he customary proportion
which was forty-five tons. The stores and provisions I judged would be
fully sufficient to answer the purpose of the remainder; for I am of
opinion that many of the misfortunes which attend ships in heavy storms
of wind are occasioned by too much dead weight in their bottoms.

The establishment of men and officers for the ship were as follows:

1 Lieutenant to command.
1 Master.
1 Boatswain.
1 Gunner.
1 Carpenter.
1 Surgeon.
2 Master's Mates.
2 Midshipmen.
2 Quartermasters.
1 Quartermaster's Mate.
1 Boatswain's Mate.
1 Gunner's Mate.
1 Carpenter's Mate.
1 Carpenter's Crew.
1 Sailmaker.
1 Armourer.
1 Corporal.
1 Clerk and Steward.
23 Able Seamen.
---
44.

Two skilful and careful men were appointed, at Sir Joseph Banks's
recommendation, to have the management of the plants intended to be
brought home: the one, David Nelson, who had been on similar employment
in Captain Cook's last voyage; the other, William Brown, as an assistant
to him. With these two our whole number amounted to forty-six.

It was proposed that our route to the Society Islands should be round
Cape Horn; and the greatest dispatch became necessary as the season was
already far advanced: but the shipwrights not being able to complete
their work by the time the ship was ready in other respects, our sailing
was unavoidably retarded.

October. Thursday 4.

However by the 4th of October the pilot came on board to take us down the
river.

Tuesday 9.

On the 9th we fell down to Long Reach where we received our gunner's
stores and guns, four four-pounders and ten swivels.

The ship was stored and victualled for eighteen months. In addition to
the customary allowance of provisions we were supplied with sourkraut,
portable soup, essence of malt, dried malt, and a proportion of barley
and wheat in lieu of oatmeal. I was likewise furnished with a quantity of
ironwork and trinkets to serve in our intercourse with the natives in the
South Seas: and from the board of Longitude I received a timekeeper, made
by Mr. Kendal.

Monday 15.

On the 15th I received orders to proceed to Spithead.

November. Sunday 4.

But the winds and weather were so unfavourable that we did not arrive
there till the 4th of November. On the 24th I received from Lord Hood,
who commanded at Spithead, my final orders. The wind, which for several
days before had been favourable, was now turned directly against us.

Wednesday 28.

On the 28t