Early this year the Royal Society presented a memorial to his majesty, expressing a wish that proper vessels might be appointed to sail to the southward to observe the transit of Venus over the disc of the sun. The Admiralty accordingly, for this service, purchased the _Endeavour_ barque, and placed her under the command of Lieutenant James Cook. Mr Charles Green was appointed astronomer, and Mr Banks and Dr Solander embarked on board her. In the month of June, 1769, a French frigate having anchored in the Downs without paying the usual compliment to the British flag, Captain John Hollwell, the senior officer there, in the _Apollo_ frigate, sent on board to demand the customary salute. The French captain refused to comply, upon which Captain Hollwell ordered the _Hawke_ sloop of war to fire two shots over her, when the Frenchman thought proper to salute. In 1771 Admiral Sir Charles Knowles obtained his majesty's permission to enter into the service of the Empress of Russia as admiral of her fleet. Though high payments were promised him, it appears that he was very inadequately rewarded. On his return in 1774, he found some difficulty in being reinstated to his rank as admiral. A machine, invented by Dr Lynn, for making salt water fresh, was tried on board the _Resolution_ at Deptford with great success, in consequence of which the Admiralty directed all ships of war to be fitted with a still and the necessary apparatus. In 1772 Captain James Cook, who had lately returned, undertook a second voyage of discovery in the Pacific, on board the _Resolution_, accompanied by Captain Furneaux in the _Adventure_. We now come to the first outbreak of hostilities with the revolted provinces of North America. At Rhode Island, his majesty's schooner _Gaspee_, commanded by Lieutenant Duddingstone, was attacked in the night by 200 armed men in eight boats, who, notwithstanding the defence made by her commander, seized the vessel, when he and several of his people were wounded, and the rebels taking out the crew, set her on fire. In 1773 Lord Howe presented a petition to the House of Commons in behalf of the captains in the navy, soliciting an increase of half-pay. It was carried by a great majority, and two shillings a-day were added to the half-pay. The pay of surgeons was also increased, as was that of masters.