Captain Cook's Journal during his First Voyage round the World, made in HM Bark “Endeavour,” 1768–1781

Abstract

CAPTAIN WHARTON has rendered excellent service to naval and colonial history, and to geographical science, by editing a transcript of Captain Cook's journal of the voyage of the Endeavour, which was undertaken chiefly for the purpose of observing the transit of Venus across the sun's disk, and which led to the founding of the Australian Colonies by Great Britain As is well known, the published accounts of that voyage are two, and neither of them satisfactory. The only very complete one is that compiled by Dr. Hawkesworth, from the journals of Cook, and of Mr. (afterwards Sir Joseph) Banks, who accompanied the great navigator as a volunteer, taking with him an eminent scientific man, Dr. Solander, a pupil of Linné, two artists, and servants, all of his own providing. The other is a brief and defective journal kept by Mr. Parkinson, one of Banks's artists, who died before the expedition reached England. It contains rude illustrations of the scenery and peoples of the Pacific Islands, which, if faithful reproductions of the originals (which I doubt), would show that his artistic powers were contemptible. Parkinson's narrative, which was edited by his brother, was published surreptitiously. It was suppressed by authority, and is, happily, not frequently met with. Captain Cook's Journal during his First Voyage round the World, made in H.M. Bark “Endeavour,” 1768–1781. A literal transcription of the original MSS., with notes and introduction. Edited by Captain W. J. L. Wharton, Hydrographer of the Admiralty. Illustrated by maps and facsimiles. (London: Elliot Stock, 62, Paternoster Row, 1893.)