d lost but four men, and
only one of them by sickness. This was owing, under Providence, to the
very great care taken of the health of the people. All means were used
to induce the crew to keep their persons, hammocks, bedding, and clothes
clean and dry. The ship, once or twice a week, was aired with fires,
and when this could not be done she was smoked with gunpowder mixed with
vinegar and water. There was frequently a fire in an iron pot at the
bottom of the well. The ship's coppers were kept carefully clean, fresh
water being taken on board whenever practicable. Of remedies against
scurvy the sweet-wort was proved to be most valuable. At the slightest
appearance of the disease two or three pints a day were given to each
man. A pound of sour-krout was supplied to each man, twice a week, at
sea. Preparations of potatoes, lemons, and oranges were served out with
good effect. Sugar was found useful, as was wheaten flour, while
oatmeal and oil were considered to promote the scurvy--such oil, at
least, as was served to the Navy. Olive oil would probably have had a
different effect. Captain Cook thus concludes his journal of the
voyage:--"But whatever may be the public judgment about other matters,
it is with real satisfaction, and without claiming any merit but that of
attention to my duty, that I can conclude this account with an
observation which facts enable me to make, that our having discovered
the possibility of preserving health amongst a numerous ship's company
for such a length of time, in such varieties of climate, and amidst such
continued hardships and fatigues, will make this voyage remarkable in
the opinion of every benevolent person, when the disputes about a
southern continent shall have ceased to engage the attention and to
divide the judgment of philosophers."

In concluding this account of Captain Cook's second voyage round the
world it is well, while admitting the value of the discoveries made, and
admiring the perseverance and general prudence and kindness of the
discoverer, to express deep regret that the scrupulous and unremitting
care exercised over the physical health of the crew was not, with equal
assiduity and anxiety, manifested in respect of their spiritual health.
Those were not the days in which the souls of sailors were much cared
for; but it may be supposed that the character of this expedition,
together with the unusual number of educated gentlemen on board,
furnished faciliti