THE TAKING POSSESSION OF THE TERRITORY.

The variations upon this subject are very remarkable.

Without noting what is contained in the so-called "Official History" of the "Voyage in the Endeavour," it must be allowed that reported Logs of Cook, now in the possession of the Sovereign and the Admiralty, give the general statement that Possession of the Territory was taken by Cook, after leaving the eastern side of New Holland, in the usual form, in the name of the King, as New South Wales. By that name Dr. Hawkesworth publicly acknowledges the country in his work; and by that name it has since been known. It is so seen in the Admiralty Log, though Corner calls it New Wales.

The official story of taking Possession, as given by Dr. Hawkesworth, is as follows:

"As we were now about to quit the eastern coast of New Holland, which I had coasted from latitude 38° to this place, and which I am confident no European had ever seen before, I once more hoisted English colours, and although I had already taken possession of several particular parts, I now took possession of the whole eastern coast from latitude 38° to this place, lat. 10° 55″ , in right of His Majesty King George the Third, by the name of New South Wales, with all the bays, harbours, rivers and Islands situated upon it; we then fired three vollies of small arms, which were answered by the same number from the ship. Having performed this ceremony upon the Island, which we called Possession Island, we re-embarked in our boat, but a rapid ebb tide setting NE made our return to the vessel very difficult and tedious."

The Admiralty Log contains, like some other later journals, this version:—

"I now once more hoisted English Colours and in the name of His Maj^y King George the Third took Possession of the whole Eastern Coast from the above Lat^de. down to this place by the name of New South Wales together with all the Bays Harbours Rivers and Islands situate upon the said Coast upon which we fir'd 3 Volleys of Small arms which were answer'd by the like number from the ship."

Although Corner's Log resembles the Admiralty one so nearly, being one among several copies made while Cook was staying to refresh in Java, yet it, curiously enough, calls the land New Wales, which according to me would give the copy some priority to other copies thence.

Corner's Log has this story of the Possession:

"The Eastern Coast from the sea of 38°.1″ down to this place, I am confident was never seen or visited by any European power before us and notwithstanding I had in the name of his Maj^y taken possession of several places on this coast, I now once more hoisting colours in the name of His Maj. King George the Third took Possession of the whole Eastern Coast from the above lat^de. down to this place by the Name of New Wales, together with all the Bays."

This log, therefore, commits Cook to the distinct affirmation that he was the first European who had either seen or visited any part of that eastern coast. He effectually disposes of the claims of Dutch, Spanish and Portuguese navigators.

Before dismissing this log, I would call attention to a notable observation on the margin of one page, which I recognised to be in Cook's own handwriting, and which, though no evidence of the log itself having been composed by the Captain, must be reported as once having been in his hand, at some time or other. Here are the words:

"This day I restore Mr. Magra to his duty as I did not find him guilty of the crimes laid to his charge."

The crimes consisted in some ridicule of Orton, the Captain's clerk, when exhibiting himself in a state of intoxication. Magra, or rather Matra, a gentleman volunteering for the voyage as a seaman, had, upon the discovery of his ability, enforced by the active recommendation of Mr. Banks, been made a midshipman, from which position he had been degraded for a few days on account of the part he was known to have taken in this frolic.

It is interesting and important here to note that this very James Matra, travelling companion with Mr. (afterwards Sir Joseph) Banks, was the direct instrument of the establishment of the English Colony of New South Wales. He, encouraged by Banks, petitioned the Ministry that the land, even then recognized as New South Wales, should be appropriated as a colony for English settlers in America, who had lost their all in supporting the English Government against the American rebels. Mr. Pitt, however, preferred a settlement of persons taken from overcrowded English gaols.

This log incorrectly signs the Captain's name as James Cook, not Jam^s, the correct way, so continuously used by himself.

An unnamed Deptford Log has this reference to the taking possession on Wednesday, August 22, 1770:—

"At 6 Possession was taken of this country in his Maj'^s. Name &c. by hoisting a Jack on shore, this was announced from the Ship with colours flying; the whole concluded with 3 cheers."

The astronomer, Mr. Green, is satisfied to copy Pickersgill, saying:—

"At 6 Possession was taken of this country in his Majesty's Name &c.; this was announced from the shore by Vollies and answered from on b^d. Colours flying and concluding with 3 cheers."

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 capt^n. 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 y^e Occasion and cheard 3 Times which was answ^d. from y^e ship".

Gunner Forwood has a short story on Possession:—

"The Capt^n. took Possession of the country in his Majesty's Name &c. This was announced from the shore Vollies Fired and Colours flying from on board with D^o. concluding with 3 cheers."

