Jul 8, 1792 Home Providence Log Jul 10, 1792
Revised Aug 26 2021
Untill Noon a very fresh Gale at SWbW when it suddenly Shifted to the East. The Weather fair but a considerable Surf in the Bay. Thermometer from 77 to 81 Degrees.
Received on board 5 Turns of Water and some Wood. Carpenters employed about the Whale Boat, Caulking the Cabbin Deck, and were ready to lay down the Stands for the Plants. Armourer at the Forge, and the Sailmakers making a Sail for the Whale Boat.
We continued to get sufficient Supplies by sending a Person on Shore to purchase them.
My Plants are now in such charming forwardness, that the Botanists have determined I need not be any longer detained than a Week or two at most, every exertion is therefore made to be ready to their time. Our laborious Work is watering. In this particular I had two things to attend too, the one to start all my Old Water, and the other to take the new up at such a distance from the Sea Side, as to be sure not Salt Particles could be mixed with it. It was necessary for this duty to be done at the latest period I could allow myself, that the Plants might receive the greater benefit from the fresh Water, and on this account we are now all bustle in getting ready for Sea.
I find our Old Friends very disconsolate at our preparations, and it has been with no small trouble that I have resisted the sollicitations of Tynah to proceed to England with me. He has even considered himself slighted in my not permitting him, and our friendship hinged on my complying with his request to take one of his Men, who he said would be of great service to him when I sent him out again, from the many things he could learn and see in England. He was sure he said King George would not refuse him had he been here, and after enumerated the many ways he had served us, particularly his conduct to the Pandora, and I had viewed the Mans Character; I could not help thinking it was the least thing I could do for him, and that whether the Man returned or not it was no greater bruthen [burthen - burden] to our Country than it should bear. I complied with his request and he seemed happy; but after all, he hoped King George would send out a Ship for him, as he would not have sent out so many things as I have given him, unless it was his wish to see him.
This Man's name is Mydiddee, he is a fine Active Person about 22 Years of Age at most, and is considered above the common run of Men in all the exercises of this Country. He exceeds most of them in quickness of apprehension, which is the first excellence next to their natural good disposition that we could chuse a Man for. He is a Servant, and therefore a more elligible person for the purpose of learning than if he had been a Chief, admitting his intellects equal. The School is common to all in this Country. There is no knowledge to be gained in the History of the Country but by tradition, and the only education being the Company of the Chiefs and old People of distinction; wherever nature has planted good sense and a quick conception, the Individual whether Chief or Towtow, becomes informed and well educated. Such a Towtow is more likely to benefit his Country than a Chief who would be only led into Idleness and Dissipation as soon as he arrived in Europe, as was the Case with Omai.
Jul 8, 1792 Home Providence Log Jul 10, 1792