KXVl G E N E R A L I N T R O D U C T I O N .
Upon the whole, I am firmly of opinion, that no fliips
are fo proper for difcoveries in diftant unknown parts, as
thofe conftrudted as was the Endeavour, in which I performed
my former voyage. For no fhips of any other kind
can contain {lores and provifions- fufficient (in proportion to
the necefiary number o f men), confidering the length o f time
it will be necefiary they fhould laft. And, even if another
kind of {hips could flow a fufficiency, yet, on arriving at the
parts for difcovery, they would Hill, from the nature of their
conftruftion and fize, be lefs jit for the purpofe.
. Hence, it may be concluded, fo little progrefs had been
hitherto made in difcoveries in the Southern Hemifphere.
For all {hips which attempted it before the Endeavour,
were unfit for i t ; although the officers employed in them;
had done the utmoft in their power.
It was upon thefe confederations, that the Endeavour was .
ehofen for that-voyage. It was to thefe properties in her,
that thofe on board owed their prefervation ; and hence we.-
were enabled to profecute difcoveries in thofe leas fo much
longer than any other Chip ever did, or could do. And,
although difcovery was not the firft object of that voyage,,
I could venture to traverfe a far- greater fpace of fea, till
then unnavigated, to difcover greater tracks of country in
high
high and low South latitudes, and to perfevere longer in exploring
and furveying more corredly the extenfive coafts of
thofe new-difcovered countries, than any former Navigator,
'perhaps, had done during one voyage.
In fhort, thefe properties in the fhips, with perfeverance
and refolution in their commanders, will enable them to
execute their orders ; to go beyond former difcoverers; and
continue to Britain the reputation of taking the lead of all
nations, in exploring the globe.
Thefe confiderations concurring with Lord Sandwich s
opinion on the fame fubjecft, the Admiralty determined to
have two fuch fhips as are here recommended. A c cordingly,
two were purchafed of Captain William Hammond,
o f Hull. They were both built at Whitby, by the
lame perfon who built the Endeavour, being about fourteen
or fixteen months old at the time they were purchafed,
and were, in my opinion, as well adapted to the intended
fervice, as if they had been built, for the purpofe. The
largeft o f the two was four hundred and fixty-two tons
burthen. She was named Refolution, and font to Deptford
to be equipped. The<other was three hundred and
thirty-fix tons burthen. She was named Adventure; and
lent to be equipped at Woolwich.
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