John Bootie's Log treats the Possession narrative in the exact terms of another, saying:—

"August 22. At 6 possession was taken of this locality in his Majesty's Name &c. This was announced from the shore by Vollies and answered from on b^d. with Colours flying and concluding with 3 Cheers."

Here, again, as in the other cases, the words "New South Wales" do not occur.

The Palliser or Sunderland Log of Mr. Hudson's may be quoted:—

"Betwixt these two points we could see no land, so that we were in great hopes we had found a passage into the India Sea, but in order to be a little inform'd I landed with a party of men on the Island which lays on the right side of the Passage where from a hill I could see no lands in the above direction Before and after we anchor'd we saw many of the Natives upon this Island, but they all fled upon my landing—a little before Sun sett I took Possession of the country in His Majesty's Name, and fired a volley of small arms on the occasion, which was answered from the ship."

On this Possession subject we have the weightiest authority, Cook's autograph Log, Museum Catalogue, 27,885 for August 22, when leaving the Australian coast:—

"We were in great hopes that we had found a passage into the India Sea but in order to be better inform'd I landed with a Party of men on the Island which lays to the S.E. side of the Passage where from a hill saw no land in the above direction. Before and after we anchor'd we saw a good many of the Natives upon this Island but they all fled upon my landing. A little before sunsett I took possession of the Country in His Majesty's name and fired 3 Volleys of small arms on the occasion which was answerd from the ship. High water at 4 o'clock," &c.

Banks's Log (of Cook), 8959 of Museum Catalogue, remarked:—

"The Pinnace and Yawl with the Capt^n. and gentlemen went on shore to Examine the Country and view the Coast from one of the Hills soon after saw some Turtle. It was high water. When we came too the Tide of Ebb set from the S.W. 5k. 2m. per hour. At 6 possession was taken of this Country in his Majesty's name and under his Colours fired several volleys of small arms on the occasion and cheer'd 3 times which was answer'd from the ship."

In each case of Cook's real Logs no name of any kind would appear to have been selected for the country, else, in all probability, it would have been stated in one or in both Logs.

The Chief Officer, Lieut. Hickes, knew nothing of taking possession of the land in the King's name as New South Wales.

His Log for August 21 refers to Chacho Harbour:

"Wednesday 22. Latt. 10° 45″ Long, made W. from y^e Straits 00° 13. These Straits are in Longitude 142° 25 E^t. The Capt^n. went on shore, hoisted y^e Colours and took possession of y^e Country for y^e King, fired several volleys and cheered 3 times which was answered from y^e Ship, at 10 a.m. slack water weighed and made sail."

The Log of Richard Pickersgill gives this short version, imitating or being imitated:—

"At 6 Possession was taken of this country in his Majesty's Name and this was announced from the shore by Vollies and answer'd from on b^d. Colours flying and concluding with 3 cheers."

The Cook's Log presented by Sir Joseph Banks to the British Museum, and catalogued therein as 8959, is the most important of what Logs I, as an archivist, would regard the genuine Cook's, as it was sanctioned by the authority of a fellow voyager.

The quotation from this Log, on the taking possession of the territory, runs thus:—

"Mod. and clear wea^r. saw a number of smoaks along shore at 1 Lay too for the yawl, Pinnace and Longboat, Sounding ½ p^t. 2 made sail and steer'd for a passage, Between some Islands and the Main at 3 fired a gun and made the Signell for the Boats to sound the next Passage, to the N.ward of the above Mention'd ¾ p^t. 3 was in the Passage Dist^ce. from Each shore ¾ of a mile—saw several Indians who follow'd us shouting. At 4 fir'd a gun and made the Signell for the Boats. Came too with the B^t. Bower in 6¾ fa^m. good ground Veer'd to ½ a Cable. Ext^e. of the Land on the East side No. 56 E^t. an Island to S.W. the Main on the W^t. side from N.S.E. to S. 73 W^t. 8 miles Dist^ce. from the Eastern shore One mile. The Pinnace and yawl with the Capt^n. and Gentlemen went on shore to Examin the Country and view the Coast from one of the Hills. Soon after saw some Turtle it was high water. When we came too, the Tide of Ebb set from the S.W. 3k. 2m. p^r. Hour, at 6 possession was taken of this Country in his majesty's name and under his Coulours Fired several volleys of small arms on the occasion and Cheer'd 3 times, which was answer'd from the ship."

There is, therefore, in the most orthodox Logs of H.M.S. Endeavour, not any authority for the names of Botany Bay and New South Wales.