iable timekeeper. Shortly
after, at a second meeting, Cook agreed to accept a gratuity from the
Society of 100 guineas for taking the observations, and was paid 120
pounds sustenance money for Mr. Green and himself, with authority to draw
on the Society during the voyage for a further amount not exceeding 120
pounds.

In the Commissions and Warrants Book, under date 26th May 1768, appears
the following entry:

MR. JAMES COOK (2nd) 1st Lieutenant Endeavour Bark. E.H., C.T., C.S.

The initials signify Edward Hawke, Charles Townshend, and Lord Charles
Spencer. The "(2nd)" evidently refers to the fact that there was already
one James Cook, a lieutenant in the Navy, namely, the former Master of
the Mercury, and Third Lieutenant of the Gosport.

PENDANT HOISTED.

Having received his orders Cook proceeded to Deptford and hoisted his
pendant on H.M.S. Endeavour on 27th May, and at once started to prepare
for sea. A considerable quantity of coal was taken on board to use for
drying the ship, as it occupied so much less room than wood.

Captain Wallis returned from his voyage round the world about this time,
and in consequence of his report, the Island of Georgeland, afterwards
called by Cook Otaheite and now Tahiti, was fixed upon by the Royal
Society as the most desirable place for the observations, and the
Admiralty were requested to issue the proper orders, notifying at the
same time that Mr. Charles Green and Lieutenant James Cook had been
appointed observers. They also in the same letter write that:

"Joseph Banks, Esquire, Fellow of this Society, a Gentleman of large
fortune, who is well versed in Natural History, being desirous of
undertaking the same voyage, the council very earnestly request their
Lordships that in regard to Mr. Banks' great personal merit and for the
advancement of useful knowledge, he also, together with his suite, being
seven persons more (that is eight persons in all) together with their
baggage, be received on board of the ship under command of Captain Cook."

They also requested that the expedition might be landed a month or six
weeks before the 3rd June in order that the instruments might be got into
proper working order, and for fear the ship might not be able to reach
Georgeland, a table of the limits within which the observations might be
taken, was enclosed. Full instructions were also given to the two
observers, and a list of the fixed stars to be observed was drawn up by
Mr. Maskel