James Bonwick

“ Had Sir Joseph Banks publicly answered the appeal of Mr. Schiller in 1773, and satisfied the world as to the authenticity of Dr. Hawkesworth's story, the necessity of any subsequent controversy might have been avoided. In that appeal to Banks and Solander "in the cause of Truth, of Justice, of Honour and Humanity," we read that the two naturalists "intend to publish in five or six years hence, in sixteen or eighteen folios and two thousand copper plates, and totally unconnected with Dr. Hawkesworth's narrative." Such a great work did not appear. Why not? History does not tell. ”

“ Thus, men of science would be gratified by the selection of the place as Botany Bay, an Admiralty officer would be glad of the adoption of his name in Port Jackson, while the Dutch appellation of New Holland gave place to the more British one of New South Wales. ”

“ Under May 13 we read: "we found (in the space) Bottonist Harbour." Eight lines lower, though in distinctly altered form, we read: "saw at Botany Harbour."
How different all this from the unaltered, unspaced account by the Captain's copy, given by himself to Sir Hugh Palliser, in which it only says: "The great Quantity [Pg 21] of these sort of fish found here occasion'd my giving it the name of Stingray Harbour"!
So it is hardly correct to say, "It is, however, called Botany Bay from the first in the Journals," any more than "No autograph Journal is, so far as is known, in existence." ”

“ The transcriber of the Endeavour Log, 8959, possessed by Banks, wrote in a neat but rather small hand, very different from Cook's. It is, as might be well expected of such an early Journal, though passing through Banks's hands, ignorant of the existence of a Botany Bay, but refers to Skeats rather than Stingray, after which Cook's Autograph Log names the Bay. It has neither Point Hickes nor Cape Howe as in later days, though indicating Pidgeon's House Hill and Mount Dromedary. Yet we have smoaks and smooks as in Cook's own hand work. ”

“ The fact of this "Corner's Log" becoming another ground for the publication of one, or many more, "Cook's Endeavour," can arise only from the supposition of its likeness to the so-called "Queen's Log" and "Admiralty Log." But these, admitted to be copies, cannot compare with the one personally sent by Cook, with his signature, to Palliser, or that sent to the British Museum as Cook's by his companion on the voyage, Sir Joseph Banks; or, far more, that in Cook's own hand and signature, as seen in his own official letters. ”

“ Suspicions regarding the official account of the voyage arose at an early date. It leaked out, from those who had accompanied Cook, that the recorded official Admiralty narrative did not agree with their recollection of the several facts. The death of the author soon after the issue of his work increased the embarrassment as to the source of the materials from which he made his compilation. The second of Cook's voyages, so ably described by the Dean of Windsor, had the advantage of genuine logs, together with the presence and active assistance of the navigator himself. ”

“ There has been sufficient reason for the present writer's long silence upon this inquiry, and particularly since he had reported on Cook's logs some six years ago.
Now, however, as the acting archivist is just entering his eighty-fifth year, Colonial friends here deemed it a proper time for the printing of this pamphlet in the cause of Truth, Justice, and Honour, it being his last contribution to Colonial history, the series of which began in 1845 by the publication of his Geography for Australian Youth, which was the first production, by the Australian Press, of any Geography of Australia. ”

“ Dr. Hawkesworth's death, so soon after the publication, disarmed those ready to question. Cook's fellow-voyagers, Banks, Matra, and the officers of the Endeavour, were either silent, absent, or unqualified to speak. Thoughtful men did inquire into the sources of the writer's information, their extent, and authenticity. The singular dispersion, loss, or destruction of such sources were fresh causes of embarrassment. Mr., afterwards Sir Joseph, Banks, is said to have declared that he furnished no assistance to the Editor. ”

“ Still more extraordinary that Cook's own well ascertained Logs, two in the British Museum and one at Sunderland—the only ones extant—should have neither New South Wales, New Wales, nor Botany Bay mentioned.
The knowledge of such circumstances might well have caused experts to entertain doubts. ”

“ Thereon, however, we read "coste dangerouse" about the spot where Cook was afterwards wrecked, as well as Baie des Plantes on the site of our Botany Bay.
The Gazette Nationale writer notes that the Dauphin map, marked with the Arms of France, was discovered, by chance, in the house of a private person, and asks if the news of it could have reached the Dutch, and so got known to a few English before its real presence in London about 1767, it not being there in 1766. ”

“ Though that side happened to be that chosen for the New South Wales early settlement, yet the people of South Australia, Western Australia, Queensland, New Zealand, and Tasmania, with its emigrating offspring of Port Phillip—now Victoria—lands first seen by Hollanders a century or more before Cook was born, have the like reverence as those of Sydney for the indirect cause of British extension in those Southern Colonies.
Canada is as indebted to the scientific pilot of the St. ”

“ Lawrence for the addition of its western woodlands to the British Empire, as the continent and islands of Australia may be to the Yorkshire mariner on the Pacific, for their occupation by our countrymen under the Crown. ”

“ The Wilkinson's Log ranges from June 22, 1768, to August 3, 1770. Under April 29 we have this report:—
"Little wind and fair W 1⁄2 past 1 came too with the Bower in 61⁄2 fm water, sandy ground. Hoisted out the [Pg 16] Boats at 3 P.M. the Capt and Mr. Banks and Dr. Sollander went on Shore and was Opposed by the Natives at their landing on account the Captain was obledg to Sting one with Small Shot. After they all retired to the woods in the Evening the Capt having found a watering place" &c.
On May 5 is recorded:—
"Moored in Stingray Bay, New Holland." ”

“ Occasioned my giving it the Name of Stingray Harbour."
THE LIEUTENANT'S LOG AND STING REA BAY
The most reliable opinion as to matters connected with a voyage may be expected from the first mate or chief officer of a vessel. Lieutenant Zackary Hickes, whose log of the ship Endeavour was recovered a few years ago, gives his "Remarks on board his Majesty's Barque Endeavour New Holland, 1770." Therein we read for successive days:
"Moor'd in Sting Rea Bay." ”

“ In reference to the name of Botany Bay, Cook's Autograph Log, numbered 27,885, Additional Manuscripts, British Museum, must have the first place. There we read:—
"Remarks on May the 6th, 1770." "Pleasent weather. People empd wooding," &c.
Afterwards came the Bay news, thus:—
"The Yawl return'd from fishing, having caught two Sting rays, whose weight was near 600 lbs. ”

“ One Log, unsigned by the writer, has a description of taking possession in similar terms to those evidently prepared on the voyage, saying:—
"Aug. 22. The pinnace and yawl with the captn. and gentlemen went on shore to examine the contry and view the Coast. from one of the Hills some time after saw some Turtle. At 6 Possession was taken of this contry in his Majesty's Name and under his Colours, fired severell volleyes of small arms on ye Occasion and cheard 3 Times which was answd. from ye ship".
Gunner Forwood has a short story on Possession:—
"The Captn. ”