The Life and Voyages of Captain James Cook/Chapter 17
Interest felt in Cook's arrival. Honours conferred on him. New voyage projected. His Letters to Mr. Walker. Notices of Omai: His introduction to the King, and to several of the Nobility, &c. His trip to York, Scarborough, Mulgrave, and Kirkleatham, with Mr. Banks, and Messrs. Colman. Cook's Father. Lord Mulgrave, the celebrated navigator. The Captain's appointment to the command of a third expedition. He is chosen a member of the Royal Society. His scientific Papers; one of which obtained the gold medal for 1776. The Narrative of his Second Voyage prepared by himself. His merits as an author. Other Publications relating to the Voyage. Equipment of the Resolution and Discovery. Live Stock, and other articles, put on board for the S. Sea Islanders. Rich presents made to Omai at his departure; small improvement made by him during his residence in Britain. The Captain's instructions. for the Voyage. His letter to Commodore Wilson.
The safe arrival of Capt. Cook and his shipmates, after a voyage of three years duration, not only furnished the most lively joy to relations and friends, but was gratifying to the nation at large. The news previously brought by the Adventure, and published in the periodicals of the day; with the frequent appearances of Omai, and numerous anecdotes told of him,—had, indeed, already gratified public curiosity, so as to diminish the interest felt in the arrival of the Resolution; while, at the same time, the attention of the British public was almost wholly absorbed in that great national concern—the American war. Yet, notwithstanding these unfavourable circumstances, Cook was welcomed home by the acclamations of an admiring country, as well as the warm congratulations of his friends.
The joy exprest on this occasion was the more lively and general, as his laurels were not now, as before, entwined with cypress; death had made no havoc among his people; the officers and men of science, who sailed with him, had all returned in health and safety. The objects of the voyage too, had been fully accomplished; for, while discoveries of no small importance had been made, the question as to the existence of a great Southern Continent had been completely set at rest. When the unparalleled extent of his researches, and the consummate skill with which they had been conducted, came to be generally known, he was, by common consent, placed at the head of all navigators, and was named by many, "the second Columbus."
It was his happiness to find his friends and patrons, the Earl of Sandwich, and Sir Hugh Palliser, under whose auspices the expedition was equipped, still stationed at the Admiralty board, and ready to receive him with the same cordial friendship which they shewed at his departure; while on their part a high gratification was enjoyed, in finding that their assiduous cares in fitting out the vessels had been crowned with distinguished success, while, with regard to the conduct of the voyage, their most sanguine expectations were more than realized.
No time was lost, in marking the high approbation with which his services were regarded by his King and country. On the 9th of August, only about a week after his arrival in town, he had the honour of being introduced to his Majesty; who was much pleased to see him, and to hear of his success; at the same time examining, with no small interest, several of his charts, which he now presented at court. On the same day, he was raised to the rank of Post Captain; and three days after, he received a more substantial mark of royal favour, in being appointed a Captain in Greenwich Hospital; a situation at once easy and lucrative, being intended as the well earned reward of his arduous toils and illustrious services.
But a sinecure of this description, however great the emoluments, was by no means congenial to a spirit so ardent and energetic. His views of this appointment are well expressed in the following short letter, which he wrote to his friend Mr. Walker, a week after it took place.
For some time after his arrival, the Captain was of course much engaged in communicating with the Lords of the Admiralty, on the results of the voyage, the journals and charts brought home, and other matters relating to the expedition. During this intercourse it appeared, that the ardour of their Lordships in promoting voyages of discovery had not abated; and as the southern hemisphere had been sufficiently explored, their attention was now directed towards the northern. The Hon. Commodore Phipps had been sent with two vessels to the Greenland seas, in 1773, to make discoveries towards the north pole; but as the sea in that direction was found to be covered with ice, a new voyage was talked of, in order to discover a northern passage from the Pacific to the Atlantic, by way of Behring's Straits; a plan till then untried, although several attempts had been made to effect a north-west passage from the Atlantic to the Pacific. Some months elapsed before this scheme was matured; but it had been broached soon after Capt. Cook's arrival, for he seems to allude to it in the letter given above, and he refers to it again, in a much longer letter, which he sent to his Whitby friend next month, detailing some particulars of his voyage. This recapitulation of his recent adventures, from his own pen, will not, it is presumed, be unacceptable to the reader.
The restoration of Omai to his own country being thus noticed by Cook, as one object of another voyage, it may be proper here to glance at the history of this Tahitian, from the time of his arrival in the Adventure. He was overjoyed in landing on British ground, where every object was new to him; the houses, gardens, shops, carriages, dresses, cattle, and almost every thing he saw, striking him with surprise. He had expressed a strong desire to see the great King, King Tosh (for so he pronounced George); and this desire was speedily gratified; for on the 17th of July, only three days after his arrival, the Earl of Sandwich, to whom Capt. Furneaux had introduced him, presented him at court. He had been previously taught how to address the King, in the most fashionable style; but, when ushered into the royal presence, he forgot his instructions, and accosted His Majesty in these words, "How do you do, King Tosh ?" The good natured monarch took him by the hand very familiarly, made several kind inquiries concerning him, particularly as to his health, and mode of living; and desired that he might be suitably provided for, and be inoculated for the small-pox. This last direction was the more necessary, as Aotourou, whom Bougainville brought to France from Otaheite, died of the smallpox at the Mauritius, when he was about to embark from thence for his native island.
