Whereas the Commissioners appointed by Acts of Parliament for the Discovery of Longitude at Sea &c have agreed with Mr William Bayly to proceed in His Majesty's Sloop Discovery on her present intended Voyage in order to make Nautical and Astronomical Observations to perform other Services tending to the improvement of Geography and Navigation (as you will see by the Copy of his Instructions which will be sent you by their Secretary) and have desired that he may be received on board the abovementioned Sloop; And whereas we have ordered Captain Clerke her Commander to put himself under your Command and follow your Orders for his further proceedings You, are therefore hereby required and directed to cause the said Mr Bayly, together with his Servant, Instruments and Baggage to be received on board the Discovery accordingly; directing Captain Clerke to victual him and his Servant during their continuance onboard in the same manner as her Company are, or shall be, victualled; and to give him all convenient accommodation and such assistance and support as he may stand in need of from time to time to carry his said Instructions into execution and to be particularly careful, whenever there are convenient opportunities and he shall be desirous of landing in order to make observations on shore, to furnish him with a proper Boat and with a sufficient Number of Men, as well to assist in fixing his Instruments as to protect him from any annoyance or disturbance which may be attempted to be given him by the Natives during his stay; and to land, at the same time, a sufficient Quantity of Provisions and Necessaries for the use of himself and Servant, and the Persons who may be put on shore to assist and protect him as above directed.

And whereas the said Commissrs have thought it expedient to send out for trial during your present intended Voyage, two Watch Machines which have been made by Mr Kendal in consequence of their directions, one of them, being a Copy of that made by the late Mr Harrison and the same that was sent out with you upon your last Voyage, on board the Sloop you command, and the other being of the said Mr Kendal's own Construction and having never yet been at Sea for trial, on board the Discovery; and in order as well to prevent any improper management, or ill treatment of the said Watch Machines as any suspicions thereof have desired that the Keys of the three different Locks which are affixed to the Boxes in which those Watch Machines are respectively kept, and which Keys will be sent to you: by the Astronomer Royal may be disposed of in a manner similar to that which was practiced on the like occasion during your last Voyage, You are hereby further required and directed immediately after they come to your hands, to dispose of the said Keys (which to guard against Accidents will be sent in Duplicate) in the following manner, Vizt, to keep those of one of the Locks of the Box containing the first mentioned Watch Machine yourself, and to deliver those of the other Locks of that Box to your 1st and 2d Lieutenants respectively; and you are to be present yourself, and to take care that your said Lieutenants be present also, every day at the winding up of the said Watch Machine and to see that the respective times shown thereby be properly inserted, and attested under your and their hands respectively, in the general observation Book, agreeable to the 2d Article of the abovementioned Instructions to Mr Bayly; and you are to give orders that the Keys of two of the Locks on the Box containing the other Watch Machine be kept in the Custody of Captain Clerke and his first Lieutenant respectively, that they be present every day at the winding up of the said last mentioned Watch Machine by Mr Bayly, and that they do see that the inspection times shewn thereby be properly inserted and attested agreeable to the abovementioned Article of Mr Bayly's Instructions, a Copy of which you are to deliver to Captain Clerke; But, if it shall happen that you yourself or your first or second Lieutenant, cannot, at any time, through indisposition, or absence upon other necessary duties conveniently attend as above directed, you are, in such case, to take care that the Keys in the Custody of the Person who cannot attend be delivered to some other Officer of the Sloop you command, whom you can best trust therewith, in order that he may supply the Place of such Invalid or Absentee; and you are to give similar directions to Captain Clerke with respect to the Keys which are in the Custody of himself and his first Lieutenant respectively. Given &c the 5th of June 1776

To Captain Cook, Commander of
His Majesty's Sloop Resolution in Longreach