Adlib Internet Server 5

Select

447362

Title
William Wales - Journal on the Resolution, 21 June 1772-17 Oct. 1774
Creator
William Wales, 1734?-1798
Call number
Safe 1/84
Level of description
fonds
Date

1772-1774
Type of material
Textual Records, Graphic Materials, Drawings
Reference code
447362
Issue Copy
Digitised
Physical Description
0.04 metres of textual material (1 volume in box map in folder) - manuscript
Drawings
ADMINISTRATIVE/ BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY

William Wales (1734?-1798), astronomer, observed the transit of Venus in Hudson's Bay in 1769-1770. With William Bayly, he was appointed by the Board of Longitude to take and compare observations during James Cook's second voyage, and to take charge of the time-pieces on the two ships and carry out tests of their accuracy and usefulness in ascertaining longitude. The results of their work were published in 1777 as 'The Original Astronomical Observations, Made in the Course of a Voyage...in the Resolution and Adventure'. His 'Remarks on Mr. Forster's Account of Captain Cook's Last Voyage' was published in 1778. Wales sailed again under Cook in the Resolution on the third voyage. He was Secretary of the Board of Longitude from 1795 to 1798.
Scope and Content
Wales' manuscript combines the form of a log and a journal. To a record of the ship's course, wind and weather (some copied from the ship's log) he adds his own detailed and lively account of life on board and ashore. He describes the scenery and people of New Zealand, Easter Island, Tonga, Tahiti and the Society Islands, New Caledonia and Norfolk Island. The journal includes charts of Porto Praya on the Island of St Iago, and Tongatabu (also known as Tongatapu). The account breaks off before the end of the voyage, while the Resolution was at Norfolk Island. Wales' journal was one of the sources used by Cook to write his official account of the voyage.
After 1816; Pasted onto the inside back cover of the volume is a plan of fortifications of Algiers, probably showing Captain Edward Pellew's bombardment of the city in 1816. This item was removed when the volume was rehoused and is now shelved next to the volume. The plan, 38.5cm x 25.5cm, has been drawn in pen and ink by an unknown person. There are eleven pieces of sealing wax adhered to the face of the plan, one of which contains an impression of a stag. Information about other versions of the plan can be found in "The Battle of Algiers", Mariner's Mirror, vol. 27, 1941, pp.324-338.
Finding Aids
Read the transcription here: archival-classic.sl.nsw.gov.au/_transcript/2017/D02369/a1800.html
General note

Extracts from the journal can be found in 'The Journals of Captain James Cook on His Voyages of Discovery', edited by J.C. Beaglehole, 1961, vol.2.
Item 1170 in 'Bibliography of Captain James Cook' edited by M.K. Beddie, 2nd ed 1970.

Photocopy - CY Safe 1/84 (xerox copyflo on open access).

Microfilm available at MAV/FM4/1730
Digital order no:Album ID : 861980
Name
Exmouth, Sir Edward Pellew, 1st Viscount, 1757-1833
Resolution (Ship)
Subject
Cook, James, 1728-1779.
Algiers, Battle of, 1816.
Astronomers--Great Britain.
Cook, James, 1728-1779--Travel.
Pacific Area--Discovery and exploration.
Voyages and travels--18th century.
Voyages around the world.
Place
Algiers (Algeria)
Easter Island
New Caledonia
New Zealand
Society Islands
Tahiti (French Polynesia : Island).
Tonga
Tongatabu (Tonga)
Exhibited in

Dare to know : the art and science of Pacific voyages - State Library of New South Wales (1 June - 28 November, 1998)
Finding Antarctica - State Library of New South Wales (November, 2011 - February, 2012)
Open Rosetta viewer
IE3243687