The Earl of Sandwich and Mr. Banks took Omai under their special patronage, and introduced him to numbers of the nobility and gentry, not only in the metropolis, but in various parts of the country. He was fond of intercourse with the great, and shewed no inclination for low company, or mean habits. He assumed the dress of an English gentleman, wearing a reddish brown coat and small clothes, and a white vest, and having his hair clubbed behind. He handled his knife and fork properly at table, his manners were easy and polite, and he generally acquitted himself well on his introduction to persons of rank. At his first interview with Lord Sandwich, whose high station had been mentioned to him, he pointed to the butler, and said that he was "King of the bottles;" then turned to Capt. Furneaux, whom he called "King of the ship;" and lastly saluted his Lordship as "King of all the ships." After visiting His Majesty, he was introduced to the Duchess of Gloucester. Her Royal Highness had not provided any suitable present for him; but it occurred to her, that her handkerchief, embellished with her coronet, would be acceptable: and Omai gratefully receiving it, immediately kissed the coronet, and made a most respectful bow to the Duchess. This politeness, so unexpected, gained him the good graces of all present.
Soon after this, he was taken to Hertford, near Huntingdon, under the care of Mr. Andrews, Surgeon of the Adventure; and, after a course of preparation, was inoculated for the small-pox, through which he passed safely. During his stay here, he was kindly entertained by Baron Dimsdale, and other respectable persons in the place. Some instances of his extreme sensibility, and tenderness of disposition, were witnessed at Hertford. He was much amused in observing some anglers fishing in a stream; but when he saw that their hooks were baited with live worms, he turned away in disgust, declaring that he would eat no fish taken by so cruel a method. One day he attended a funeral; but he was so affected, that he was unable to see it finished, and withdrew in tears from a scene so painful. When he first saw the church yard at Hertford, and was told that it was a burying place, he asked if all the people buried there had died by inoculation.
After his recovery from the small-pox, he was sumptuously entertained at Hinchingbroke, the seat of the Earl of Sandwich, in Huntingdonshire; and while he was here, the neighbouring gentlemen vied with each other in varying his diversions, in order to raise his ideas of the splendour and gaiety of Britain. He afterwards visited different parts of the country, chiefly under the care of Mr. Banks; who introduced him to a succession of pleasures. On the 2nd of November, he was taken to Cambridge, where he appeared in a military uniform. He was much struck with the dress of the doctors and professors in their robes; and shewed a superstitious dread of every thing which he regarded as sacred. Many, indeed, supposed him to have been a priest in his own country, as Tupia was. A gentleman in the university offering him a pinch of snuff, he politely refused it, saying, that his nose was not hungry.
He appears to have spent most of the winter and spring in town, where he enjoyed an almost continual round of entertainments and shows. He adopted, with facility, the manners, occupations, and amusements of those with whom he associated; and, among other things, became a proficient at the game of chess. In the beginning of June, 1775, when Lord Sandwich began his annual survey of the Royal Navy, Omai accompanied His Lordship, along with Lord Seaford, Sir Hugh Palliser, and Mr. Banks, at the examination of Chatham dock-yard. Mr. Peake, builder's assistant, conducted the Tahitian on board the Victory of 100 guns, then repairing; and he was filled with wonder at her extraordinary size.
About midsummer, he appears to have accompanied Mr. Banks to his seat in Lincolnshire; and in the end of July, or beginning of August, Mr. Banks took him to York races. Here they met with the Hon. Capt. Phipps, and his brother, the Hon. Augustus Phipps, then a boy; and with Messrs. Colman, father and son, the celebrated dramatists, the son being at that time only 13 years of age. After the races, the whole party set out in Mr. Banks's carriage for Mulgrave, by way of Scarborough; and some amusing particulars relating to this journey, may be seen in Mr. Geo. Colman's Random Records.
Mr. Colman gives a humorous description of Sir Joseph's ponderous carriage, with its appurtenances; and of the frequent stoppages occasioned by his botanizing propensities. The party arrived at Scarborough in the evening; and early next morning, young Colman went to the sands, to bathe for the first time in the ocean. His adventure here with Omai will be best described in his own words.
"I was upon the point of making my maiden plunge, from a bathing-machine, into the briny flood, when Omai appeared wading before me. The coast of Scarborough having an eastern aspect, the early sunbeams shot their lustre upon the tawny Priest, and heightened the cutaneous gloss which he had already received from the water: he looked like a specimen of pale moving mahogany, highly varnished; not only varnished, indeed, but curiously veneered; for, from the small of his back downwards he was tattowed with striped arches, broad and black, by means of a sharp shell, or a fish's tooth, imbued with an indelible die, according to the fashion of his country. He hailed me with the salutation of Tosh (George), and uttered certain sounds approaching to the articulation of—"back"—swim"—"I"—"me"—"carry"—"you." This attempt at the English language became intelligible to me from his "suiting the action to the utterance," or rather elucidating the utterance by the action; and the proposition was, that he should swim out to sea with me. I was 'not John O'Gaunt; but no coward, Hal!'—and, considering that I had never yet ventured into the sea,-and that the person to whose care I committed myself, in so novel and nervous an exploit, was almost a stranger, and that stranger a savage,—my immediate acceptance of his offer, by springing out of the bathing-machine upon his back, may be looked upon as a bold measure, rather than otherwise."—
"Omai, who was highly pleased with my confidence in him, walked a considerable way, before the water came up to his chin; he then struck out; and having thus weighed anchor for this my first voyage, I found myself on board the Omai, decidedly not as commander of the vessel, but as a passive passenger, who must submit, without effort, to the very worst that could happen. My wild friend appeared as much at home upon the waves as a rope-dancer upon a cord; but, as soon as he had got out of his depth, my apprehensions were aroused, and I began to think that, if he should take a sudden fancy to dive, or to turn round and float with his face towards the sky, I who was upon his back must be in a very awkward situation. Every fresh motion of his arms and legs carried us some yards further out; and in the intervals of these efforts, he constantly cried, "Tosh not fraid;" but Tosh was fraid, and plaguily frightened indeed;—that's the plain truth. After a time, however, we went on so steadily, that my fears gradually subsided, and I listened tranquilly to the jargon of my vehicle, who taught me several words in his own language, which had all some reference to our immediate circumstances, and meant, 'swim, drown, boat, ship, fishes, &c.'—At last, I felt not only quite at ease, but delighted with my mode of vectigation; it had doubtless one advantage over sailing in a ship, for there was no rolling and pitching about, to occasion sea-sickness; and I made my way as smoothly as Arion upon his dolphin. I could not, indeed, touch the lyre, nor had I any musical instrument to play upon, unless it were the comb which Omai carried in one hand, and which he used while swimming, to adjust his harsh black locks, hanging in profusion over his shoulders. Having performed a trip of full three quarters of an hour, the Omai came gallantly into harbour, all safe, passenger in good health."
