and 26th Articles in the Philosophical Transactions for 1776. The former, being deemed the best experimental paper of that year, was considered as entitling him to Sir Godfrey Copley's gold medal. The Captain was doubtless apprized, that this honour was designed for him; but he had set out on his third voyage some months before St. Andrew's day, the time when it was publicly awarded it was therefore delivered into the hands of Mrs. Cook. On the occasion of the assignment of this medal, Sir John Pringle delivered a judicious and eloquent discourse, on the value of Cook's services as a navigator, and particularly of the means which he employed for preserving the health of his crew. After noticing the glory which Cook had acquired as a navigator, Sir John proceeds to say, "I shall not, however, expatiate on that ample field of praise, but confine my discourse to what was the intention of this honorary premium, namely, to crown that paper of the year which should contain the most useful and most successful experimental inquiry. Now, 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 are no vain boastings of the empiric, nor ingenious and delusive theories of the dogmatist; but a concise, an artless, and an incontested relation &c." The President then goes on to contrast with Cook's success in preserving his crew, the havoc made among seamen in former voyages of discovery; and to illustrate and recommend the various salutary method's adopted by our navigator, for preventing scurvy, and promoting health at On the subject of procuring fresh water he sea.
