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Additional secret instructions for Lieutenant James Cook, Commander of His Majesty’s Bark the Endeavour

Whereas the making discoveries of countries hitherto unknown, and the attaining a knowledge of distant parts which though formerly discovered have yet been but imperfectly explored, will redound greatly to the Honor of this nation as a maritime power, as well as to the dignity of the Crown of Great Britain, and may land greatly to the advancement of the trade & navigation thereof, and whereas there is reason to imagine that a continent, or land of great extent, may be found to the Southward of the tract lately made by Captain Wallis in His Majesty’s Ship the Dolphin (of which you will herewith receive a copy) or of the tract of any former navigator in pursuit of the like kind; you are therefore of pursuance of His Majesty’s pleasure hereby required & directed to put to sea with the Bark you command, so soon as the observation of the transit of the planet Venus shall be finished, & observe the following instructions.

You are to proceed to the Southward in order to make discovery of the continent abovementioned until you arrive in the Latitude of 40 degrees, unless you sooner fall in with it. But not having discovered it, or any evident beings of it, in that run, you are to proceed in search of it to the Westward, between the Latitude beforementioned & the Latitude of 35 degrees until you discover it, or fall in with the Eastern side of the land discovered by Tasman and now called New Zealand.

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You are likewise to observe the genius, temper, disposition and number of the natives, if there are any, & endeavour by all proper means to cultivate a friendship & alliance with them, making them presents of such trifles as they may value, inviting them to trafick, & shewing them every kind of civility and regard; taking care however not to suffer yourself to be surprised by them, but to be always upon your guard against any accidents.

You are also with the consent of the natives to take possession of convenient situations in the country, in the name of the King of Great Britain; or, if you find the country uninhabited, take possession for His Majesty by setting up proper marks & inscriptions, as first discoverers & possessors.

Simplified transcript

Additional secret instructions for Lieutenant James Cook, Commander of His Majesty’s Bark the Endeavour

Since discovering countries previously unknown, and getting knowledge of distant regions that, though already discovered, have so far been imperfectly explored, will contribute greatly to the honour of this nation as a maritime power, as well as to the dignity of the Crown of Great Britain, and might greatly improve its trade and navigation, and since there is reason to imagine that a continent, or large piece of land, may be found south of the area lately noted by Captain Wallis in His Majesty’s Ship the Dolphin (which you will receive an attached copy of) or of the area of any previous navigator who has pursued similar goals; you are therefore, in order to fulfil His Majesty’s pleasure, required and directed to to to sea with the Bark [ship] you are in charge of, as soon as the observation of the transit of the planet Venus is done, and follow these instructions.

You should proceed south to discover the continent mentioned above until you arrive in the Latitude of 40 degrees, unless you find it sooner. But in case you don’t discover it, or any evidence of it, on that path, you should search for it by proceeding to the west, between the Latitude mentioned before and the Latitude of 35 degrees until you discover it, or fall in with the eastern side of the land discovered by Tasman, now called New Zealand.

…

You should also observe the intellect, temper, disposition and number of the natives, if there are any, and aim by all appropriate methods to cultivate a friendship and alliance with them, making them presents of small things that they might value, inviting them to trade, and showing them every kind of civility and regard, taking care however not to hurt yourself by being surprised by them, but to always be on your guard against any accidents.

You should also, with the consent of the natives, take possession of useful parts of the country, in the name of the King of Great Britain; or, if you find the country uninhabited, take possession for His Majesty by setting up proper marks and inscriptions, as first discoverers and possessors.