177a. June.
Saturday ao.
Monday »a.
Ju l y .
Friday 3.
Wednefday 8.
the objefts of natural hiftory which we might expect to
meet with during our courfe. We prepared with the ut-
moft alacrity for this arduous undertaking, and in the
fpace of nine days fent all our baggage on board the Re-
folution, then at Sheernefs, but which failed from thence-
for Plymouth on the 22d of June.
We left London on the 26 th, and in two Days reached
Plymouth, where the Refolution was not yet arrived. The
1 ft of July, we went on board the Augufta Yacht, and waited
on the Earl of Sandwich, then Firft Lord Commiffioner for ’
executing the office of High Admiral. His Lordfliip expecting
the Refolution to come into Plymouth Sound that
day, defired. us to be on board of her, between the hours
of five and fix in the evening. However, to our great
difappointment, Ihe did not appear, and his Lordffiip left-
Ply month the next morning.
The 3d of July early, we faw the Refolution lying in,
the Sound, where Ihe had arrived the night before. Captain-
Cook purpofed to flay here eight or ten. days, and gave
orders, that feme necefiary ffielves ihould be fixed up in,
our cabins previous to our reception on board. The defire-
of letting pafs no opportunity for the improvement of.
fcienee, and for our own inftrudrion, prompted us to- pafs
thefe leifure hours in vifiting the tin mines in Cornwall:
Having fatisfied our curiofity, and being both highly en tertained
and much inftrudted by the fight of the rich extenfive
tenfive works at Poldyce and Kënwyri, we returned to Ply- *Wi- JULT-
mouth on the 8 th of July.
On Saturday the 1 ith, we went on board1 the Refolution Saturday n .
floop, which was now to fail with the firft fair wind. Thé
next day it blew a frefti gale; and my father, walking on sonfor
the quarter-deck, obferved our veflel to alter her pofition
confiderably in regard to the Adventure (which was to accompany
us on our voyage) and to a maft-ffiip, both at
anchor in the Sound; at the fame time taking notice that
flie approached the rocks under the ca'file. He immediately
communicated his apprchenfions to Mr. Gilbert, the
matter, who happened to be upon deck with him. The
mafter found, that the veffel having been moored to one of
the tranfport buoys in the Sound, the buoy, not intended
to fupport fueh a violent ftrain, had broke from its
ground tackle, and was adrift together with the floop. In
an inftant all hands were on deck, the fails fpread, and
the cables cleared. We ftiot paft the Adventure and maft-
fliip, and- came to an anchor, after efcaping the moft
imminent danger of being dafhed againft the rocks under
the fort. Out feamen looked upon this fortunate event,
as an omen favourable to the fuccefs of the voyage; while
we could not avoid refleóting, on the tutelar guidance of
d iv in e Pr o v id en c e , which had thus manifefted itfelf- in-
a critical moment, that might eafily have put an effectual
B 2 flop'