the world in as high a latitude as he could.  In case of meeting with land he was to explore as far as time would permit.  When the season rendered it unsafe to remain in high latitudes he was to retire to the north to refit and recruit, and at a proper season to return to the south.  In any unforeseen circumstances he was to use his own discretion, and if the Resolution should be lost, he was to prosecute his voyage in the Adventure.  A copy of these orders was given to Captain Furneaux, and in case of separation the following rendezvous were named:  Madeira, Port Praya in the island of St. Iago, the Cape of Good Hope, and New Zealand.

Forster saves ship!

The Forsters evidently were far from pleasant travelling companions, and at one time or another seem to have quarrelled with every one on board the ship.  At the very first the father was dissatisfied with the accommodation allotted to him, and offered Mr. Cooper 100 pounds to turn out of his cabin; when this offer was declined, he tried to force Mr. Gilbert, the Master, to give up his, threatening if he refused he should be reported to the king and turned out of the Navy; this threat appears to have been a favourite one, and soon became a by-word with the seamen, who, according to Mr. Wales, would use it to each other on every possible occasion.  But, according to his own account, Mr. Forster was able to save the expedition from a very great disaster on 12th July.  He says he came on deck and noticed the ship was adrift from her moorings; neither the officer of the watch nor the look-out had seen it till he called attention, and then, after a scene of the greatest confusion, the ship was fortunately brought up within a few feet of the rocks.  On the other hand, the Master’s log admits the Resolution got adrift, but before Mr. Forster reached the deck the fact had been reported to the Captain, all hands turned up, the jib and forestay sail set, and the ship quietly dropped down into the Sound and anchored, never having been in the slightest danger.  The only other one to notice the affair was Midshipman Willis, who simply states, “dropped from the Buoy and anchored in the Sound.”

Having received the private signals of the East India Company’s Navy, and letters of introduction from the Prince of Orange to all the principal officers of the Dutch East India Company, instructing them to afford every assistance that might be required, Cook hoisted the signal to the Adventure to weigh anchor at 5 A.M. on 13th July, and with a north-west breeze the two ships sailed for Madeira.  When well out in the Channel the Resolution’s crew was mustered, and it was found that, owing to a mistake of the clerk, there was one man more than the complement, so John Coghlan was entered on the Supernumerary List for Wages and Victuals.