Secret Voyage
Lieutenant Cook awaits fair winds
Search for unknown continent south of the equator

Plymouth: Much secrecy surrounds the preparation for departure from England of HIS MAJESTY'S Bark, Endeavour.

Endeavour, under its Commander, Lt James Cook, is awaiting fair winds to begin its long Voyage to the Pacific Ocean island of Tahiti to observe, for the Royal Society, the Transit of the planet Venus across the face of the Sun. In view of extensive preparations being undertaken, your correspondent asks whether this Scientific study is the only reason for the Voyage of the Endeavour? We have received Certain Information to the contrary, but this is denied by the Lords of the Admiralty and by Lt Cook himself. The information we have acquired is that Lt Cook, a gentleman of great experience and ability in surveying, is in in receipt of additional sealed Orders which are not to be opened until he leaves Tahiti after the conclusion of the Scientific observations.

We have reason to believe these Orders are for a Voyage of Discovery, and will carry Endeavour to lands far distant in the South Pacific, and even to that vast Continent which is said to be quite as big as Europe and Asia together, and which is now marked on the maps as Terra Australia Nondum Cognita.

Such Orders would no doubt contain instructions to Lt Cook to take for HIS MAJESTY possession of such uninhabited Countries as may be found, and to set up proper marks as first Discoverers and Possessors. They would also command him to observe the number and disposition of the natives, if any, and to cultivate a friendship and alliance with them.

Discussions have long been pursued by men of Knowledge concerning the existence of this mysterious Continent. Some men say there must be an equivalent amount of land in the distant Southern Hemisphere to counter-act the weight of the land in the Northern Hemisphere and thus balance the Earth.

It is no secret that the noted hydrographer, Alexander Dalrymple, who was originally the Royal Society's choice for Commander of the Endeavour, before the Lords of the Admiralty insisted on Lt Cook, has given to Mr. Joseph Banks a secret document he discovered while on expedition in Madras. This is believed to contain the statement of Capt Luis Vaez de Torres that he sailed between two great land masses in the far South more than one Century and a half since.

Further evidence is that Endeavour will carry among her stores every chart, book and scrap of evidence relative to the Pacific Ocean - and, your correspondent presumes, to Terra Australis.

If your correspondent is correct in surmising the ultimate destination of Endeavour, the task will indeed be one of great endurance, but it could solve a puzzle that has been debated since men first started making their maps.

Lt Cook has achieved considerable renown as a map-maker since he first saw Service in HIS MAJESTY'S Navy in the dangerous task of surveying the St Lawrence River in the North American Colonies during the recent War with the French. In this arduous employment he was continually liable to attack, not only from the French shore batteries, but also from marauding Indians. His charts of the River from the Sea to Quebec served to guide HIS MAJESTY'S Fleet before the victorious battle at the Heights of Abraham, when General Sir James Wolfe put the French to flight. With this experience and his meritorious Scientific observation of the Solar Eclipse two years since, there could be none other so well fitted to take Command of such an Expedition to the South as Lt Cook.

Lt Cook is a tall, impressive man with an agreeable modesty. His conversation is lively and intelligent, and in spite of his air of austerity he is well-liked and respected by his men. He has been commended to the Admiralty as a genius, well qualified for great under-takings.

Endeavour is a three-masted Whitby collier, chosen after much deliberation by the Lords of the Admiralty. In the manner of all coal-boats, she is exceptionally strongly built with ample space for stowage of stores. Much in alterations and repairs has been done to her, and the Admiralty must be commended for spending with generosity.

Endeavour has light armament consisting of twelve swivel and ten carriage guns, and will carry twelve of HIS MAJESTY'S marines to protect the Ship's Complement from attack by savages.

The Ship's Company has been chosen most carefully. It includes Lt Zachary Hicks, First Lieutenant, who is an experienced seaman; Lt John Gore, who has survived already two circumnavigations of the World, including the Voyage under Captain Wallis in the Dolphin which returned from Tahiti last year; Mr Robert Molineux, the Master, and his two mates, Mr Richard Pickersgill and Mr Charles Clarke - all three having served under Captain Wallis; Mr Monkhouse, the Surgeon; Mr John Satterly, carpenter; Mr Stephen Forward, gunner, and Mr Richard Orton, clerk.

The remainder of the crew consists of a cook, a steward, two quartermasters, an armourer, sailmaker, and three midshipmen, forty-one able seamen, nine servants, and twelve marines.

The Royal Society has appointed its own representative body of Scientists and Naturalists, led by the brilliant botanist, Mr Banks. Mr Banks is paying his own expenses on the Voyage, and also the expenses of his assistants and servants. His second-in-command is Dr Daniel Solander, a knowledgable student of natural history. Mr Alexander Buchan and Mr Sidney Parkinson have been engaged to sketch views and plants.

The Royal Society has been so impressed with the splendid work Lt Cook has already done that it has appointed him as one of their Observers during the Transit of Venus. The other Observer is Mr Charles Green, assistant to the Astronomer Royal.

The Voyage to Tahiti has been made possible by the most gracious gift of £4000 to the Royal Society by HIS MAJESTY. It is hoped that with winds prevailing, Endeavour will reach her destination in Tahiti next Spring, allowing thus ample time to prepare for Observations of the Celestial Phenomenon on the 3rd June.

During the past few days the crew has been busily engaged in loading on board a good Store of Ammunition and Stores of all kinds. Among them will be Lt Cook's Portable Broth, which he states will prevent the crew from falling foul to the cursed disease of scurvy. This truly remarkable concoction is understood to contain a mixture of scurvy grass, marmalade of carrots, syrup of lemons, and other vegetables. Also on board will be a plentiful supply of pigs and cattle.

It may be interesting for the Reader to note that milk will be supplied to Officers from a goat which is the very same animal which was carried for that purpose on HIS MAJESTY'S Ship Dolphin.

It is proposed to replenish supplies with fish at sea, and fruit and animal life at various landfalls.

The entire Voyage, If it is to include an Expedition to Terra Australis, will undoubtedly take some years.

We are confident that all Englishmen will join with us in wishing Lt Cook and his men Favourable Winds and Good Fortune.

Information from an unimpeachable source has reached this journal that Mr James Watt, the well-known Engineer, will soon apply for a patent for his Invention, the Steam Engine.

Mr Watt has been working on his ingenius Invention for many years, and has conducted a great many scientific examinations into the properties of Steam. In the three years past he has spent much of his time demonstrating the merits of the Steam Engine by trial on a large scale.

It is believed the Steam Engine will be applied to the drawing up of water.

Mr Watt has been encouraged in his work by his friend, Mr Joseph Black, whose splendid discovery of latent heat has largely assisted Mr Watt in his experiments.

Mr Watt is presently engaged in surveying Water Canals in Scotland.

During these warm months of August it is hoped that every precaution will be taken to prevent as much as possible sickness from taking place in different prisons in the Kingdom. Dreadful must the situation of poor prisoners be when epidemical distempers rage within these walls from which there is no retreat.

Cleanliness and a free circulation of Air will be absolutely necessary. Magistrates and others will no doubt adopt every salutory expedient for so useful and necessary a purpose.

NUISANCE IN BOND ST On Saturday evening Miss Smith of New Bond-street had the misfortune to break her leg by slipping into a chasm near one of the drains in the Mill where the gravel is worn away. This nuisance has long been complained of and loudly calls upon the attention of the Authorities.

THE DEMON DRINK Shocking as the account may appear, but true it is, that no less than seven soldiers have destroyed themselves in the Isle of Wight within these ten days by drinking spirits. One, lamentable to say, was an officer.

© 2001 Michael Dickinson

The Day of Departure London Gazette: Monday, August 26, 1768

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