At Haughton Hall these two friends found now a large assembled party,
of which the Earl of Sandwich, then first lord of the Admiralty, was at
the head. The whole conversation at the table turned upon what then
was the whole interest of the day, the first voyage round the world of
Captain Cooke, which that great circumnavigator had just accomplished.
The Earl of Sandwich mentioned that he had all the papers relating
to the voyage in his hands; with the circumnavigations preceding it
of Wallace and Byron; but that they were mere rough draughts, quite
unarranged for the public eye; and that he was looking out for a proper
person to put them into order, and to re-write the voyages.
Dr. Burney, ever eager upon any question of literature, and ever
foremost to serve a friend, ventured to recommend Dr. Hawkesworth; who
though, from his wise and mild character, contented with his lot, Dr.
Burney knew to be neither rich enough for retirement, nor employed
enough to refuse any new and honourable occupation. The _Adventurer_
was in every body’s library; but the author was less generally known:
yet the account now given of him was so satisfactory to Lord Sandwich,
that he entrusted Dr. Burney with the commission of sending Dr.
Hawkesworth to the Admiralty.
Most gladly this commission was executed. The following is the first
paragraph of Dr. Hawkesworth’s answer to its communication:
“Many, many thanks for your obliging favour, and the subject
of it. There is nothing about which I would so willingly be
employed as the work you mention. I would do my best to make
it another Anson’s Voyage.
Lord Sandwich, upon their meeting, was extremely pleased with Dr.
Hawkesworth, to whom the manuscripts were immediately made over; and
who thus expressed his satisfaction in his next letter to Dr. Burney.
“I am now happy in telling you, that your labour of love
is not lost; that I have all the journals of the Dolphin,
the Swallow, and the Endeavour in my possession; that the
government will give me the cuts, and the property of the
work will be my own.
“Is it impossible I should give you my hand, and the thanks
of my heart, here? _i.e._ at Bromley.”