"On landing, we found our fellow-travellers on the shore. My young friend Augustus was vexed that he was not with us; but if he had, he would probably have been de trop [over-weight], for I much doubt whether the South-Sea Triton could have carried double. My father looked a little grave at my having been so venturous; the noble Captain and the Philosopher laughed heartily, and called me a tough little fellow; and Omai and I were henceforth constant companions."
In the latter part of the day, the party proceeded to Mulgrave by way of Whitby; and in recording this journey, the facetious dramatist, after noticing the perilous descent to the sands at Upgang, thus describes the dangers incurred in passing along the shore. "When we got upon the sands, the wind had risen, the sea roared, and it was almost dark; the horses took fright, dragged the carriage into the surf; and the evening marine trip threatened to be much less propitious than my morning's excursion upon the back of Omai. The unusual situation in which we were placed, must, I think, have puzzled the brave Sea-Captain, and the navigating Philosopher; for, however they might have been ice-locked, or tempest-tost, they had never hitherto begun a voyage in a post coach and four." But the postboys piloted them through this danger, and set them down safe at Mulgrave.
It was now the sporting season, late in August; but the heads of the party at Mulgrave took little or no share in the sport, for, says Colman, "the commander of the North Pole expedition, and the visitor of the South-Sea Islands, disdained to shoot at any bird or beast more common than a penguin or a bear.—Omai, however, prowled about the precincts with a gun;—and, if practice can lead to perfection, he promised to be an excellent marksman; for he popped at all the feathered creation that came in his way; and which happened, for the most part, to be dunghill cocks, barn-door geese, and ducks in the pond. His slaughter of domestic birds was by no means inconsiderable; he knew nothing of our distinctions between meum and tuum, nor of any of our laws whatever; and had it not been that he was naturally a tender-hearted barbarian, it is probable that, after having killed off a farmer's live stock, he might have taken a shot at the farmer himself. Even when he had to deal with the feræ naturæ, in the regular way, his native wildness often betrayed him into most unsportsmanlike conduct."
"One day, while he carried his gun, I was out with him in a stubble field, at the beginning of September, when he pointed to some object at a distance, which I could not distinguish;—his eye sparkled;—he laid down his gun mighty mysteriously, and put his finger on my mouth, to enjoin silence; he then stole onwards, crouching along the ground for several yards; till, on a sudden, he darted forward like a cat, and sprung upon a covey of partridges, one of which he caught, and took home alive, in great triumph."—
"I was present at another instance of Orsonism in my tattowed friend, when, with the intent to take a ride, he seized a grazing horse by the tail; the astounded animal galloped off, wincing and plunging, and dragging his tenacious assailant after him, till he slipped from his grasp, and left him in the mire. How Omai contrived to dodge the horse's heels, and escape with his brains in his head, I cannot explain. He was not always so intrepid; there was a huge bull in the grounds, which kept him at a respectful distance; and of which he always spoke reverentially as the man-cow."
This part of Colman's reminiscences is confirmed by the testimony of aged persons, living in the vicinity. Mr. R. Rayne of Whitby, a native of Sandsend, recollects Omai well; and states, among other things, that, during his stay at Mulgrave, he was one day found perched in a tree; and when asked why he had taken post there, he said that he had been frightened by the great man-cow.
As to the chief employments of this party, Mr. Colman informs us, that Sir Joseph pursued his favourite study—botany, and sent the two youths every morning into Mulgrave woods, to gather plants for him. The gallant Captain, he remarks, had become "an antiquarian resurrection man," and "now he had dismounted from his race-horse [the name of his ship], which had carried him in his marine hunt after the North Pole", being still bent on discovery, he had chosen for his "terrestrial hobby," the opening of tumuli, or barrows, on the moors. "It was a kind of field-day," says Colman, "whenever we opened a tumulus;—a grand muster of all our party, attended by helpers. each carrying a pick-axe and a spade, a spade;' and as the operation, which occupied several hours, was effected at some distance from the house, we pitched a tent upon the scene of action, under which we dined." The culinary operations of the party are humorously described. In these, "the talents of Omai shone out most conspicuously, and he beat all his competitors." He dug a Tahitian oven on the moor, and baked his dinner in grand style but, instead of a South Sea dog, he dressed a couple of fine fowls; for plantain leaves, to wrap the food in, he had writing paper, smeared with butter;" for yams, he had potatoes; for the bread fruit, bread itself, the best home-made in Yorkshire."—"As to Omai's dish, in the eating, nothing could be better dressed, or more savoury: the smouldering pebble-stones and embers of the Otahitian oven, had given a certain flavour to the fowls, which made them taste as if a ham accompanied them. This saving by the bye, in procuring the relish of a ham, without incurring the expense of the ham itself, argues greatly in favour of Omai's receipt, and is well worthy the consideration of all good house-wives. As to the potatoes, all the Paddies of the Emerald Isle must own themselves outdone in the cooking of praties." Of the results of these exhumations, Colman, being no antiquarian, speaks with great contempt: "they consisted of a few crumbling pots, dignified by the name of urns, of less intrinsic value than a Staffordshire pipkin; and some small pieces of copper money, with which it was impossible to toss up, for they boasted neither heads nor tails."
