n, for Dr. Burney's son, James, was
introduced to Cook by Lord Sandwich, with a view to going on the
expedition. Shortly after this, Sandwich met Dr. Burney at Lord Oxford's,
Houghton, and asked him if he could recommend any one capable of writing
the history of the voyage of the Endeavour; he gave Dr. Hawkesworth's
name, and was requested to introduce him to Lord Sandwich on his return
to town.

The object of the Second Voyage was, to use Cook's own words:

"To put an end to all diversity of opinion about a matter so curious and
important, was His Majesty's principal motive in directing this voyage to
be undertaken, the history of which is now submitted to the public, i.e.,
the existence of another continent in the South."

The discussion on the subject had been resumed with renewed vigour after
the return of the Endeavour, and Dalrymple led one party, who held that
Cook had not set the matter at rest as he had left far too much space
untraversed.

WHITBY SHIPS AGAIN.

The two ships that were to be employed were probably selected in the
Thames by Cook himself, and, like the good ship Endeavour, were built by
Fishburn of Whitby, and purchased from Captain W. Hammond of Hull. The
reasoning which guided Cook in his selection is thus laid down by him in
his introduction to the account of the Second Voyage:

"The success of such undertakings as making discoveries in distant parts
of the world, will principally depend on the preparations being well
adapted to what ought to be the first consideration, namely, the
preservation of the adventurers and ships; and this will chiefly depend
on the kind, the size, and the properties of the ships chosen for the
service. These primary considerations will not admit of any other, that
may interfere with the necessary properties of the ships. Therefore, in
chusing the ships, should any of the most advantageous properties be
wanting, and the necessary room in them be, in any degree, diminished for
less important purposes, such a step would be laying a foundation for
rendering the undertaking abortive in the first instance. The ship must
not be of great draught, but of sufficient capacity to carry a proper
quantity of provisions and stores for the crew, and of such construction
that she will bear to take the ground, and of such a size that she can be
conveniently laid on shore if necessary for repairing any damages or
defects, and these qualities are to be found in North Country built