our People.--Ferment on this
Occasion.--One of the Chiefs threatens Captain Cook, and is shot by
him.--General Attack by the Natives.--Death of Captain Cook. Account
of the Captain's Services, and a Sketch of his Character._[1]

[Footnote 1: Every reader must feel so deeply interested in the
subject of this section, that he will naturally desire to possess
every information as to all the facts and circumstances in which it
was involved. Captain King's narrative, it may be conceived, is
likely to have every claim to implicit confidence, and to require no
additional statement in order to the most satisfactory conviction
of every mind. Such an opinion is only partially correct; and it is
evident, that the latter assertion is not a necessary inference from
the former. The narrative may be imperfect, though quite consistent
with truth, so far as it goes; and perhaps it cannot be carefully
read, without producing an impression somewhat unfavourable to
the notion of its completeness. This might be pointed out, as we
proceeded, in the usual manner of notes. But a moment's reflection
will suggest, that such interference in a case of the kind would prove
destructive of the general and proper effect of the relation, and
at the same time appear unjust towards the describer. A much better
method, and one more likely to obtain attention, presents itself. That
is, to insert the circumstantial narrative of the whole transaction,
which was drawn up by Mr Samwell, surgeon of the Discovery, and
communicated, with the highest approbation and credit, in the
Biographia Britannica, after having been separately published, by the
advice of the editor of that work, for two years, without experiencing
any objection or a single impeachment. This, therefore, will be given
at the end of the section; and will be found so extremely interesting,
as to justify its reception in an entire form. Its length, however,
and minuteness, in addition to reasons already mentioned, will
preclude both room and occasion for any other notice of the
subject.--E.]

We were employed the whole of the 11th, and part of the 12th, in
getting out the foremast, and sending it with the carpenters, on
shore. Besides the damage which the head of the mast had sustained, we
found the heel exceedingly rotten, having a large hole up the middle
of it, capable of holding four or five cocoa nuts. It was not,
however, thought necessary to shorten it; and, fortunately, the logs
of red