ge of trees and plants, have
been hired for the purpose of selecting such as shall appear to be of a
proper species and size:

You are, therefore, in pursuance of his majesty's pleasure, signified to
us by Lord Sydney, one of his principal secretaries of state, hereby
required and directed to put to sea in the vessel you command, the first
favourable opportunity of wind and weather, and proceed with her, as
expeditiously as possible, round Cape Horn, to the Society Islands,
situate in the Southern ocean, in the latitude of about eighteen degrees
south, and longitude of about two hundred and ten degrees east from
Greenwich, where, according to the accounts given by the late Captain
Cook, and persons who accompanied him during his voyages, the breadfruit
tree is to be found in the most luxuriant state.

Having arrived at the above-mentioned islands, and taken on board as many
trees and plants as may be thought necessary (the better to enable you to
do which, you have already been furnished with such articles of
merchandise and trinkets as it is supposed will be wanted to satisfy the
natives) you are to proceed from thence through Endeavour Straits (which
separate New Holland from New Guinea) to Prince's Island in the Straits
of Sunda, or, if it should happen to be more convenient, to pass on the
eastern side of Java to some port on the north side of that island, where
any breadfruit trees which may have been injured, or have died, may be
replaced by mangosteens, duriens, jacks, nancas, lanfas, and other fine
fruit trees of that quarter, as well as the rice plant which grows upon
dry land; all of which species (or such of them as shall be judged most
eligible) you are to purchase on the best terms you can from the
inhabitants of that island with the ducats with which you have also been
furnished for that purpose; taking care however, if the rice plants
above-mentioned cannot be procured at Java, to touch at Prince's Island
for them, where they are regularly cultivated.

From Prince's Island, or the Island of Java, you are to proceed round the
Cape of Good Hope to the West Indies (calling on your way thither at any
places which may be thought necessary) and deposit one half of such of
the above-mentioned trees and plants as may be then alive at his
majesty's botanical garden at St. Vincent, for the benefit of the
Windward Islands, and then go on to Jamaica: and, having delivered the
remainder to Mr. East, or such person o