ABSTRACT
NOVEMBER 28th 1771. I received a Commission to comand His Majestys sloop Drake at this time in the Dock at Deptford, Burdthen 462 Tons to be man'd with 110 Men including officers & to carry twelve guns: at the same time Captain Tobias Furneaux 1 was appointed to the command of the Raleigh at Woolwich Burdthen 336 Tons 80 Men & ten guns. These two sloops were both built at Whitby by Mr Fis[h]burn the same as built the Endeavour Bark, the former about fourteen and the latter eightteen months ago, and had just been purchased into the Navy from Cap. William Hammond of Hull in order to be sent on discoveries to the South Sea under my directions. The Admiralty gave orders that they sould be fitted in the best manner possible, the Earl of Sandwich at this time first Lord intrested himself very much in the Equipment and he was well seconded by Mr Palliser and Sr Jno Williams the one Comptroller and the other Surveyor of the Navy, the Victualling Board was also very attentive in procuring the very best of every kind of Provisions in short every department seem'd to vie with each other in equiping these two Sloops: every standing Rule and order in the Navy was dispenced with, every alteration, every necessary and usefull article was granted as soon as ask'd for. 2
