the voyage, from the papers of Mr. Cook and Mr. Banks, was published, it was eagerly bought up at a large price. The astronomical observations threw much information on the theory of the heavenly bodies; navigation had eminently proved its vast capabilities: it had been in a great measure determined that no southern continent existed, or at least that neither New Zealand nor New South Wales were parts of such a continent; and most interesting accounts were given of the places visited and the perils encountered.
Mr. Cook was promoted to the rank of commander; the Royal Society honored him with especial favor and notice; and his society was courted by men of talent and research, eager for information. His worthy patrons, Sir Charles Saunders and Sir Hugh Palliser, were gratified to find their recommendations had been so well supported; the Earl of Sandwich, then at the head of the Admiralty Board, paid him considerable attention; and his majesty George III, treated him with more than ordinary consideration. Captain Cook enjoyed sufficient to make him proud; but he was too humble in mind, too modest in disposition, and too diffident in manners, to cherish one atom of unbecoming self-estimation.
Second Voyage Round the World. The idea of the existence of a
southern continent, or as the learned called it, Terra Australis Incognita,
had existed for more than two centuries; and though Cook had sailed over
many parts where it was said to be situated, without seeing land, yet his
first voyage did not altogether destroy the expectation that it might yet be
found. Besides, his discoveries in the South Seas had whetted the public
appetite for still further knowledge on the subject. The king, well
pleased with what had been done, wished more to be accomplished; and
accordingly, two stout ships built at Hull were purchased—the Resolution,
of 462 tons, commanded by Captain Cook, with a complement of 112 persons;
and the Adventure, of 336 tons, commanded by Tobias Furneaux,
with a crew including officers, of 81 souls. These appointments took place
on the 28th of November 1771, and the most active exertions were immediately
called into operation to fit them for the undertaking. Experience
had taught Captain Cook what was the most essential and requisite for
such a voyage; not only for the comforts and preservation of his people
from scurvy, not only for commerce with the natives, but cattle and seeds
of various kinds, and numerous things which philanthropy suggested, were
shipped for the purpose of spreading the advantages of propagation and
fertility amongst the South Sea islands; the benefits of which have since
been experienced by other voyagers in an eminent degree. The Admiralty
engaged Mr. W. Hodges as landscape painter; Mr. J. R. Forster
and son were appointed to collect specimens of natural history; and
Mr. Wales in the Resolution, and Mr. Bayley in the Adventure, were
sent by the Board of Longitude to superintend astronomical observations,
for which they were furnished with admirable instruments and four
excellent time-pieces.
The instructions given to Captain Cook were—'To circumnavigate the whole globe in high southern latitudes, making traverses from time to time into every part of the Pacific Ocean that had not undergone previous investigation, and to use his best endeavors to resolve the much agitated question of the existence of a southern continent.'