During his stay at Mulgrave Castle, Omai occasionally visited Whitby, which Colman omits to mention. F. Wardale, Esq. and other aged inhabitants recollect having seen him in the streets; where his appearance, as in other places, attracted much attention. When offered a pinch of snuff in the shop of Mr. Young, in Bridge Street, he replied, as at Cambridge, that his nose was not hungry; yet Mr. Young persuaded him to try it.
From Mulgrave, the whole party proceeded towards the north, the Hon. Capt. Phipps, and his brother, accompanying their guests, first to Skelton Castle, then the seat of the merry J. S. Hall, Esq.; and next day to Kirkleatham Hall, the family mansion of Sir Charles Turner, Bart. After remaining here three or four days, the Colmans left the party, and proceeded into the county of Durham. Before their departure, they were gratified with the sight of a worthy individual, thus noticed in the Random Records:"
"In the adjacent village of Kirkleatham, there was, at this time, an individual residing in a neat comfortable cottage, who excited much interest in the visitors at the hall. His looks were venerable from his great age, and his deportment was above that which is usually found among the lowly inhabitants of a hamlet. How he had acquired this air of superiority over his neighbours, it is difficult to say, for his origin must have been humble. His eightieth summer had nearly passed away; and, only two or three years previously, he had learned to read, that he might gratify a parent's pride and love, by perusing his son's first voyage round the world!—He was the Father of Capt. Cook.—This anecdote was told to us on the spot, and I vouch no further for its authenticity; but, if it be true, there are few touches of human nature more simply affecting."
This interesting notice of Mr. Cook contains two mistakes. He never resided at Kirkleatham, but was now living with his son and daughter, Mr. and Mrs. Fleck, at the village of Redcar, about two miles to the north of it; though it is natural to suppose, that when he heard that Mr. Banks and Omai were at Kirkleatham Hall, he would come hither to see them. The statement, that he had now for the first time learned to read, is also erroneous. He appears to have been able from his youth to read the Bible, and his family Bible is still in the possession of one of his descendants. Ten years before this time, he had carved and lettered the family tomb-stone in Ayton church yard, containing an inscription of considerable length; which we can scarcely suppose him capable of doing, had he then been unable to read and write. Yet as the narrative of his son's voyage contains many words that must have been new to him, he might require some assistance in perusing it; and this most probably gave rise to the mistake.
While Omai and young Colman were together, they were reciprocally schoolmaster and scholar, teaching each other their respective languages; and it has been supposed, that during his further stay at Kirkleatham, Omai received some lessons in the grammar school there; as he is known to have visited Mr. Jackson of Guisborough, more than once, along with his boys who then attended the school. An aged inhabitant of Whitby, Ralph Milburn, then living at Guisborough, saw him there at different times. His lessons, if he got any, seem to have been of small service.
It is natural to think, that as soon as Captain Cook had a little leisure, he would pay another visit to his venerable father, and to his relations and friends in the north. Whether he visited them at this time, and joined Mr. Banks and Omai at Kirkleatham, to return with them to town, has not. been ascertained. His visit, if paid at all, must have been very short; for, however much he might stand in need of relaxation, his numerous engagements in town prevented him from enjoying it. Yet his attachment to his early friends, was as strong as ever; while his celebrity acquired for him new friendships, among persons of superior rank and worth.
Of those whose friendship he began about this time to enjoy, one of the most illustrious was Constantine John, Lord Mulgrave, mentioned by Colman in the foregoing extracts as the Hon. Capt. Phipps. He succeeded to the title about the very time when he accompanied his visitors to Kirkleatham; for his father, Constantine, Lord Mulgrave, died at the Spa, in Germany, in the middle of September. His Lordship having made a near approach to the north pole, in the summer of 1773, only a few months before Cook made his nearest approach to the south pole,[1] naturally felt an interest in his brother navigator, who had encountered similar perils, for a greater length of time, and had displayed talents, courage, and firmness, akin to his own. His friendship for Capt. Cook was lasting, and His Lordship was one of the few who subscribed twenty guineas each, for the gold medal, struck to his memory.[2]
If Capt. Cook visited the north in the autumn, his presence in town was speedily required, as he was consulted by the Lords of the Admiralty, on every thing relating to the new expedition now projected; and among other things, as to the most proper person to take the command. At this time, all eyes were turned to himself, as the person most eminently qualified to conduct the enterprise; but, after the sacrifices he had made, and the arduous services he had accomplished, for the public good, it seemed so unreasonable to require him to en- counter new perils, that: one, not even Lord Sandwich himself, would presume to name it. An opportunity, however, was given him to volunteer his services. Lord Sandwich invited him to dinner, along with his friends, Sir Hugh Palliser and Mr. Stephens. The conversation turned on the nature and objects of the new expedition; when the grandeur of the design, its consequences to navigation and science, and the perfection it would give to the whole system of discoveries, were set forth in such glowing colours, that our hero, fired with the contemplation of the object, started up, and declared that he himself would take the command. His offer was at once joyfully accepted, and the appointment meeting with His Majesty's cordial approbation, took effect on the 9th of February, 1776; it being agreed, that on his return home, he should resume his situation in Greenwich Hospital.
The satisfaction which Capt. Cook felt in this appointment, is expressed in a letter which he wrote four days after to his friend Mr. Walker, the last of his letters to that gentleman now extant.
