admiralty, and he adopted it with ardour.
Preparatory to the execution of the design, Lord Mulgrave sailed with
two ships, to determine how far navigation was practicable towards the
north pole. In this expedition, his lordship met with the same
insuperable difficulties which had been experienced by former
voyagers. Nevertheless, the expectation of opening a communication
between the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans, by a northerly course, was
not abandoned; and it was resolved that a voyage should be undertaken
for that purpose.
For the conduct of an enterprise, the operations of which were
intended to be so new, so extensive, and so various, it was evident
that great ability, skill, and experience were indispensably
necessary. That Captain Cook was of all men the best qualified for
carrying it into execution was a matter that could not be called in
question. But, however ardently it might be wished that he would take
upon him the command of the service, no one (not even his friend and
patron Lord Sandwich himself) presumed to solicit him upon the
subject. The benefits he had already conferred on science and
navigation, and the labours and dangers he had gone through were so
many and great, that it was not deemed reasonable to ask him to engage
in fresh perils. At the same time, nothing could be more natural, than
to consult him upon every thing relative to the business; and his
advice was particularly requested with regard to the properest person
for conducting the voyage. To determine this point, the captain, Sir
Hugh Palliser, and Mr. Stephens, were invited to Lord Sandwich's to
dinner. Here, besides taking into consideration what officer should be
recommended to his majesty for accomplishing the purposes in view,
many things were said concerning the nature of the design. Its
grandeur and dignity, the consequences of it to navigation and
science, and the completion it would give to the whole system of
discoveries, were enlarged upon in the course of the conversation.
Captain Cook was so fired with the contemplation and representation of
the object, that he started up, and declared, that he himself would
undertake the direction of the enterprise. It is easy to suppose, with
what pleasure the noble lord, and the other gentlemen, received a
proposal, which was so agreeable to their secret wishes, and which
they thought of the highest importance towards attaining the ends of
the voyage. No time was lost by the Earl of Sandwich, in laying the
matter before the king; and Captain Cook was appointed to the command
of the expedition, on the 10th of February, 1776. At the same time, it
was agreed that on his return to England, he should be restored to his
situation at Greenwich; and, if no vacancy occurred during the
interval, the officer who succeeded him was to resign in his favour.
The command and the direction of the enterprise being thus happily
settled, it became an object of great importance to determine what
might be the best course that could be given to the voyage. All former
navigators round the globe had returned to Europe by the Cape of Good
Hope. But to Captain Cook the arduous task was now assigned, of
attempting it by reaching the high northern latitudes between Asia and
America; and the adoption of this resolution was, I believe, the
result of his own reflections upon the subject. The usual plan,
therefore, of discovery was reversed; so that instead of a passage
from the Atlantic to the Pacific, one from the latter into the former
was to be tried. Whatever openings or inlets there might be on the
east side of America, that lie in a direction which could afford any
hopes of a passage, it was wisely foreseen, that the ultimate success
of the expedition would depend upon there being an open sea between
the west side of that continent and the extremities of Asia.
Accordingly Captain Cook was ordered to proceed into the Pacific
Ocean, through the chain of the new islands which had been visited by
him in the southern tropic. After having crossed the equator into the
northern parts of that ocean, he was then to hold such a course as
might probably fix many interesting points in geography, and produce
intermediate discoveries, in his progress northward to the principal
scene of his operations. With regard to his grand object, it was
determined, for the wisest reasons, and after the most mature
deliberation and inquiry, that upon his arrival on the coast of New
Albion, he should proceed northward as far as the latitude of 65°, and
not lose any time in exploring rivers or inlets, or upon any other
account, until he had gotten into that latitude.
To give every possible encouragement to the prosecution of the great
design in view, the motives of interest were added to the obligations
of duty. In the act of parliament which passed in 1745, the reward of
twenty thousand pounds had been only held out to the ships
_belonging to any of his majesty's subjects_, while his majesty's
own ships were excluded. Another, and more capital defect in this act
was, that it confined the reward to such ships alone as should
discover a passage though Hudson's Bay. By a new law, which passed in
1776, both these deficiencies were effectually remedied. It was now
enacted,--'That if any ship, belonging to any of his majesty's
subjects, or _to his majesty_, shall find out, and sail through
any passage by sea, between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans; in _any
direction_, or parallel of the northern hemisphere, to the
northward of the 52° of northern latitude, the owners of such ships,
if belonging to any of his majesty's subject, or _the commander,
officers, and seamen of such ship belonging to his majesty_, shall
receive, as a reward for such discovery, the sum of twenty thousand
pounds.'
That every thing might be done which could facilitate the success of
the grand expedition, Lieutenant Pickersgill was sent out, in 1776,
with directions to explore the coast of Baffin's Bay; and in the next
year, Lieutenant Young was commissioned not only to examine the
western parts of that bay, but to endeavour to find a passage on that
side, from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean. Nothing was performed by
either of these gentlemen that promoted the purposes of Captain Cook's
voyage.
Two vessels were fixed upon by government for the intended service;
the Resolution and the Discovery. The command of the former was given
to Captain Cook, and of the other to Captain Clerke. To the Resolution
was assigned the same complement of officers and men which she had
during her preceding voyage; and the only difference in the
establishment of the Discovery from that of the Adventure, was in the
single instance of her having no marine officer on board.
