about eight months before, had made some discoveries to the southward of the Mauritius; and of other two French ships, under the command of M. Marion, that had passed the Cape in March, on a voyage of discovery to the South Pacific Ocean. Aotourou, whom M. de Bougainville brought from Otaheite, was to have returned with M. Marion, had he been living.
Three weeks were spent at the Cape, during which the Resolution and Adventure were caulked and painted, and in every respect put in as good condition as when they left England. Here Lieut. Shanks, being in ill health, was left behind, at his own request, to return home; Mr Kemp was promoted to be first Lieutenant of the Adventure; and Mr. Burney, a midshipman in the Resolution, appointed to succeed him as second Lieutenant. Here also, the scientific corps of the Resolution acquired an accession of strength, in the person of Mr. Sparrman, a Swedish naturalist, and a disciple of Linnæus, who at Mr. Forster's request and expense, was engaged as his assistant.
Two days before his departure from the Cape, Capt. Cook wrote a brief farewell letter to his Whitby friend, Mr. Walker, which the reader will be gratified to see; especially as it expresses his reliance on the care of Providence, in the view of approaching dangers.