While the preparations for the expedition were going forward, and those who were at the head of the Admiralty vied with one another in their zeal to render it, conformable to our navigator's wishes, his scientific friends, to testify their sense of the obligations under which he had laid them, added lustre to his name, by the grant of literary honours. He enjoyed the friendship of Sir John Pringle, President of the Royal Society, and was in habits of intimacy with many of its members. In the latter end of 1775, he had been proposed as a candidate for admission to that Institution; and on the 29th of February, 1776, he was unanimously chosen a Fellow of the Royal Society. On the 7th of March, he was admitted; and in the same evening, a Paper which he had prepared, on the Method taken for preserving the Health of his crew, was read to the Society. Another paper of his, on the Tides in the South Seas, was read on the 18th of April. These two papers are the 22nd 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. remarks; "Not satisfied with plenty, he would have the purest; and therefore whenever an opportunity offered, he emptied what he had taken in but a few days before, and filled his casks anew. But was he not above four months in his passage from the Cape of Good Hope to New Zealand, in the frozen zone of the south, without once seeing land? and did he not actually complete his circumnavigation, in that high latitude, without the benefit of a single fountain? Here was indeed a wonder of the deep! I may call it the romance of his voyage! Those very shoals, fields, and floating mountains of ice, among which he steered his perilous course, and which presented such terrifying prospects of destruction; those, I say, were the very means of his support, by supplying him abundantly with what he most wanted."
The discourse is closed in the following terms "As to your acknowledgments to Capt. Cook, and your high opinion of his deserts, you will best testify them, by the honourable distinction suggested by your Council, in presenting him with this medal: for I need not gather your suffrages, since the attention with which you have favoured me, hath abundantly expressed your approbation. My satisfaction, therefore, had been complete, had he himself been present to receive the honours you now confer upon him. But you are apprized, that our brave and indefatigable Brother is, at this instant, far removed from us, anticipating, I may say, your wonted request on these occasions, by continuing his labours for the advancement of Natural Knowledge, and for the honour of this Society: as you may be assured, that the object of this new enterprise is not less great, perhaps still greater, than either of the former."
"Allow me then, Gentlemen, to deliver this medal, with his unperishing name engraven upon it, into the hands of one who will be happy to receive that trust, and to know that this respectable Body never more cordially, nor more meritoriously, bestowed that faithful symbol of their esteem and affection. For if Rome decreed the Civic Crown to him who saved the life of a single citizen, what wreaths are due to that man, who, having himself saved many, perpetuates in your Transactions, the means by which Britain may now, on the most distant voyages, preserve numbers of her intrepid sons, her Mariners; who, braving every danger, have so liberally contributed to the fame, to the opulence, and to the maritime empire, of their country!"
As the assignment of this high reward did not take place till our hero had entered on his third voyage, so it was at a period still later, that he had the honour of appearing as an author, by the publication of his "Voyage towards the South Pole, and round the World." For some months he had the double task, of preparing for his third voyage, and drawing up for the press a narrative of the second. The narrative, however, was not a laboured composition; being little more than a transcript of his journal, written during the voyage. Yet considerable pains would be required, both in transcribing, dividing, and correcting what he had written; and in availing himself of useful hints and notices, contained in the journals of Mr. Wales and others.
It is matter of regret, that he had not the satisfaction of seeing the work published before he sailed. Much time was required for engraving the Plates, 63 in number, the expense of which, amounting to £2000, was liberally defrayed by the government. Yet this was not the sole cause of delay. Forster the naturalist (who had acquired the title L.L.D.) claimed the honour of drawing up the account of the voyage, and his claim was so far allowed, that it was for some time intended to come out as the joint production of Capt. Cook and Dr. Forster; the former supplying the narrative, the latter a variety of philosophical observations, and both having an equal share in the profits of the work. An agreement to this effect was drawn up in April, 1776; but, after examining some specimens of the Doctor's work, the Lords of the Admiralty very judiciously resolved, that Cook's narrative should appear by itself, and Forster's observations form a separate volume; at the same time securing to the Doctor his share in the profits of the plates. The Captain, who sailed within less than three months after this decision, left his work ready for the press, and engaged his friend Dr. Douglas, afterwards Bishop of Carlisle, to superintend the printing; yet it did not come forth till the month of May, 1777.
In the mean time, unauthorized attempts were made, as before, to gratify the public curiosity. Towards the close of 1775, a "Journal of the Resolution's voyage &c.," appeared, in the form of an 8vo volume, of above 300 pages, price 5s. It must have been a journal which some one on board had secreted, when other documents of that kind were delivered up; and it gives a pretty fair account of the leading events of the voyage, whilst in some particulars it is glaringly incorrect. A small 4to volume, price 6s. 6d., the substance of some other secreted journal, came out about half a year later. It abounds with marvellous tales, and stories of cruelty; some of which are downright fictions, while others are gross misrepresentations of what really occurred. Several of its statements, containing unjust reflections on individuals, were publicly contradicted by the Captain and his friends.
But the principal unauthorized publication, concerning the voyage, and the only one likely to rival that of Capt. Cook, did not appear till several months after the latter had sailed. In March, 1777, Mr. Geo. Forster published a narrative of the voyage, in two volumes, 4to, price £2 2s. This young man, chagrined at his father's being prevented from giving "a philosophical history of the voyage, free from prejudice and vulgar error,-an account written upon a plan which the learned world had not hitherto seen executed," resolved to give a narrative of the voyage himself, with the assistance of his father's journals. His work is valuable, and well written, and we may excuse his extravagant notions of his father's talents; but we cannot so easily excuse his attempt to depreciate those of Capt. Cook, whose work was then about to issue from the press. Mr. Forster, in his preface, not only blames the Lords of the Admiralty, for their supposed neglect of his father,[3] and partiality to Captain Cook; but insinuates, that the latter was incapable of writing a proper narrative of the voyage, that the forthcoming work was only said to be his, and that "the public must again converse with him by means of an interpreter." When the authorized narrative itself appeared, in two Volumes 4to. (price £2 12s. 6d.), the injustice of such illiberal reflections was made manifest. It was obviously the Captain's own composition; and instead of proving a dry detail of nautical matters, it was found, as the Monthly Review justly observed, to be "a well digested narrative, accompanied with observations on men and things, that would do credit even to a philosopher, or a writer by profession; and clothed in a natural and manly style." As a composition, it even exceeded. the anticipations of his friends. His style, like his own character, is clear, simple, and nervous. Forster's work, indeed, has more of elegance and ornament; Cook's is more distinguished for plainness, strength, and utility. In the latter, as might be expected, there are more inaccuracies, and fewer beauties, than in the former; yet Cook always expresses himself well, his style is easy, as well as manly; and, on the whole, its very simplicity gives it a charm, which a more polished mode of writing would scarcely have possessed. His General Introduction, which, from the variety of matter comprised in it, must have cost him much labour, was finished only a few days before he set sail on his new expedition. It closes with the following modest remarks, which are the more interesting and valuable, as being among the last which he wrote in his native land.
