Wednesday 28.

On the 28th the ship’s company received two months pay in advance, and on the following morning we worked out to St. Helen’s, where we were obliged to anchor.

1787.  December.  Sunday 23.

We made different unsuccessful attempts to get down Channel, but contrary winds and bad weather constantly forced us back to St. Helen’s, or Spithead, until Sunday the 23rd of December when we sailed with a fair wind.

During our stay at Spithead, the rate of the timepiece was several times examined by Mr. Bailey’s observations at the Portsmouth observatory.  On the 19th of December, the last time of its being examined on shore, it was 1 minute 52 seconds, 5 too fast for meantime, and then losing at the rate of 1 second, 1 per day; and at this rate I estimate its going when we sailed.

The object of all the former voyages to the South Seas undertaken by the command of his present majesty, has been the advancement of science and the increase of knowledge.  This voyage may be reckoned the first the intention of which has been to derive benefit from those distant discoveries.  For the more fully comprehending the nature and plan of the expedition, and that the reader may be possessed of every information necessary for entering on the following sheets, I shall here lay before him a copy of the instructions I received from the admiralty, and likewise a short description of the breadfruit.

By the commissioners for executing the office of Lord high Admiral of great Britain and Ireland, etc.

Whereas the king, upon a representation from the merchants and planters interested in his Majesty’s West India possessions that the introduction of the breadfruit tree into the islands of those seas, to constitute an article of food, would be of very essential benefit to the inhabitants, hath, in order to promote the interests of so respectable a body of his subjects (especially in an instance which promises general advantage) thought fit that measures should be taken for the procuring some of those trees, and conveying them to the said West India islands:  And whereas the vessel under your command hath, in consequence thereof, been stored and victualled for that service, and fitted with proper conveniences and necessaries for the preservation of as many of the said trees as, from her size, can be taken on board her; and you have been directed to receive on board her the two gardeners named in the margin, David Nelson, and William Brown, who, from their knowledge of trees and plants, have been hired for the purpose of selecting such as shall appear to be of a proper species and size: