A MISSIONARY VOYAGE TO THE SOUTHERN PACIFIC OCEAN, performed in the years 1796, 1797, 1798, in the Ship Duff, commanded by Captain James Wilson

London: S. Gosnell, printer, 1799. Compiled from journals of the officers and the missionaries; and illustrated with Maps, Charts, and Views, drawn by Mr. William Wilson, and engraved by the most eminent Artists. With a preliminary discourse on the geography and history of the South Sea Islands; and an appendix, including details never before published, of the natural and civil state of Otaheite; by a committee appointed for the purpose by the directors of the Missionary Society. Published for the Benefit of the Society. Pp. [xii]+c+420+[12](list of subscribers), 6 engraved plates and 7 maps or charts (5 folding), appendix; roy 4to; original blue/grey papered boards, plain papered spine with remains of printed paper title label, the backstrip creased and brittle, with some loss at extremities, joints starting (cords and sewing holding), boards slightly soiled and rubbed, fore-corners worn; uncut; housed within a qr. navy morocco Solander box, spine lettered and decorated in gilt, navy cloth sides, edges faintly faded; hinges starting at a couple of points, a few small edge chips or splits, the plates lightly offset and with a couple of small marginal damp stains, occasional light foxing; printed by S. Gosnell, for T. Chapman, London, 1799. First edition, large paper issue, with the larger map of Fiji. Ferguson 301; Hill 1894. *'Setting out from London on August 10, 1796, the Duff was the first missionary vessel to sail the little-known waters of the Pacific Ocean. After two hundred and eight days the vessel reached Tahiti, landing seventeen missionaries there, a further twelve at Tonga, and one on the Marquesas. Trouble with the natives arose. Three of the missionaries on Tonga were killed. Others were compelled to seek refuge at Sydney. Nevertheless the work was maintained and extended by heroic members of the band as opportunities offered. Several of the missionaries settled in Australia and founded families important in Australian history' [Ferguson]. The Advertisement leaf [a3] states: 'The body of the journal is the composition of Mr. William Wilson, from the Captain's papers, his own, and the Missionaries' reports'. William Wilson was the nephew of Captain James Wilson, and served as Chief Officer (or First Mate) on the Duff. According to Hill, the editor of the work was Dr. Thomas Haweis, one of the founders of the London Missionary Society. The list of Subscribers includes 'Sir J. Banks, President of the Royal Society', and an autograph letter from Banks to Haweis is loosely inserted (two pages, small 4to, with conjugate postmarked address leaf). Written from his residence in Soho Square, it is dated Nov. 12 1798, shortly before the publication of this book. (The Duff had returned from the expedition a few months earlier, arriving at Long Reach on 10 July). Beginning with thanks to Haweis 'for the books you were so good as to send to me & to my friend Mr. Dalrymple', Banks refers to the 'obliging indulgence you offer me of sending me a part of the map of the Duffs voyage, but at this time of the year owing to the approaching anniversary of the Royal Society I have very little time which I can call my own. It would be a great indulgence to me to see the maps & charts as they are drawn off but I fear the trouble of sending them would be great. If I might be allowed to pay the people who [bring?] them for their trouble the obligation would be complete'. Joseph Banks and Alexander Dalrymple (1737-1808) were friends and fellow members of the Royal Society. Dalrymple, who was keenly interested in the (then) undiscovered Great Southern Continent, had hoped to take charge of the Endeavour expedition, but was overlooked by the Admiralty in favour of James Cook. He gave Banks a copy of his 1769 pamphlet, Account of the Discoveries made in the South Pacifick Ocean previous to 1764, which Banks took with him on the voyage, and there are several references to it (and Dalrymple) in Banks' Endeavour journal.