was fit that he, who had taken possession of so many countries on His Majesty's behalf, and had acted the part of his representative at the courts of so many Kings of distant islands, should have the honour of an interview with his own Sovereign. The Admiralty Board, at which the Earl of Sandwich now presided, expressed their warm approbation of his services; and on the 29th of August, he was raised to the rank of Captain Commander. He expected to be made Post Captain at once, without passing through that intervening stage; and he well deserved to enjoy that distinction; but a regard to etiquette, and the usual forms of promotion, prevented his being advanced higher for the present. The difference, indeed, was only in rank, not in emolument. His friends who had recommended him to the service which he had so ably performed, particularly Sir Hugh Palliser, must have been delighted to find, that he had not only come up to their high expectations, but lar exceeded them.
His services in observing the transit of Venus, as well as his connection with those eminent naturalists, Mr. Banks and Dr. Solander, procured him the esteem and regard of the President and Council of the Royal Society. His papers relating to the transit, with those of Mr. Green, were put into the hands of the Astronomer Royal, for the use of the scientific world. Some time after. Captain Cook prepared a paper "On the flowing of the Tides in the South Sea," which was read before the Royal Society, May 21st, 1772, and is published in the 62nd Volume of the Philosophical Transactions.
While thus respected and honoured by his King and country, and admitted to the society of the
