The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1892-05-26

thinks he may blacken the memory
of great and good man. From
Legends and Myths he borrow:
"exacting, dictatorial, greedy" anC
adds, as his own contribution, "arro.
grant, insolent, Overbearing."
| do not propose to retort in the
same strain, but shall confine myself
to the statement of few FACTS.
From the time when Cook first
went to sea as an apprentice in a
coasting collier brig till he fell on the
rocks of Kealakakua, he, year by
| year, by dint of character and ability,
made many fast friends, of whom he
lost few if any, and / know of no en-
| emies.
Captain Palliser, Cooks first captain
in the Royal Navy, who recommend
renee, which enabled Wolfe to carry
capture of Quebec, and the subsection
of the whole of Lower Canada which
followed, was the same Sir Hugh Pal
User who twenty years later zealously
urged his appointment to the COM
mand of the second and third explor-
ing expeditions, and personally super
intended the outfit of the ships, that
nothing which experience could sug-
gest or authority procure might be
wanting.
Mister, afterwards Sir Joseph Banks,
the principal naturalist of the first
expedition, voluntarily came forward
on hearing of his old chiefs melan-
choly end and assisted by overlooking
and completing from his own knowl-
edge the Life" which was being
written by DR.. Kippis.
DIR. Anderson was surgeon, natural
ist and linguist in both second and
third voyages. The seaman who was
buried at Karakakoa had followed
Cook for years.
Lieutenant King, who eventually
succeeded to the command of the last
expedition says, "His courage was
cool and determined and accompanied
with an admirable presence of mind
in the moment of danger. His tenn
per might perhaps have been Justly
blamed, as subject to hastiness and
passion, had not these been disarmed
by disposition the most benevolent
and humane"
DR.. Reinhold Forster, who on ac-
count of some disagreements with
Cook may be held to be at least i'm
partial, says, "If we consider his ex-
IRENE abilities, both natural and ac-
CURED, the firmness and constancy of
his mind, his truly paternal care for
the crew entrusted to him, the anna
BILE manner with which he knew how
to gain the friendship of all the savage
and uncultivated nations, and even
his conduct towards his friends and
acquaintance, we must acknowledge
h I'm To hox of
men of his age"
These testimonies might be multi
piled beyond any space at your dis
posal.
1t should be borne in mind that the
name of James Cook was known and
his fame established throughout the
world, beyond the reach of detraction,
before Hawaiian history" had begun
to be. His real character is to be
found in the orders he from time to
time put forth with the view of prose-
cutting the undertakings entrusted to
him, and preserving the lives and
caring for the welfare of his own men
and of the various savage peoples
with whom he came in contact, as
we'll as in his own and his officers
journals.
Captains Portlock, Dixon and Van
couver were amongst his officers, and
in sense his pupils.
Cook married on his return from
North America, in 1862, as Master"
of III. NJ. S. Northumberland, and was
an estimable husband and father, and
at his death special pensions were
granted to his widow and three sons.
Finally, from apprentice in a collier
to Post Captain in His Maiesty's
Navy, Fellow and Gold Medallist of
the Royal Society, Cooks career was
honorable alike to himself, his coun-
try and to our common human nature.
Thanking you for your courtesy and
adherence to the good old motto,
"Hear the other side" am, ETC.,
H. w. MIST