Captain Cook to Captain Furneaux.
By Capt. James Cook, &c.

Whereas the Commissioners appointed by Act of Parliament for the discovery of longitude at sea, &c., have agreed with Mr. William Bayley to proceed the present intended voyage, in the sloop you command, in order to make nautical and astronomical observations, and to perform other services tending to the improvement of astronomy and navigation (as you will See by the inclosed copy of his instructions), you are to cause the said Mr. Bayley, together with his servant, instruments, and bagage, to be received on board the sloop you command, accordingly taking care to give him all convenient accomodation, and such assistance and support as he may stand in need of from time to time to carry his said instructions into execution, and to be particularly carefull whenever there is convenient opportunitys and he shall be desirous of landing in order to make observations on shore, that he be furnished with proper boats and with a sufficient number of men, as well as to assist in fixing his instruments as to protect him from danger during his stay, landing at the same time a sufficient quantity of provisions and necessarys for his use; and whereas the said Commissioners have thought fit (as well to prevent mismanagement or ill-treatment of the watch machines,^† which are going out under the care of the said Mr. Bayley, as to obviate any suspicions of such mismanagement or ill-treatment hereafter) to cause three locks of different wards to be affixed to each of the boxes which contains the said watch machines, and have desired that the key of one of the locks of each box be kept by the commander of the sloop wherein the same may be, that the key of another of the said locks may be kept by the first lieutenant of each sloop, or the officer next in command to him, and that the key of the other of the said locks may be kept by the observer; that the said commander, first lieutenant or other officer, and observer may be present each day when the said watch machines are wound up page 102 and compared, and See the respective times therein at such comparisons properly inserted and attested under their hands in the general observation book, as directed by the above-mentioned instructions: You are hereby further required and directed to receive into your charge and custody such of the said keys as will be sent to you by the secretary to the aforesaid Commissioners, and to deliver to your first lieutenant, or officer next in command to him, such others as will be sent to you for him, and to be present yourself, and to See that he be present, every day at the winding up and comparing the two watch machines, which are under the care of Mr. Bayley, and to take care that the respective times shewn at such comparisons be inserted and attested accordingly; but if it shall happen that you yourself, first lieutenant or other officer, or Mr. Bayley, cannot at any time, through indisposition or absence upon other necessary duties, conveniently attend at such winding up and comparison, you are in such case to take care that the keys of the person who cannot attend be dilivered to such other officer of the sloop as you can best trust therewith, in order that such officer may supply the place of such invalid or absentee.

You are to cause the above-mentioned Mr. Bayley, with his servant, to be victualled during their continuance on board in the same manner as the sloop's companies are victualled.

Given under my hand, on board his Majesty's said sloop, in Plymouth Sound, the 3rd July, 1772.