other by Kendal on Harrison’s principle, under the care of Mr. Wales on the Resolution.  Great precautions were taken to prevent any accident or tampering with these instruments; they were kept in boxes having three locks, the keys were held one by the Captain, one by the first lieutenant, and the third by the astronomer, so they could not even be wound up except in the presence of all three.  William Hodges, a painter of repute, was appointed as artist, and his pictures were to become the property of the Admiralty.

The celebrated Dr. Joseph Priestley, at that time minister at Mill Hill Chapel, Leeds, had been invited by Mr. Banks to accompany him as astronomer, and his congregation had undertaken to guarantee his position on his return; but the Board of Longitude took objection to his religious views, and so his application was withdrawn.

CHAPTER 13. 1772 TO 1774.  SECOND VOYAGE.

Saying goodbye to his family on 21st June, Cook, accompanied by Mr. Wales, left London for Sheerness, and the next day dropped down to the Nore.  The Resolution was now drawing only fifteen feet ten inches of water instead of seventeen, a very satisfactory improvement.  She was given a good trial on a wind, and was found “to answer exceeding well.”  On 3rd July they arrived at Plymouth, having been boarded the day before by Lord Sandwich and Captain Pallisser, who were on a tour of inspection, and Cook had the pleasure of giving them a satisfactory account of his ship:  “I had not one fault to allege.”

On arrival at Plymouth, Cook found that orders had been given to the stores that he was to be supplied with whatever he thought necessary, but the only things required were larger coppers for the distilling apparatus, the ones they had on board having proved far too small.  The officers and crew were paid up to 28th May, and the petty officers and men also received two months’ advance to enable them to provide necessaries and extras for the voyage.  Cook remarks: 

“The payment of six months’ wages to the officers, and crews of these two sloops, being nearly all they had due, was an indulgence never before granted to any of His Majesty’s Ships.”

Cook now received his final orders, which he had assisted to draw up—­in fact, “nothing was inserted that I did not fully comprehend and approve of.”  He was to call at Madeira for a supply of wine; to sail for the Cape of Good Hope and there refresh his men; then to look for Cape Circumcision, placed by M. Bouvet in 54 degrees South, 11 degrees 20 minutes East, to determine if it formed part of a continent, and if so to explore it, following the coast and endeavouring to get as near to the South Pole as he could without endangering his ships or crews.  Should Cape Circumcision prove to be an island, or should he be unable to find it, he was to proceed as far south as he thought there was a probability of meeting with land, and then steering east, circumnavigate