and the many favours received from him.  He seemed pleased with the idea, and instantly replied, that, for the very same reasons, a picture of Captain Cook would be highly acceptable to him.  This answer, so unexpected, and expressed with strong tokens of real attachment, made both Captain Clerke and Mr. Webber his advocates; and Captain Cook, charmed with the natural sincerity of his manner, complied with his request much more readily than on any other occasion he would have granted such a favour.

When the portrait was finished it was framed, and with a box, lock, and key, by which it was secured, was delivered to O’too; who received it with inexpressible satisfaction.  He readily, and, as the event has proved, most faithfully promised that he would preserve it always with the utmost care; and would show it to the commanders of such ships as might in future touch at the Society Islands.  Who can fail to love a character like that of O’too, in which unalterable steadiness of affection is as conspicuous, as honest and natural ardour?  Long may he enjoy his authority and his health; and preserve the honourable memorial of his friend, without being afflicted by the knowledge of that melancholy catastrophe which terminated the career of his glory!

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With respect to the yellow gum, or resin, mentioned in page 60, we are informed by Dr. Blane, physician to St. Thomas’s Hospital, that he has found it remarkably efficacious in the cure of old fluxes; and this not only in a few instances, but in many obstinate cases.  Of the plants in general which have been brought from Botany Bay, and the adjacent country, no notice has been taken in this work, as it would have led to such a detail as must too considerably have extended its limits.  Many of them are now to be seen in the highest perfection at the nursery gardens of that eminent and learned botanist, Mr. Lee, of Hammersmith:  who still retains enough of zeal for his favourite science, to regret that the discovery of those countries was not made at a period of his life, when he could have gone personally to reap the glorious harvest they afford.

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The following account of the weather in Botany Bay and Port Jackson, communicated by Lieutenant Watts, may perhaps be found important.

During the seven days we were in Botany Bay the weather was generally fine, and very warm.  The thermometer on a mean stood at 78 deg.. it never exceeded 80 deg.. and one day, which was thick and rainy, the wind blowing strongly from the south, it fell to 63 deg..  In Port Jackson the weather was at first much the same, but afterwards, the days became very hot, and the nights constantly brought on tremendous thunder, lightning, and rain.  The thermometer, at eleven o’clock in the forenoon, was generally about 80 deg.. but when the sea breezes set in it usually fell two or three degrees.  One very sultry day was felt soon after the arrival of the fleet.  The thermometer, on board, stood at 88 deg.. and on shore, though in the shade, at 92 deg..  On the 15th of March was a terrible squall of wind, accompanied by thunder, lightning, and rain.  The thermometer then fell from 80 deg. to 50 deg.. and in other squalls it frequently fell 15 or 20 degrees.