HIS MAJESTY’S SHIP ENDEAVOUR.
Whereas a Journal was kept on-board the said ship, during her late voyage round the world, by Sydney Parkinson deceased, late draughtsman to Joseph Banks, Esq. which, from the great variety of par-ticulars it contained relative to the discoveries made during the said voyage, was allowed by the ship’s company to be the best: and most correct that was taken; and whereas the said Sydney Parkinson had, at his leisure hours, made drawings of many of the natives of the new-discovered islands, and had also taken views of several places in the said islands, which he intended as presents to his friends; which said Journal and Drawings are pretended to have been lost. And whereas there is great reason to think that they have been secreted by some person or persons for his or their own emolument. This is to give Notice, that if any one can give Information where the said Journal and Drawings are so secreted, so that the Heir at Law to the said Sydney Parkinson may come by his lawful property, by applying to Stanfield Parkinson in little Pulteney Street, they shall receive One Hundred Guineas Reward.
N. B. It is supposed that they are not many Miles from New Burlington Street. †

In consequence of this advertisement, and personal application to several of the officers and others on-board the ship Endeavour, I procured, by purchase, loan, and gift, not indeed the fair copy of my brother’s journal, but so many of his manuscripts and drawings, as to enable me to present the following work, in its present form, to the public.

As I made no secret of my design, and was known to have employed the pro-per artists to execute it, I was now solicited and entreated by Joseph Banks’s friends to denst : Dr. Fothergill, in particular, offered me, at different times, several sums of money, to drop my intended publication, notwithstanding he knew Joseph Banks still detained my curiosities, contrary to agreement, and refused to come to any accommodation. Nay, James Lee, of whom I have before spoken, proceeded, indiscreetly, to attempt to intimidate me from my design, by pretending himself to have a right to my brother’s manuscripts. His letter to me on that occasion may serve to shew the manner in which I was beset, and what methods were taken to induce me, if possible, to relinquish my right.

† By this intimation, it is plain I meant to infinuate, that I thought the Journal was in the hands of Joseph Banks ; but I should never have thought of publishing such an advertisement, had I ever meant to have fold him my brother’s papers, as Dr. Fothergill afterwards affirmed I had done.

Voyaging Accounts