From the time of the two ships being put into commission, the greatest
degree of attention and zeal, was exerted by the Earl of Sandwich and
the rest of the board of admiralty, to have them equipped in the most
complete manner. Both the vessels were supplied with as much of every
necessary article as could conveniently be stowed, and with the best
of each kind that could be procured. Whatever, likewise, the
experience of the former voyages had shewn to be of any utility in
preserving the health of seamen, was provided in large abundance. That
some permanent benefit might be conveyed to the inhabitants of
Otaheite, and of the other islands of the Pacific Ocean, whom our
navigators might happen to visit, it was graciously commanded by his
majesty, that an assortment of useful animals should be carried out to
those countries. Accordingly, a bull, two cows with their calves, and
several sheep, with hay and corn for their subsistence, were taken on
board; and it was intended to add other serviceable animals to these,
when Captain Cook should arrive at the Cape of Good Hope. With the
same benevolent purposes, the captain was furnished with a sufficient
quantity, of such of our European garden seeds, as could not fail of
being a valuable present to the newly discovered islands, by adding
fresh supplies of food to their own vegetable productions. By order of
the board of admiralty, many articles besides were delivered to our
commander, which were calculated, in various ways, to improve the
condition of the natives of the other hemisphere. Still farther to
promote a friendly intercourse with them, and to carry on a traffic
that might be profitable on both sides, an ample assortment was
provided of iron tools and trinkets. An attention no less humane was
extended to the wants of our own people. Some additional clothing,
adapted to a cold climate, was ordered for the crews of the two ships;
and nothing was denied to our navigators that could be supposed to be
in the least conducive to their health, or even to their convenience.
It was not to these things only, that the extraordinary care of Lord
Sandwich, and of the other gentlemen at the head of the naval
department, was confined. They were equally solicitous to afford every
assistance that was calculated to render the expedition of public
utility. Several astronomical and nautical instruments were entrusted,
by the board of longitude, to Captain Cook, and Mr. King his second
lieutenant; who had undertaken to make the necessary observations,
during the voyage, for the improvement of astronomy and navigation. It
was originally intended that a professed observator should be sent out
in the Resolution; but the scientific abilities of the captain and his
lieutenant rendered the appointment of such a person absolutely
unnecessary. The case was somewhat different with regard to the
Discovery. Mr. William Bayley, who had already given satisfactory
proofs of his skill and diligence as an observator, while he was
employed in Captain Furneaux's ship, during the late voyage was
engaged a second time in that capacity, and appointed to sail on board
Captain Clerke's vessel. The department of natural history was
assigned to Mr. Anderson, the surgeon of the Resolution, who was as
willing, as he was well qualified, to describe every thing in that
branch of science which should occur worthy of notice. From the
remarks of this gentleman, Captain Cook had derived considerable
assistance in his last navigation; especially with regard to the very
copious vocabulary of the language of Otaheite, and the comparative
specimen of the languages of the other islands which had then been
visited. There were several young men among our commander's sea
officers, who, under his direction, could be usefully employed in
constructing charts, in taking views of the coasts and headlands near
which our voyagers might pass, and in drawing plans of the bays and
harbours in which they should anchor. Without a constant attention to
this object the captain was sensible, that his discoveries could not
be rendered profitable to future navigators. That he might go out with
every help, which could serve to make the result of the voyage
entertaining to the generality of readers, as well as instructive to
the sailor and the scholar. Mr. Webber was fixed upon, and engaged to
embark in the Resolution, for the express purpose of supplying the
unavoidable imperfections of written accounts, by enabling our people
to preserve and to bring home, such drawings of the most memorable
scenes of their transactions, as could only be executed by a professed
and skilful artist.
As the last mark of the extraordinary attention which the Earl of
Sandwich, Sir Hugh Palliser, and others of the board of admiralty had
uniformly shewn to the preparations for the expedition, they went down
to Long Reach, and paid a visit to the ships, on the 8th of June, to
examine whether everything was completed conformably to their
intentions and orders, and to the satisfaction of all who were to
embark in the voyage. His lordship and the rest of the admiralty
board, together with several noblemen and gentlemen of their
acquaintance, honoured Captain Cook, on that day, with their company
at dinner. Both upon their coming on board, and their going ashore,
they were saluted with seventeen guns, and with three cheers.
As the ships were to touch at Otaheite and the Society Islands, it had
been determined not to omit the only opportunity which might ever
offer of carrying Omai back to his native country. Accordingly, he
left London, on the 24th of June, in company with Captain Cook; and it
was with a mixture of regret and satisfaction that he took his
departure. When England, and those who during the stay, had honoured
him with their protection or friendship, were spoken of, his spirits
were sensibly affected, and it was with difficulty that he could
refrain from tears. But his eyes began to sparkle with joy, as soon as
ever the conversation was turned to his own islands. The good
treatment he received in England had made a deep impression upon his
mind; and he entertained the highest ideas of the country and of the
people. Nevertheless, the pleasing prospect he had before him of
returning home, loaded with what, he well knew, would there be
esteemed invaluable treasures, and the flattering hope, which the
possession of these afforded him, of attaining a distinguished
superiority among his countrymen, were considerations which operated,
by degrees, to suppress every uneasy sensation. By the time he had
gotten on board the ship, he appeared to be quite happy.
His majesty had furnished Omai with an ample provision of every
article which our English navigators, during their former intercourse
with Otaheite and the Society Islands, had observed to be in any
estimation there, either as useful or ornamental. Many presents,
likewise, of the same nature, had been made him by Lord Sandwich, Sir
Joseph Banks, and several other gentlemen and ladies of his
acquaintance. In short, both during his residence in England, and at
his departure from it, no method had been neglected, which could be
calculated to render him the instrument of conveying to the
inhabitants of the islands of the Pacific Ocean, the most exalted
ideas of the greatness and generosity of the British nation.