"And now it may be necessary to say, that as I am on the point of sailing on a third expedition, I leave this account of my last voyage in the hands of some friends, who in my absence have kindly accepted the office of correcting the press for me; who are pleased to think, that what I have here to relate, is better to be given in my own words, than in the words of another person; especially as it is a work designed for information, and not merely for amusement; in which, it is their opinion, that candour and fidelity will counterbalance the want of ornament."
"I shall therefore conclude this introductory discourse, with desiring the reader to excuse the inaccuracies of style, which doubtless he will frequently meet with in the following narrative; and that, when such occur, he will recollect that it is the production of a man, who has not had the advantage of much school education, but who has been constantly at sea from his youth; and though, with the assistance of a few good friends, he has passed through all the stations belonging to a seaman, from an apprentice in the coal trade, to a Post Captain in the Royal Navy, he has had no opportunity of cultivating letters. After this account of myself, the Public must not expect from me the elegance of a fine writer, or the plausibility of a professed book-maker; but will, I hope, consider me as a plain man, zealously exerting himself in the service of his country, and determined to give the best account he is able of his proceedings."
"Plymouth Sound, July 7, 1776."
It is one excellence of Capt. Cook's work, that in every part of it, we find him more ready to commend, than to censure. A different spirit is breathed by Mr. Forster, who, in many passages, prefers charges of ignorance, cruelty, and brutality, both against the officers, and the men. These charges were rebutted by Mr. Wales, in an 8vo. pamphlet, published in 1778, entitled, "Remarks on Mr. Forster's Account of Captain Cook's last Voyage," &c. In these remarks, which are rather severe, Mr. Wales denies the statements of Mr. Forster, in various particulars; and alleges that Dr. Forster, who, like his son, had "very exalted notions of himself," was extremely quarrelsome on board; and so far from being more humane than others, required to be checked, both by Capt. Cook and Lieut. Clerke, for acts of wanton cruelty. Mr. Forster published a reply, well seasoned with acrimony, in which, while he denies several assertions of Mr. Wales, he admits that it was not unusual for his father to have warm, and even very violent disputes with the Captain, who, on one occasion, insisted on Dr. Forster's leaving his apartment.[4] It is no small proof of the forbearance and good spirit of our navigator, that although Dr. Forster appears to have so often annoyed him, he never in the course of the narrative, mentions him disrespectfully.[5] Dr. Forster's own work, entitled, "Observations made during a Voyage round the World, on Physical Geography, Natural History, and Ethic Philosophy; especially on the Earth, its Strata, &c.," appeared in one volume 4to., in 1778. It contains a mass of valuable information, and interesting researches, concerning the human race, and the various departments of natural history. While it displays much talent and learning, no one who reads it can regret that it was published by itself, instead of being mixed up with Cook's narrative. To general readers, the metaphysical disquisitions, and favourite theories of the author, will be found to possess little interest; and instead of adorning the work of our navigator, they would rather have seemed to disfigure it. Yet, in a scientific point of view, Forster's Observations, as well as his son's narrative, may be regarded as of great value. Their philological remarks are more accurate than those of Cook, and in spelling Tahitian names and words, their orthography corresponds more with that of the Missionaries, who having resided for
years at the islands, must be best acquainted with the true pronunciation of the language. The Forsters observed correctly, that the O in O-taheite, O-mai, &c., is only a prefix, and not properly a part of the name.[6]
The original Astronomical Observations of Messieurs Wales and Bayley, made during the Voyage, were published by authority, near the close of 1777, in one volume, 4to. price One Guinea. These Observations, like Dr. Forster's, were very properly detached from Cook's work. A valuable Introduction was prefixed by Mr. Wales, in which, among other things, a description is given of his Portable Observatory.
The equipment of the two ships for the new expedition had engaged much of Capt. Cook's attention, before he was himself appointed to take the command. The Discovery, a bark of 295 tons burthen, which was to accompany the Resolution, was selected by him; and, like all his former ships, was a Whitby vessel. It was built in 1774, by those eminent builders, Messrs. G. and N. Langborne, for Mr. Wm. Herbert, of Scarborough; and was originally called the Diligence. It is scarcely necessary to observe, that the Earl of Sandwich, Sir Hugh Palliser, and the rest of the Board of Admiralty, made every provision for the due equipment of the vessels; and took special care to consult, in all respects, the comfort of our navigator. Capt. Cook preferred his own ship, the Resolution; and, in accordance with his wishes, the command of the Discovery was given to Capt. Charles Clerke, who had been one of his Lieutenants in both his voyages, and was originally promoted by himself. Several others of his former shipmates, both officers and men, gladly embarked with him again, in this new enterprise.
