some time afterwards, dr. burney was invited to hinchinbroke, the seat of the earl of sandwich, to meet sir joseph banks, dr. solander, dr. hawkesworth,
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and the celebrated circumnavigator, captain cooke himself.
it was the earnest request of james, the eldest son of dr. burney, to be included in the approaching second expedition of this great seaman; a request which lord sandwich easily, and with pleasure, accorded to dr. burney; and the young naval officer was invited to hinchinbroke, and presented to his new commander, with a recommendation that he should stand foremost on the list of promotion, should any occasion of change occur during the voyage.
the following note upon captain cooke, is copied from a memorandum book of dr. burney’s.
“in february, i had the honour of receiving the illustrious captain cooke to dine with me in queen-square, previously to his second voyage round the world.
“observing upon a table bougainville’s voyage autour du monde, he turned it over, and made some curious remarks on the illiberal conduct of that circumnavigator towards himself, when they met and crossed each other; which made me desirous to know, in examining the chart of m. de bougainville, the several tracks of the two navigators; and exactly where they had crossed or approached each other.
“captain cooke instantly took a pencil from his pocket-book, and said he would trace the route; which he did in so clear
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and scientific a manner, that i would not take fifty pounds for the book. the pencil marks having been fixed by skim milk, will always be visible.”
this truly great man appeared to be full of sense and thought; well-mannered, and perfectly unpretending; but studiously wrapped up in his own purposes and pursuits; and apparently under a pressure of mental fatigue when called upon to speak, or stimulated to deliberate, upon any other.
the opportunity which thus powerfully had been prepared of promotion for the doctor’s son, occurred early in the voyage. mr. shanks, the second lieutenant of the discovery, was taken ill at the cape of good hope, and obliged to leave the ship. “in his place,” captain cooke wrote to lord sandwich, “i have appointed mr. burney, whom i have found very deserving.”
