Wednesday 28.

On the 28th the ship's company received two months pay in advance, and on
the following morning we worked out to St. Helen's, where we were obliged
to anchor.

1787. December. Sunday 23.

We made different unsuccessful attempts to get down Channel, but contrary
winds and bad weather constantly forced us back to St. Helen's, or
Spithead, until Sunday the 23rd of December when we sailed with a fair
wind.

During our stay at Spithead, the rate of the timepiece was several times
examined by Mr. Bailey's observations at the Portsmouth observatory. On
the 19th of December, the last time of its being examined on shore, it
was 1 minute 52 seconds, 5 too fast for meantime, and then losing at the
rate of 1 second, 1 per day; and at this rate I estimate its going when
we sailed.

The object of all the former voyages to the South Seas undertaken by the
command of his present majesty, has been the advancement of science and
the increase of knowledge. This voyage may be reckoned the first the
intention of which has been to derive benefit from those distant
discoveries. For the more fully comprehending the nature and plan of the
expedition, and that the reader may be possessed of every information
necessary for entering on the following sheets, I shall here lay before
him a copy of the instructions I received from the admiralty, and
likewise a short description of the breadfruit.