The two vessels were plentifully supplied, not only with an excellent stock of provisions and necessaries of all kinds, but with those antiscorbutics, which during the last voyage, were found to be of so much utility in preserving health. An extra supply of clothing for the men, adapted to the climates in which they were to be employed, was also liberally furnished. The frame work of a small vessel, sent out in the Resolution before, had never been used; yet, as the Captain found that it might have been useful in exploring such a coast as that of New Caledonia, and as it might afford the means of safety, in case of shipwreck, each ship was now furnished with a frame of this kind, to be used as occasion might require.
As our navigator had humanely endeavoured to stock some of the countries which he visited, with useful animals and vegetables, His Majesty, to second his benevolent views, ordered a quantity of live stock, including a bull and two cows, with their calves, to be put on board for Otaheite, and other islands of the Pacific; while directions were given to take on board other useful animals at the Cape of Good Hope. A good supply of European garden seeds was also furnished; and a large stock of iron tools and trinkets, not only for presents, but for barter.
On this occasion, as in the former expeditions, the interests of science were not overlooked; but, as the Captain had, in his late voyage, found himself much annoyed by a portion of his scientific staff, he thought it best to dispense with the services of any professed philosopher. The department of astronomy was undertaken by himself, and his second Lieutenant, Mr. King; and unto them the necessary astronomical instruments were delivered by the Board of Longitude, with the chronometer used in the last voyage. The province of natural history was assigned to Mr. Anderson, Surgeon of the Resolution, a gentleman possessed of considerable talents and learning; who had assisted the Captain, in his late voyage, in preparing a copious vocabulary of the language of Otaheite, with specimens of other languages. A skilful artist, Mr. Webber, was also appointed to the Resolution; and several of the young officers on board were well qualified to assist the Captain in constructing charts and plans. The Discovery was also provided with a good chronometer, and astronomical apparatus; and Mr. William Bayley (or Bayly), who had distinguished himself by his skill and diligence as an astronomer on board the Adventure, now embarked in the Discovery, to assist Captain Clerke in the same capacity. The Resolution had the same complement of officers and men as before, and the Discovery had the same complement as the Adventure, except that she had no marine officer on board. Messrs. Gore and Williamson were the first and third Lieutenants of the Resolution, and Mr. Philips, Lieutenant of the Marines; Messrs. Burney and Rickman were the Lieutenants of the Discovery; and Mr. Law, the Surgeon.
After the ships had been fitted out at Deptford, and taken their stores on board, they proceeded down the river to Long Reach; where, on the 8th of June, the Earl of Sandwich, Sir Hugh Palliser, and others of the Board of Admiralty, as a last mark of their unremitting attention and special friendship, visited our navigator, to see if every thing had been provided according to his wishes; and they dined with him on board the Resolution, accompanied by several other noblemen and gentlemen. On the 15th, both ships sailed from Long Reach; and the Discovery proceeded towards Plymouth, while the Resolution remained at the Nore, till the Captain was ready to join her. He had returned to London, to complete his arrangements for the voyage, and to spend a few days with Mrs. Cook and his family; perhaps anticipating, that these might be, as alas! they indeed proved, the last that he should ever spend with them.
When he finally quitted London, on Monday, June 24th, he was accompanied by Omai, the Tahitian, who now embarked with him, to return to his native country. This youth had become warmly attached to the British, ever since he landed on our shores; and considering the hospitality which had been shewn him by persons of every rank, it is no wonder that he left them with regret. Yet his love to his native land, was as strong as ever, and when the dear islands of the South Sea were named to him, his eyes sparkled with joy. As he had been caressed during his stay, by men of all classes, from the prince to the peasant, so at his departure he was loaded with presents. His Majesty, who took a lively interest in him ever since he was introduced to the royal presence at Kew Palace, furnished him with an ample supply of every thing fitted to make him rich and great in his native place; and Omai, on his part, felt a lively impression of duty and gratitude towards that amiable monarch. He received also rich presents from Lord Sandwich, Sir Joseph Banks, and many other respectable friends, both gentlemen and ladies. While most of these presents were of a useful description, there were others that seemed unsuitable; which were given him, because he took a fancy for them, as amusing toys. He received, among other things, a portable organ, a coat of mail, a suit of armour, an electrical machine; with a rich variety of dresses and ornaments.
It is much to be lamented, that during the two years which he spent in Britain, little was done to improve his understanding, or exalt his character. He became well acquainted with the amusements, the riches, the enjoyments, and the splendour of the British; but continued ignorant in a great measure of their sciences and arts, and still more of the principles of their religion. Some attempts, however, were made to instruct him. That well known philanthropist, the late Granville Sharp, Esq., became acquainted with him, and taught him the first principles of writing; and it would seem that he had previously got some instructions in reading. He made such progress in the use of letters, that on his voyage to the South Seas, he wrote a letter from the Cape of Good Hope to his friend Dr. Solander. Mr. Sharp endeavoured, as far as Omai's knowledge of our language allowed, to pour the light of divine truth into his untutored mind and it appears that this philanthropist, or some other christian friend, presented him with a large quarto English Bible, with numerous coloured engravings. This Bible, as Mr. Ellis in his Polynesian Researches observes, Vol. II, p. 97, was found by the Missionaries, many years after, in the possession of a young chief of Tahaa. His future conduct, however, shewed too clearly, that he had not imbibed the spirit of the Bible, and felt not the sacred influence of Christian principles.
Omai took an affectionate leave of his London friends, and could scarcely refrain from tears, when the Captain afterwards spoke of them but when he got on board the Resolution, his spirits soon became composed, and he felt quite happy. As two boats had been built for the Resolution at Deal, a crowd assembled there to see Omai, when the boats were taken on board; but to their great disappointment, he did not go ashore.
On the 30th, the Resolution reached Plymouth, where the Discovery had arrived only three days. before. Here supplies of water, wine, and fresh meat, were taken in. A fleet of 62 sail of transports, with Hessian troops for America, were in Plymouth Sound, on the 6th, under couvoy of three ships of war. Our navigator could not help contrasting their object, with the peaceful and praiseworthy purpose of his own voyage; and it is gratifying to notice that, in the progress of that lamentable war, orders were issued, both by the French King, and by Dr. Benjamin Franklin, the American Ambassador at Paris, directing the Commanders of ships, of their respective countries, not to molest Capt. Cook, if they should fall in with him in the course of his voyage.
It was on the 8th of July, that the Captain received his Instructions for the voyage; marking out the course he should steer, the places which he should endeavour to visit, the objects which he should keep in view, &c.; at the same time leaving a great deal, as before, to his own judgment and discretion. The principal object to be kept in view was, of course, the discovery of a passage from the Pacific to the Atlantic, by way of Behring's Straits: and it may be remarked, that to encourage this attempt, the Parliament had lately passed an Act, securing a reward of £20,000 to any officer and his crew who should discover this passage, by sailing from the one sea to the other.
To facilitate the success of their main undertaking, Lieut. Pickersgill was sent out in the Lion brig, a few weeks before Capt. Cook sailed, with orders to protect the British whalers, and explore Baffin's Bay; and after his return, Lieut. Young was sent out to that quarter, in the same vessel, next spring, with instructions to search for a passage from the Atlantic to the Pacific; in order, if possible, to meet Capt. Cook. These voyages led to no satisfactory result.
It was at Plymouth, on the 7th of July, as noticed above, that our navigator put the finishing hand to the General Introduction to his second voyage. The publishing of his work was a subject that was now much on his mind, together with the grand object of his present voyage, as appears from a letter which he wrote to his Ayton friend, Commodore Wilson, two days before his departure from London. This letter, hitherto unpublished, the reader will think the more valuable, as being probably the last which he wrote to any of his friends in the north.
- ↑ The Rev. Wm. Scoresby, A.B., F.R.S., formerly Capt. Scoresby, Jun., of Whitby, in one of his Greenland voyages, made a nearer approach to the north pole than any former navigator. He met in Paris, at one of Baron Cuvier's Soirees, with a French navigator, who had made the nearest approach to the south pole; and taking him by the hand, said, "The north pole shakes hands with the south pole." In a similar way. Lord Mulgrave and Capt. Cook met in friendship, though the scenes of their enterprise were "wide as the poles asunder."
- ↑ See a biographical notice of Lord Mulgrave, the Navigator, in the History of Whitby and the Vicinity, vol. II, p. 863, &c. According to statements, which the author thinks he has heard from old persons in Whitby, several years ago, Captain Cook visited Mulgrave as well as Whitby, between his second and third voyages, and was hospitably entertained by the noble navigator. With regard to his visit to Whitby, after his first voyage, it ought to have been stated above, at p. 120, that on the day when he came over from Ayton to Whitby, some of the principal gentlemen of Whitby went out to meet him on horseback as far as Swarthoue Cross, a distance of four miles, to escort him into the town; a mark of respect which did honour to themselves, as well as to him. Mrs. Watt of Whitby was at Mr. Walker's on the day of his arrival, and recollects the cordial salutation of Mary Prowde. See p. 121.
- ↑ Dr. Forster, instead of being neglected, was highly honoured. He was presented to the King, at Kew, a short time after his arrival, and was graciously received. The Lords of the Admiralty treated him with respect; and he had no right to complain, that they would not consent to his engrossing the honours which belonged to Capt. Cook. He was noticed a few days after his arrival in town, by some gentry whose visit he would rather have dispensed with; his house being broken into and plundered.
- ↑ The critics of those times disagree in their verdict on this controversy; the Monthly Review and the Gentleman's Magazine condemning Mr. Forster, while the London Magazine favours him, and the Town and Country Magazine highly applauds him, and fiercely runs down Mr. Wales.
- ↑ Mr. Forster alleges (Vol. II. p. 420), that most of the gentlemen on board did every thing in their power to thwart him and his father in their pursuits, but seems to acquit the Captain of sharing in this hostility; when he says, that they were in danger of falling "victims to that malevolence, which even the positive commands of Captain Cook were sometimes insufficient to keep within bounds." The truth seems to be, that the intolerable vanity of the Forsters induced several of the officers to take a pleasure in mortifying them. Under the influence of mortified vanity, and disappointed. ambition, Mr. Forster, in June, 1778, published a most abusive Letter to the Earl of Sandwich, charging His Lordship with atrocious acts of injustice towards him and his father, and imputing these to the sinister influence of a favourite lady, Miss Ray, who was offended at being refused some of the beautiful birds, which Dr. Forster brought home and presented to the Queen. He also prefers charges of selfishness against Capt. Cook, which the latter could now have no opportunity of repelling. It is curious to observe, that he accuses Lord Sandwich of malice, in fixing the price of Cook's work so low as to injure the sale of his. It might have been retorted, that he took care to get the start of Cook's narrative, to injure its sale. Of the latter, however, according to Forster's statement, 3000 copies had then been sold.
- ↑ Dr. Andreas Sparrman, the assistant of Dr. Forster, did not come to England in the Resolution, but remained at the Cape, where he had embarked. He performed a journey into the interior of Africa, in August, 1775, and sent a paper to the Royal Society, giving an account of this journey, and of some discoveries which he made in natural history.
The two Forsters published, in November, 1775, in one Volume 4to (price £I 7s.), a botanical work entitled, Characteres Generuin Plantarum, &c., exhibiting their principal discoveries in botany during the voyage. It is valuable, but too dear; and serves to illustrate the characters of the authors, as well as of the plants; for, as the Monthly Review observes, the vast size of the plates, compared with the minuteness of the subjects delineated, while it enhances the price of the volume, gives it an air of ostentation approaching to the ludicrous."